Isaiah 50:4-7 / Philippians 2:6-11 / Luke 22:14 – 23:56
We had stood for quite a while in that rather long gospel narrative of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We could have felt some discomfort and we could also have been distracted.
Now that we are seated, let us take some time to reflect and think about what we have just heard.
Besides reflecting on the suffering and death of Jesus, what may come to our minds could be our own discomforts and pains in life.
These discomforts and pains could be physical, mental or emotional.
But when we look at Jesus, we know that He suffered like us.
Jesus not only suffered, He also died on the Cross to save us.
The suffering and death of Jesus is something that we need to think about as we begin Holy Week.
We will also think about our own discomforts, pains and sufferings.
But as we look at the Cross, we believe that Jesus will give us strength to bear our pains and sufferings and to bear our cross with love.
That is the saving power that Jesus wants to give us when we unite ourselves with Him in His suffering and death.
Let us turn away from sin and turn to God as we begin Holy Week.
May the celebrations of Holy Week also make us into a holy people for God.