There was a hush followed by complete silence among the congregation when they heard the slash of a whip and a loud harsh shout from the entrance of the church. They turned to see three youth enacting the journey of Jesus carrying the cross up to Calvary. Two of them were dressed as Roman soldiers each carrying a whip which resounded loudly when they struck the ground. They shoved and shouted at the blood stained ‘Jesus’carrying his cross. He hobbled along and fell as he made his way up to the altar. Then they reached the altar he was fastened to the cross and it was raised up for all to see. This was the scene enacted during the readingof the Passion of Our Lord on Palm Sunday at CDM.
In his homily, Fr. Martin Arlando remarked that Jesus must have been quite a cowboy. He must have had wonderful hands to be able to sit on a colt, sooth and guide it while all the people around him were shouting, “Hosanna!” Added to this, people were all waving long branches of palms and some were even throwing down their garments in his path. We all know that Jesus really has powerful hands as he had used it to heal, comfort and perform miracles. Fr said that Jesus uses his hands not to oppress but opens them to allow us to choose. He did not regard his equality with God to exploit and control others but to reach out in love to save us. Through baptism we have been given the same privilege of the wonderful hands of Jesus. He related a story where a successful young person attended an interview for a high position but did not know what was the state of his mother’s hands. When he was sent back to wash his mother’s hands he came to realize the sacrifices his mother had undergone to put him to where he was now. Similarly, we are reminded the sacrifices of Jesus from the five wounds on his body. Fr Martin then invited all the youth present there that day,to go home and wash their mothers’ hands. To examine the scars and condition of the hands that took the pains to raise them. He asked themto appreciate the effort it took to raise them. Just like Jesus, he also asked the congregation to empty themselves to love others as Jesus loves us and to be a light for others according to the Father’s will.
Written by
Dr. Ivan Filmer
23rd April, 2014.