One of the realities that we see around us, is the fact that everything is changing. Change is always happening around us.
Some changes are fast and happen quickly, while some changes happen slowly.
When we look at the palm branches in our hands, we can see how much changes they had undergone.
Just a few days ago, they were growing healthily on the plant.
Then they were cut off from the plant and brought to Church.
They were blessed at the beginning of the Mass, and later they will be brought back to our homes, where they will dry up slowly and turn brown and hard.
For these palm branches, the reality is the change from life to death.
In the gospel, the reality for Jesus is also the change from life to death.
From the Last Supper, to the Agony in the Garden, to His Suffering and Death on the Cross, and His burial, the changes in His life happened quickly.
But those changes from His life to His death also changed the whole world, and will change our lives as well.
Though the gospel ended with the death and burial of Jesus, the changes do not stop there.
Let us wait, because there will be another change, and will be a great and wonderful change.
That change will also change the world, and it will also change our lives.
As we unite ourselves with Jesus in His suffering and death, let us pray and wait.
From death, Jesus will rise to a glorious new life, and He will also raise us up with Him.
When we understand that life is a continuous change of dying and rising, then we will know that we too will change.
We will change from sinfulness to holiness.
We will change to be more like Jesus Christ our Lord and our Saviour.