Passion Sunday is about Recognising in Jesus Our Own Humanity

The Passion Sunday is a “doorway” leading us into the Holy Week and a Sunday that foreshadows the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey signifying his meekness and humility as a king of peace. The same crowd that hails him, as king will later mock him, desert him and have him crucified.  

“True reverence for the Lord’s passion means fixing the eyes of our heart on Jesus crucified and recognising in Him our own humanity.” Pope Leo the Great

Luke tells us that Jesus was in anguish and prayed that he may not have to go through the scourge but he surrendered to the will of His father. “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.^” Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Lk 22:42-44).

He prayed for strength like you and me in moments of trial. He prayed for the suffering to pass. He prayed and experienced deep anguish like any human being at the thought of the impending suffering. He was an innocent man about to be tortured and crucified like “lamb led to the slaughter”.

Jesus clearly shows us what to do when in the midst of trial and anguish. He knelt and prayed. He prayed but still surrendered to the will of God. Thomas Merton explains that we cannot run away from suffering and if we try to, our suffering will only increase.

“The more you try to avoid suffering, the more you suffer, because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you, in proportion to your fear of being hurt. The one who does most to avoid suffering is, in the end, the one who suffers most.”  Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain

Merton adds that “my suffering is not my own. It is the Passion of Christ, stretching out its tendrils into my life in order to bear rich clusters of grapes”. He sees suffering as a gift from God to partake in God’s plan of salvation.

This week as we meditate on the passion of Jesus Christ, let us reflect on our own life; our fears and anguish. Jesus was fully human and divine. He experienced all the emotions that we go through in our daily lives. He understands our weakness, pain, anxiety and our need for the grace to accept the sufferings that come our way. He embraced his suffering through prayer and the strength he received from His Father in heaven. We too are God’s children. Let us embrace the cross in all assurance that following the will of God will set others and us free.

“He will provide the way and the means, such as you could never have imagined. Leave it all to Him, let go of yourself. Lose yourself on the Cross, and you will find yourself entirely.” – St. Catherine of Siena