This Sunday, with the blessing of the Palms and the solemn reading of the Passion, we begin the Holy Week. Last year, by this time, we were already under the lock down due to the pandemic. Let us thank God that we are now able to come back together and worship as a community. The whole world is still going through a very difficult situation due to the coronavirus illness. To make sense of what is going on, one needs to understand the mystery of human suffering. Why did
Jesus undergo suffering?...

Jesus is the Suffering Servant described by the Prophet Isaiah in the 1st reading. What happens to Jesus during the Holy week has been best summarized by St. Paul in today’s 2nd Reading. “Out of love for us, Jesus humbled himself, became obedient, suffered and died on the Cross. Therefore, God the father exalted him by raising him from the dead.” (Phil 2:6-11) Jesus suffered for us. Suffering has redemptive value.

Our God is closer to us, more than we can imagine, especially when we suffer. Let us walk with Jesus on the way of the Cross, carrying our own crosses, illnesses and other forms of sufferings. Instead of giving up or running away, let us stay close to the Cross of Christ as John the Apostle and Mary the Mother of Jesus did. If we believe we will see the Glory of the Lord, the Resurrection! We are a people of HOPE. We shall see the light at the end of the tunnel. Let us look forward to celebrating Easter, this time together as one community!

Fr. Sunny Punnakuziyil, MSFS
Pastor, SJN