Friday, April 11, 2014

PALM SUNDAY: Love and Betrayal



Palm Sunday, the day that ushers in Holy Week.  The reality is that anything we do for the least of our brethren is seen by God as a beautiful thing. Like Mary, we are anointing the feet of Jesus whenever we give generously. It is a good time to ask ourselves what act of worship we can render Him while we still have the opportunity to do so. 

How we do honor the Lord? Do we serve Him with our time, talent and treasures, even when it is inconvenient for us? Jesus himself gives us a clue when he credited Mary for “doing a beautiful thing to me”. In other words, genuine humble service is what pleases the Lord and makes us holy in his sight.

We may not be aware of it, but there is a Judas in each of us whenever we allow iniquity and transgression into our hearts. Every sin we commit is an act of betrayal of Our Lord. Just as we can do a beautiful thing for Christ when we help the poor, we can be equally as cunning as Judas and plant the kiss of death on Jesus whenever we sin.

As the anointing of Jesus by Mary gives us the right perspective on what is pleasing to God, we must also view the treacherous act of Judas as a favor, because it leads us to rethink and reassess our commitment to God and his presence in our lives through the Holy Spirit. This Holy Week is an opportune time to ask whether we are genuine disciples or fake followers.

As we dwell on the life of Christ, we can choose despair and death, or we can choose repentance, forgiveness, hope and eternal life. The betrayal of Judas sent Jesus to the cross, but his death on the cross gave us the gift of salvation. In truth, sharing in the suffering of Christ is an opportunity to reform our lives that we may become pleasing and acceptable in His sight.

This Holy Week presents us with the opportunity to pass from death (sinfulness) to life (salvation).  Are we going to accept the gift Christ paid for with his life?  


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