A Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of Your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world.

Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as You wish to accomplish Your designs in the world.

O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully.

We come with confidence to You, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed Your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes Your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home.

Amen.

--Venerable Pope Pius XII

Read more:http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/heart/Im_consecr.htm#ixzz1sJUOwpCy

CHAPLET OF THE DIVINE MERCY

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Divine Mercy. Those who have followed the Divine Novena which ended yesterday, and thereafter go through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and receive the Holy Eucharist, coupled with an act of mercy and prayer for the intention of the Holy Father, would be receiving a plenary indulgence or complete remission of sins. 

Devotees are invited and truly encouraged to also pray the Chaplet, not only today but preferably everyday, as follows:

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

 

In 1933, God gave Sister Faustina a striking vision of His Mercy, 
Sister tells us:

"I saw a great light, with God the Father in the midst of it.
Between this light and the earth I saw Jesus nailed to the Cross 
and in such a way that God, wanting to look upon the earth, had to 
look through Our Lord's wounds and I understood that God blessed 
the earth for the sake of Jesus."

Of another vision on Sept. 13, 1935, she writes:

"I saw an Angel, the executor of God's wrath... about to strike
the earth...I began to beg God earnestly for the world with words 
which I heard interiorly. As I prayed in this way, I saw the
Angel's helplessness, and he could not carry out the just 
punishment...."

The following day an inner voice taught her to say this prayer on 
ordinary rosary beads:

"First say one 'Our Father', 'Hail Mary', and 'I believe'. Then on 
the large beads say the following words:

'Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity 
of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement 
for our sins and those of the whole world.'

On the smaller beads you are to say the following words:

'For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the 
whole world.'

In conclusion you are to say these words three times:

'Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us 
and on the whole world'.

Jesus said later to Sister Faustina:

"Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who 
says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death. Priests 
will recommend it to sinners as the last hope. Even the most
hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will 
receive grace from My Infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to 
know My Infinite Mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to 
those who trust in My Mercy...."

"....When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I 
will stand between My Father and the dying person not as the just 
judge but as the Merciful Savior".

Read more:http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm#ixzz1s7p5HBcS

THE BLESSINGS OF EASTER

Happy Easter to All !

Family reunions. Reconciliations. Spiritual renewals. Conversions. You may also include egg hunting, text messages, social media, parties and gatherings as among the momentous events and changes happening at this time to many among us who celebrate Easter.

These are blessings, as we may want to perceive them to be. They make us busy for, say, at least an entire week.

Of course, we have every reason to be happy and be joyful about Easter. Christ is Risen. A promise has been fulfilled and the blessings of redemption are upon us.

But human as we are, we constantly aspire, well, truthfully, material blessings. We want to look at Easter as an ocassion when, like New Year's day, we can look forward to a new life, or a new episode in our lives. A situation where our problems begin to fade away or resolve by themselves. An opportunity for our concerns to be addressed compeletely. A time to launch a new business, new products, new services, and be opened up to new opportunities or prospects for wealth creation.

Why not? After all, we are humans. But more, importantly we are children of God. He is Our Father. The Giver. The Perfect Provider. Surely, as we seek, we shall find and as we ask, we shall receive. Do not forget to knock that it may be opened to us.

So let as persevere in prayer, do not let up but always be reminded to surrender everything to God, who in His Mercy and Generosity, we shall not be abandoned.

HAPPY EASTER !

Alleluia! Alleluia! We are filled with joy that Christ has Risen, and together we celebrate the Triumph of Our Lord Jesus over death. He has redeemed all of mankind, and truly He is Our Divine Savior. We have a God who is alive. We have Our Almighty Father, the Creator of the Heaven and the Earth Who provides for all and at all times. Glory and Praise to Our God. The Giver of Life. We adore the Risen Christ in Union with the Holy Spirit. Amen. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Mortality or Divinity

We really cannot doubt and must not even question the fact that Christ is divine. He is God. Never a mortal. But of course, we cannot deny the truth that the story of redemption or salvation is the culmination of all the mysteries of the Holy Rosary. This means that Christ in His humanity must die on the Holy Cross to save mankind. He took the role of becoming a mortal being who can experience physical and emotional pain and anguish including death itself.

Its Black Saturday and we are, by faith and tradition, in deep mourning because we know our Christ is dead. This moment has caused tremendous anxiety to those who believe in Jesus as the Savior and yet they saw Him die on the Holy Cross and was buried. So how can a dead man save them?

Well, the rest is history. Those who believed otherwise were proven wrong. Those who doubted were certainly embarrassed by their lack of faith but that did not . Those who believed through and through were in a way rewarded with a clearer conscience, purer soul perhaps and definitely a stronger faith.

What about you? Where do you classify yourself in the order of things?
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CONSECRATION

In all things, we pray that God may be glorified. We offer our mind, our heart and our work to God. We lift up tp him all our accomplishments and shortcomings, as well as our successes and failures. We give ourselves to him, and we entrust our soul to God and to Him alone, when the time comes for us to leave this world.

DUTY

Each is given a mission. Each has work to do. What matters is that we must accomplish our mission or work, do it well and finished it on time. In the end, you should be able to say - it is accomplished. It is done. It is consummated.

ABUNDANCE

Christ is the living water himself. So how can he be thristy? Again, he was saying it for us. There is abundance and satisfaction in Jesus but we will always long for more, if what we desire are temporal wealth and human satisfaction. One is abundant in respect, dignity, honor and spiritual blessings. Do not allow them to be taken away from you. Remember, you will never be thirsty as long as The Living Water - Our Lord Jesus is your Way, your Truth and your Life.

COMMITMENT

Christ was not actually abandoned by God. Abandoned is truly a strong and human word. The word were uttered in Jesus' humanity. He felt so alone. But the truth is God knows what Christ felt and was never forsaken. He was saying it for us. Time will come when we, too, will feel abandoned. Yet, in the end, the truth is that God has and will always be by our side, at all times.

LOVE

A mother by the side of Jesus and who has suffered too when Christ was crucified. The Blessed Mother has deeply expressed her Love, a Love that does not need any proof, a Love which manifests by itself, an effortless Love, a Love that endures, a Love which does not wait for anything in return. Do we offer the same Love?

ACCEPTANCE

". . . you shall be with me in Paradise".

A sinner accepts his faults and does something to rectify the wrongs or avoid near occasion of sins. A sinner acknowledges the goodness of the Lord and asks for forgiveness. He pleas for mercy and prays that Christ will bring him to heaven.

FORGIVENESS

This is the first word which Jesus wants us to learn - Forgiveness. In our world today, this is often heard but seldom done. Why? It is difficult to forgive when the pains and hurts are just too much. It is not easy to do when one is not even willing to forgive. Is it pride? Is it hatred? Is it vengeance? Is it envy? You are created in the image of God. That image forgives. You cannot be anyone else.

SEVEN LAST SAYINGS

Father forgive them, for they known not what they do.

Amen, I tell you shall be with me in paradise.

Woman behold you son. Son behold your Mother.

My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?


I thirst.





It is accomplished.

Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit.

WHAT IS GOING ON NOW?

Strange question. Going on with what? With whom? If one were to just read it, the question doesn't really make any sense. This is simply because there is no reference point which could serve as the basis by which one can start off answering the question. So now that this has been made clear, what's the point? Why belabor on something which has been clarified. Well, we go back to where were started off. Going on with what? With whom?

That is what life has been when one was born. The baby has actually no reference point. The parents? Of course not. The lives of each one is different from those of others. Not one instance can two or more lives be alike. Not even a conjoined twins. What about the world around the baby? Again, of course not. How can it be? The world when the baby was born will already be a different world the moment that baby becomes an adult. That is why, the process of learning never ends.

You. Yes, you. What have you learned today?

THE DIVINE MERCY NOVENA STARTS TODAY - GOOD FRIDAY

Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday.  He gave St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said: 

 

"These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy." 

 

In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:

"On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls." 

 

The different souls prayed for on each day of the novena are:

DAY 1 (Good Friday)  - All mankind, especially sinners

DAY  2 (Holy Saturday) - The souls of priests and religious

DAY 3 (Easter Sunday)  - All devout and faithful souls

DAY 4 (Easter Monday) - Those who do not believe in Jesus and those who do not yet know Him

DAY  5 (Easter Tuesday) - The souls of separated brethren

DAY  6 (Easter Wednesday) - The meek and humble souls and the souls of children

DAY  7 (Easter Thursday) - The souls who especially venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy

DAY  8 (Easter Friday) - The souls who are detained in purgatory; 

DAY  9 (Easter Saturday) - The souls who have become lukewarm.

During the Solemn Novena leading to Divine Mercy Sunday,
the Chaplet of Divine Mercy should be offered each day for the
day's intentions.

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#ixzz1rDaGxFtu

BARABBAS THE CRIMINAL

"What is truth?" Pilate asked. Then he want out again to the people and told them, "He is not guilty of any crime. But you have a custom of asking me to release someone from prison each year at Passover. So if you want me to, I'll release the King of the Jews." But they shouted back, "No! not this man, but Barabbas!" - John 18:38-40

There was an "election" and the people, actually the mob, chosed a criminal rather than Jesus. Here, the majority wasn't right. Does this situation sounds familiar to you at the present time?

THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Who exactly are the twelve apostles? They are: Simon Peter, James, John, Andrew, and Philip. They are fishermen, and ambitious. Then the tax collector, Matthew. Bartholomew, known for his honesty. Thomas for his courage. And also, James, Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot. Finally, Judas Iscariot, the devil who betrayed Jesus.

Fourteenth Station

JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB

My Lord Jesus Christ you human and divine. Indeed, human as you have willed yourself to be, that in itself is humility in your divinity. And who are we then not to learn humility which is the beginning of humanity. As you are laid in the tomb, it can be said that IT IS ACCOMPLISHED. Yes, God's will has been done. Amen.

Thirteenth Station

JESUS IS LAID IN THE ARMS OF HIS BLESSED MOTHER

Lord Jesus, as when everyone, except for a few, has expressed fear, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus are not afraid to stand up for you. They took you down from the Holy Cross and laid you in the loving arms of your Blessed Mother. But why the Blessed Mother. The cause of the downfall of humanity was Eve, who was responsible for the temptation of Adam to eat the forbidden fruit. When Christ died on the Holy Cross, it was the triumph that has been longed for. And the Blessed Mother, being the new Eve would offer such victory to the Heavenly Father. Amen.

Twelfth Station

JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

My Lord and My Savior, My Christ and My Redeemer, My Jesus, you have died on the cross because of the many sins and transgressions we have committed against you. With 5,745 wounds which you have sustained, with the cross weighing about 300 pounds on your shoulder alone, with the thousands steps you took on your way up to Calvary, with the crown of thorns, lashes, blows and kicks, falls and the weight of the cross on your body, and finally the nails on your hands and feet, as well as the lance that pierced your body, WHO AMONG US HAS THE COURAGE TO STEP FORWARD AND TAKE YOUR PLACE? We are truly and deeply humbled prostrated on the ground, as we asked for your mercy and forgiveness. All in your Most Holy Name, Amen.

Eleventh Station

JESUS IS NAILED ON THE CROSS

Lord Jesus, My Savior, this is the time when you know who are with you and those who are not. Many among us and in our own lives - we do encounter problems, serious enough, as to drive away people from us. During happy times, they are near. During trying times, they are nowhere to be seen or heard. A little prayer may suffice, yet we do not know if they are really praying for us. We are also guilty of the same weakness ourselves. There are those whom we should be helping out but we did not extend our hands to them. Is it our of fear? Just like when you were being nailed on the cross, there may be those who followed you but on account of fear that they too may be nailed on the cross, have chosen to keep silent about they presence and what they feel about what was being done to you. Or is it just because we are indifferent to the plight of others, just like when we continue committing sins unmindful of your goodness, greatness and generosity. Teach us then Lord to be humble and be sincere in our ways so that when the time comes for us to help other people, we would not hesitate to do so, not because of as a mere obligation but more on the fact that we love you so much Lord. Amen.

Tenth Station

JESUS CLOTHES ARE TAKEN AWAY

My Lord Jesus, have mercy on us! Being stripped of your clothes is certainly deplorable. It is not only humiliating but it has added insult to injury. The soldiers are ruthless. They are gamblers which placed at stake your clothes on a winner take all basis. Terrible indeed. Many people today are stripped of what remains in them by those who have taken advantage of the weaknesses of such people. We pray that those who fall victims to these people would be able to recover and stand up, as always, for what is true and what is necessary. Amen.

Ninth Station

JESUS FALLS A THIRD TIME

Oh Lord Jesus Christ, the cross is obviously heavier now than the first time you had to carry it. I can only imagine the world today so much of a burden to you and yet, you continue to bring us to the road of salvation, you keep on carrying the cross, without let up. You have been obedient to the Almighty Father and had pleased Him so much by not giving up. As for us, we are easily discouraged by failures, and we tend to stop trying, or cease from even trying to try. We should not be prevented, by ourselves, from pursuing something which is noble and even Divine. We should not lose hope. We must constantly pray and ask for guidance, in order that - if ever we fall for the third or nth time – we may continue to move and fight for the many battles in our lives. Amen.

Eight Station

JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM

Oh Lord Jesus Christ, I am truly and deeply humbled by Your sincere act of giving encouragement to the women of Jerusalem, and in effect to all the people around You. This is despite the hardships that you have been going through at that time. The women and the people who believes in your goodness, mercy and the truth as the Messiah, have been given a very important message – to weep for themselves and their children. It is out of love that this message was clearly given to all, including us, at this time and age. There will be trials, but that would not mean that we must lose hope. Christ has assured us that while this world will continue to be arrogant and ungrateful, He will be with us, or those who will truly believe in Him. Amen.

Seventh Station

JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

My Lord, My Jesus and Savior. You are extremely exhausted already. The cross is heavier and more difficult to carry. The pain is just so intense. The soldiers are cruel. The crowd, even more mean and ferocious. The weight of the cross was just too much to bear. You fell for the second time.

But the reasons, no matter how valid they may be, and would justify that your giving up, did not deter you from getting up and continue carrying the cross on your way to calvary.

Teach us Lord to do the same. As we fall, many times actually, help us to stand up once again and move on to our life’s journey. We know that without you, we are nothing. Without you, we cannot do anything. Be our strength. Amen.

Sixth Station

VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

Oh my Lord Jesus, it was just a piece of cloth wiped on your face of Jesus, with blood and sweat dripping. Through such very small way, you are pleased. Veronica knows it is the only thing that she can do if only to ease up your sufferings and pains.

What about each one of us? Do we give our share to ease up the burden of Christ? Do we offer ourselves for him? Do we work and do things to help others who are in need?

There have been many times that we have thought of giving ourselves a break, or demanding some space for ourselves. We feel that we deserve better, or we need to have some more of what we already have, never contented of anything. We always think of ourselves and forget the fact that we must also think of others. Yet, we still have the gull to ask a lot of things through our prayers. Is this the right attitude? Is this the life that we lead and live? Well, it is time. Time to change. Time to be what you want you to be. Like Veronica, we need to have the humility of meeting you personally and in our own little way, do something that will ease up your agony, sufferings, sacrifices, among others. In doing so, we do not expect any reward but at the same time, we will not refuse the blessings that will come our way, and in everything and in anything, we shall always thanks and praise God for his overflowing generosity. Amen.

Fifth Station

JESUS IS HELPED TO CARRY THE CROSS

My Lord Jesus Christ, I know that you do not need any help but amidst the humiliation that you have suffered from the hands of your persecutors, you have been humble enough to allow, a reluctant Simon of Cyrene to carry your cross. You have shown to us Lord that indeed “no man is an island”. That we live, not only for ourselves, but for our family and the people of God. That we have a responsibility to help others and to make sure that those who are in need are provided with what is necessary and which we can give as God has allowed us to. I have pleaded many times for help and you have not abandoned me. In many ways, you have answered my prayers. There were many times that I never realized that you have given me so many blessings and I was not even grateful. I can actually help carry the cross by heeding the call for me to serve God and in everything that I do, I must see to it that He is glorified and praised. Amen.

Fourth Station

JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER

My Lord Jesus, you were all alone by yourself, as you continue to suffer from the weight of the cross, the thousands of wounds inflicted upon you, and as blood flows down from your body and from your head. For sure, you were already grasping for your breath, dehydrated from lack of water, famished for not having taken anything for the day since you were taken forcibly at the Garden of Gethsemane. This is a terrible situation and ordinary humans will certainly not be able to endure and survive these hardships, sufferings, and agony. Yet, here comes the Blessed Mother, who have shown herself to you, if only to assure you that she is by your side, together with the Father in Heaven. Though you don’t need any assurance, our Blessed Mother has done what her bleeding and crying heart has told her to do – to be a mother, to care, to love, and as much as she wanted to but cannot, to suffer for you, her son, to take your place. How many among us would be willing to do what the Blessed Mother has done? In our world, at the present time, we seldom see people who would be willing to share what they have, or at the least, just to be honest, just be to good, just to be fair, just to be the man created in the image of God. We thank the Blessed Mother for being there with you as she is now for us. Amen.

Third Station

JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

My Lord and My God, My Savior , My Redeemer, Oh Lord Jesus. Forgive me. I mean it. From the very bottom of my heart. Had it not been for me, you would not have fallen from the sheer weight of that heavy cross that bears my sins. I don’t think I could even last carrying the cross before a first fall, but because you are My Lord, you have made sure that I would be able to carry my own cross. I now know why I was able to – because you were carrying me and my cross. Well, the bottomline is that I must carry on with whatever good things I may have started in my life and with my life. I should not be giving up and I ought to realize that there will always be a first time, and that first time must never discourage me to carry on. There may be obstacles, frustrations, disappointments, discouragement or whatever damn-if-you-do situations, but I must always bear in mind and in my heart that Jesus will always be with me, and I can truly feel His Holy Presence, unworthy as I am, for He loves me, and He wants me to succeed ! Amen.

Second Station

JESUS CARRIES THE CROSS

Oh My Lord Jesus Christ, how heavy indeed is the cross which you have been made to carry on your shoulders. That cross is actually this world ! The sins of men ! The transgressions and ungratefulness of humanity ! And to think that all these continue up to this day as you bear them, every moment, on your shoulders. Yet, and yes, yet, many among us would not even want to carry the little crosses that come our way. We always want to be within our respective comfort level. What a shame?! What really is that cross that I have always been to told to carry? Is it the same cross that you carried all the way up to the Calvary, to your death? Uh Oh. I think, not even a bit or fragment of that cross could be carried by me. Not even a breath that comes out of it. The cross of my life refers to myself, my iniquities, my sins, my forgetfulness, my carelessness, my lack of faith, and being a Christian and yet, I refuse to face each and every of these bits (or even one or two) of my own cross. Maybe because, I am afraid of problems; or I do not even try to carry my cross because of my fear of failure, that I may not be able to bring it up to my own Calvary. Well, wake up, you will not be nailed if you carry your cross. That cross, your cross, is actually a millionth fragment of the tiniest dust found in Jesus’ cross, and all you need to do is do your part in not being an additional burden for Christ. Be a solution, not a problem. Amen.

First Station

JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

Oh Lord Jesus, you have been a victim of the cruelty of man. Pontius Pilate was not only indecisive, he was also a coward. He allowed himself to be pressured by a mob. He could not take responsibility and would not own what he did on that day when you were condemned to death. He made actually a fun of himself. You were alone. Some would want to stand up for you but there was not much strength in terms of numbers. The majority was not right when you were condemned. They were moved by evil motives and evil designs. As I read and listen to news reports nowadays, the injustices and atrocities have not ceased. Many have been condemned and only to find out later that the person was innocent of the crime charged. Many have experienced death by way of curtailment of their freedom to live as human beings. Poverty, hunger, human trafficking, drug and substance abuse, violence against women and children, among other and similar crimes and offenses. The victims are virtually condemned to death since in the end – how they wished they were dead, how they wished they were not born, how they wished that the world would end. Perhaps. Well, actually my own weaknesses, my own sinfulness have condemned you to death. But there is still time and as I walked through with you and contemplate on the stations of the cross, I am truly thankful to you Lord Jesus for this opportunity, as I pray for those victims, who, like what you have gone through when you were condemned to death, are now suffering and languishing in their present state of life. I lift them up to you and may they be blessed with your generosity and goodness. Amen.

THE KING'S TRIUMPH

King of the Jews, a title given to Jesus not so much to honor Him but more so to ridicule Him. For how can He be the King of the Jews when they have not even recognized Him to be one. In fact after His triumphant and glorious entry to Jerusalem, He was to be mocked at, despised and made fun of. As to why they were doing it, they may not even know it. The Pharisees were of course filled with envy and fear. Yes, fear that they will lose their hold on the people, and that would mean, losing the perks and comforts for their privileged role as so-called religious leaders of their time. Ah, indeed, they are all hypocrites, sycophants, bootlickers and evil men.

Today, as in the past since that triumphant entry of Christ, history keeps on repeating itself. We praise Him, we glorify and adore Him. We pray and invoke His mercy. Yet, we continue to do what people during Christ's agonizing trek to calvary has done. Shame on us!

Christ is King of the Heaven and the Earth. He deserves more than just palm leaves and a joyous welcome. He deserves the best though unworthy we may be. He is Our Lord and Our King. The King of All !

Palm / Passion Sunday

Palm/Passion Sunday

Sunday, April 01, 2012

Obedience Till Death

Mk 11:1-10 and Mk 15:1-39

An elderly lady visited the grave of her departed husband. Her attention was caught by the sight of a man who was kneeling at a nearby grave, obviously overwhelmed with grief. She could overhear him repeatedly saying between sobs, "Why did you have to die? Why did you have to die?" The lady approached him and said, "Sir, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies. Forgive me for asking, but how are you related to the departed? Is she your wife? Your child? Your mother?” The man took a moment to wipe his tears and to compose himself. Then he replied, "This is the grave of the first husband of my wife."

This Sunday, we begin the celebration of Holy Week. We call this Palm Sunday. But more accurately, this is called Passion Sunday. That is why our Gospel is the long narrative of the Passion of the Lord. Today we join Jesus as he begins his passion and sufferings, which will end up in his death on the cross. This is in obedience to the will of the heavenly Father for the salvation of sinful humanity.

Jesus is both true God and true man. As God, he must have known and accepted without question the plan of the heavenly Father. But as man, his human nature would be in turmoil and repeatedly asking the Father: “Why do I have to die? Why do I have to die?”

In the Gospels, there were many attempts by the scribes and Pharisees to apprehend and even to kill Jesus. But he would always be able to elude them. The reason is simply because his “hour has not yet come”. Later on, he would just keep away from the crowd so that he would not expose himself to the authorities. But this Sunday, we see Jesus not anymore hiding or avoiding the people. He boldly exposes himself to the crowd and openly enters the city of Jerusalem. He knows that it is in Jerusalem that he will die. But he enters the city amid all the cheers of the people holding palm branches in their hands: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

His “hour” has already come. It is the hour when he has to offer his life as sacrifice on the cross. This is also “the hour for the Son of Man to be glorified” (Jn 12;23). His hour of sacrifice is at the same time his hour of glory, for it is when he will be able to accomplish his mission and completely fulfill the will of the heavenly Father.

Surely, obeying God’s will is not that easy and simple. Jesus himself struggled with it. His human nature must have rebelled against the thought of dying: “Why do I have to die?” In fact, even towards the end, at the Garden of Gethsemane, he pleaded, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me.” Notwithstanding all these, his sheer desire to obey the will of the Father took over his whole being: “Yet not what I will but what you will be done” (Mk 14:36). He knew all along that it is the main purpose of his life in this world. This he already expressed at an early age of twelve, when he told his parents at the Temple, “Did you not know I must be about my Father’s business?” (Lk 2:49).

As Christians, doing the Father’s will is our business. It is the only guarantee of having complete relationship with Jesus: “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Mt. 12:50). It is the only way to our glory as God’s children. Unfortunately, for many of us, this is not the case. We insist on our own will, even against the will of God.

This is one thing we have to seriously reflect on. We profess to be followers of Jesus, but do we really follow him? Or we readily abandon him when things do not happen according to our plan? Take for example our celebration of Holy Week. This Sunday our churches are filled with people. Well, perhaps it is due to the palms. But come Holy Thursday and Good Friday, this multitude is nowhere to be seen. They will reappear at dawn on Easter Sunday when they expect another “added attraction” with the traditional “salubong” or “encuentro”. When we think we do not get something, we abandon Jesus right away. This explains why many Catholics are also into superstitions, feng shui, faith healers and horoscopes. This is why we have lots of Catholics who constantly live in immorality, corruption and perversion.

Jesus enters Jerusalem to fulfill the will of the Father, even though he knows that it means his own death. But he does not really mind because he knows that both life and death lead to the same glory – as long as they are in fulfillment of the will of God.

Let us, then, not be afraid to obey the will of God. It is the only way to remain pleasing in His sight. In his message to St. Faustina, Jesus said, “My daughter, know that you give Me greater glory by a single act of obedience than by long prayers and mortifications” (Divine Mercy in my Soul, 894). And according to St. John of the Cross, it is the best penance we can do in order to unite ourselves with the sacrifice of Jesus: “Obedience is a penance of reason, and, on that account, a sacrifice more acceptable than all corporal penances and mortifications.”

In moments when we feel our cross becomes heavier, may we take courage and strength from the words of Pope Benedict XVI: ‎"The Cross often frightens us because it seems to be a denial of life. In fact, the opposite is true! It is God’s “yes” to mankind, the supreme expression of his love".  

Fr. Mike Lagrimas

Sta. Lucia Church

JP Rizal Street, Bgy. Sta. Lucia

Novaliches, Quezon City 1117