REFLECTION with FR. JOHN MGBEAHURUIKE, SMMM
Theme: SENSITIVE LOVE ROOTED IN REDEMPTION
(Passion Sunday, Year A: Is 50:4-7 Ps 22 Phil 2:6-11 Mtt 26:14-27:66)
Today is Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday). A day the Church marks the triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem to accomplish His solemn paschal mystery of death and ressurection. Also, today marks the beginning of the Holy Week. In this week we recall and reflect on the SENSITIVE LOVE of a sensitive Father (Jn 3:16) manifested in the death of His sensitive Son, Jesus Christ (Jn 10:10), born of a sensitive Mother Mary (Lk 1:39ff; Jn 2:3). We are specially called to be sensitive both to Christ's passion and to the plight of our neighbours (bearing in mind that they are also a gift from God, as Pope Francis pointed out in his 2017 Lenten Message). According to the English Oxford Dictionary, to be SENSITIVE is to be aware of and able to understand other people and their feelings. That is to say that one who loves should know the condition of his beloved at every point in time. Unfortunately, many of us are not faithful in this regard. Often times, as experience shows, we seek only our own individual good and prefer identifying only with people and things that bring us pleasure to those that may cause us pains. While we welcome the Rich, Strong, Comfortable, Healthy, Leaders, Beautiful and Receiving, Feast, relaxation, etc; we try to avoid their opposites- the Poor, Weak, Suffering, Sick, Hungry, Ordinary, and mourning events, Giving, Work, etc. This is man in his natural state. However, the COMING of Christ into the World (Incarnation- Jn 1:14), His ENTRY into Jerusalem, has great lessons for us from the life of Jesus. He gave up His Majestic throne in Heaven and came down to the world to save us from the power of evil by His suffering and death. LESSONS: 1.His unconditional and selfless Love (Jn 15:13). 2. His Self-denial and Detachment (Mtt 4:4,7,10; Jn8:54). 3.His Humility and Gentleness (Mtt 11:29; Phil 2:6). 4. His Understanding and Identification with us even in our sinfulness (Rom 5:8; 2Cor.1:3-4). 5.His voluntary and total Obedience to the Will of God (Is 6:8; Lk22:42; Jn 4:34). 6. His Availability and Readiness to help and comfort us (Jn11:17ff) .7. His compassionate and Merciful heart (Lk 6:36; 1Tm1:16). 8. His Persevering Spirit. 9. His Redemptive and Life- giving Spirit (Jn3:17; 1Tm 2:4). 10. Above all, His SENSITIVITY towards the needy. Dear friends in Christ, Jesus invites you and I today to love one another as He has loved us by being SENSITIVE to the plight of others. We pray for the grace to move from our COMFORT ZONES like Jesus (without fear of suffering or death), to enable us meet our fellow brothers and sisters in need, especially in this time of economic recession in our country. Lord Jesus, make us SENSITIVE in our Thoughts, Words and Actions in this Holy Week. We are encouraged to go for CONFESSIONS and get reconciled with God, in view of the Easter Glory. God bless your family. Wishing you a grace-filled and Sin-free Palm Sunday and Holy Week!
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