They proclaimed: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Perhaps some of us have been walking the Way of the Cross with Jesus throughout Lent, by praying the Stations of the Cross on Fridays here at St. John’s or privately, or by meditating on the Passion while praying the rosary or in some other way. Now that we have arrived at Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, our reflecting, meditating, praying on the Passion and death of Jesus intensifies. Jesus walked the Way of the Cross for each one of us.
Jesus suffered in all possible ways that a human being can suffer. He went up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” We may have been hurt by someone we trusted and considered a friend. Jesus knows how we feel. We can turn to Him.
My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.” Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” Jesus was abandoned by His closest friends. We may have felt abandoned at the hour of our greatest need… possibly even by those closest to us. Jesus knows how we feel. We can turn to Him.
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there… Jesus experienced unfathomable physical suffering throughout His Passion. Whether we are dealing with day to day aches and pains of aging, a physical ailment, a cancer or any heath problem, Jesus knows how we feel. We can turn to Him.
We follow Jesus this Holy Week on the Way of the Cross to His Passion and death. Our sufferings are transformed when we unite them to Jesus’s sufferings. We share in Christ’s sufferings to share in His resurrection! The glory that we will share with Christ, far exceeds the sufferings of the present life. We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who have been called according to His decree. (Rom8:28)
God bless us all always!
Deacon Mike