Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion : 2nd April, 2023

Dear Friend in the Lord,

Passion of Christ: In today’s Gospel, Jesus was condemned to Death, by Crucifixion; the most cruel and shameful torture for criminals.  Ponder on, “The evil that condemned Jesus is also active in different ways today.  Many people are fighting against the Truth of Jesus’ Gospel of Salvation and promoting atheistic ideologies and lifestyles through social media and other means.”

Fr Philip Heng, S.J.

Jesus was brought before the governor, and the governor put to him this question, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus replied, ‘It is you who say it.’ At festival time it was the governor’s practice to release a prisoner for the people, anyone they chose. The chief priests and the elders, however, had persuaded the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus.

Then Pilate saw that he was making no impression, that in fact a riot was imminent. So he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your concern.’ After having Jesus scourged he handed him over to be crucified. They stripped him and put a scarlet cloak round him, and having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head and placed a reed in his right hand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying, Hail, king of the Jews!’ And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucifixion.

And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.