Evelyn Jock
Palm Sunday Celebration as we know, signals the start of the Holy Week, the Sunday before Easter. We commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem where the people met him with praise and waving palm leaves. The celebration of Palm Sunday started at the front of the St. Mary’s Parish Hall where the parishioners gather in anticipation. Bishop Julius D. Gitom was assisted by Deacon Ricki Boy Hasim who read the Gospel, and we witness the blessing of palm leaves and sprinkling of holy water. This is then followed by a he procession to the Cathedral with the choir singing “Hosanna to the Son of David”.
Bishop Julius expounded in his homily of Jesus’ trial and tragedy, praise and rejection and glory in suffering. Peter, the leader of Jesus’ disciples, denied Jesus three time but he later repented; Judas betrayed Jesus but never repented; Jesus disciples was at the cross and remain faithful to the end; the people of Jerusalem greeted Jesus with joy but quickly turned against him when he did not meet their expectations. Palm Sunday invites us to examine our faith journey. Are we willing to remain faithful to Jesus? We must decide how to respond to Jesus in our daily lives. Palm Sunday is beautiful because it speaks of desires that we all have, that is, acceptance, appreciation and belonging. Jesus, the Son of God, does not have any of this desires. From the moment of his incarnation, he had a mission, and that is moving towards his hour, the hour of glorification.
The palms and leaves that greeted Jesus as a triumphant King but the branches soon turned into ashes of suffering. Reflect and ask yourselves. when was the last time you stood up for someone else, embrace or sacrifice for the sake of another. The sufferings of the world, or closer to home, the suffering of your own community whom you may know.
Bishop shared that the Bishop Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei recognised the sufferings of the people of Myanmar, who recently faced calamities, and in the spirit of solidarity this Easter, he encouraged the people to contribute through the Lenten envelopes to help ease the sufferings faced by Myanmar.
The prelate also called on the people to strengthen their faith, be faithful to Christ, enter into his passion and look forward to his glorification which the Lord himself is inviting us.