What a blessed week

JAPAN — Palm Sunday reminds us about the start of Holy Week.

Our mass here started with the reading of the Gospel according to Luke ( chapter 19:28-40) which was held at the entrance of the church. After the readings and the blessing of the palms that were later distributed in a very orderly manner among the churchgoers, Fr. Healy and Fr. Waloyo led everyone back inside the church to continue the rest of the mass. The choir provided the music as everyone tried to settle quietly in their seats to join in the celebration of Palm Sunday.

In another church attended mostly by Filipino Nikkeijins ( descendants of Japanese who settled in Mindanao before, during, and after the war), real palaspas from Davao brought into Japan by a returning Nikkeijin were distributed to the delight of the Pinoy recipients!

The long Palm Sunday Gospel reading provided much food for reflection for everyone. For God’s plan of redemption, His Son, Jesus Christ had to fulfill his mission to go through days of betrayal, pain, and the ultimate sacrifice on the Cross.

The Luke account of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem took on a new meaning for me this year especially these words: “ Blessed is the the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.”

The Lord returns to Jerusalem amidst a cheering crowd at the end of His mission for His Father. The same words, we are reminded in Luke 2:13-14, were sung upon the Lord’s entry into the world, on Christmas midnight , not by mortals but by “ a great army of heaven’s angels singing praises to God: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased.”

Palm Sunday reminds us that it is to God to whom glory is due, and that peace and glory await those “ with whom he is pleased!” Jesus starts His week of passion and death with people glorifying His Father and Him who lovingly agreed to do His Father’s will for our redemption. From birth to death, songs and cries of praise and glory and honor to the Father accompany Jesus and those who come in the name of the Lord!

Another thought to ponder upon are the various characters who appear with, for, and against Jesus during His last days. Are we with and for Jesus and God in our lives or are we against Him?

It always touches me to be reminded that even those closest to the Lord, His disciples, especially Peter and Judas, denied or betrayed Jesus who knew they would do so and who told them so directly. How painful it must have been for Jesus to have those very close to Him deny and betray him. We ourselves have experienced so much pain of losing friends who betrayed us or who left us for the glitter of gold and personal glory.

Yet, despite our sins, despite His pain of having been denied and betrayed, being the loving God that He is, we are reminded about the very important message of Lent, that God forgives us, like the prodigal son, like the woman about to be stoned for her sin, like Peter who all returned to the arms of God, in sincere repentance and remorse.

What a blessed week to be reminded about God’s great love for us. He gave His only Son- who loved us so much as well- to be crucified and to die that our sins, that we all may be forgiven! Throughout Lent, we are reminded to be reconciled and to return to our Lord because no matter how much we have sinned, no matter how much we have denied Him. He forgives because He loves us so!

Although God, He took a towel and tied it to His waist, poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around His waist. ( John 13:4-5). He did this humble act before He shared His body and blood with us during His last supper with His beloved disciples! At the garden, His agony makes Him ask His Father to take away the cup of pain and crucifixion but He gives in to His Father’s will and willingly takes up the heavy cross so He could proudly report back to His Father, our Father, that He has accomplished what He came and was sent for – to do His Father’s will - “ It is finished” – His last words on the cross.

“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, hosanna in the highest!”

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