HUMILITY TO HOLINESS AND HOLINESS OF HUMILITY

 

“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mk 11:9–10). Dear Friends we are on Palm Sunday. On this Sunday, we are entering into the Holy week with Jesus as He triumphally enters the city of Jerusalem – the city of David. Jesus enters Jerusalem with the slogans of His followers who acclaim Him as the king of Israel (Lk 19:38). They also proclaim all that they had seen him doing (Lk 19:37). The interesting point to note in this whole glorious scene is the donkey on which Jesus is sitting and having a ride. No human king would prefer to sit on a donkey or on any such animal to enter the capital. Our king is different. Because, He is not an earthly king. He is the King of kings. Glorious looks and scenes evoke respect and submission toward that person. Our king does not want respect and submission, rather He wants our reverence and participation. He is not coming to rule over us by subjugating us. His rule is that of love and compassion. He comes to be one among us. He wants our loving reverence and wilful obedience. He rules over us not as king and subjects but as shepherd and sheep. Humility is the hallmark of His kingship.

In the second reading of today, St. Paul portrays the humility of God in a form of song. St. Paul sings the humility of God that is manifested in Jesus (Phil 2:6-11). Jesus, our king is a God of the Universe. He is supreme to all created beings. Yet, He chose to subject Himself to human rulers (Jewish leaders and Pontius Pilate). Throughout this Holy week, we see the humility of Jesus which goes further and further – from one step to another step. To be a created being (man) itself a greater humility of God, but our God prefers to go to the maximum possible in His humility. Crucifixion is the ultimate manifestation of His humility. To show that God is love and compassionate, Jesus has gone to the extent of shedding His blood and sacrificing His life. In the same way, the Christians are called to do the maximum possible to resist sin. The letter to the Hebrews invite us to resist sin to the extent of shedding one’s blood (Heb 12:4).

Holy week is very important in our Christian life. It is in this week we commemorate the mysteries of our faith. The Passion, death and resurrection of Jesus are the focal point of our Christian living. We need to remove all that bars us from participating in the ceremonies of the Holy week. This is the week that is dedicated totally to our God. Our first priority to give time to God. We need to make use of the Holy week liturgies maximum possible to comprehend the mysteries of our faith. In these celebrations, we are not just spectators but partakers. We need to participate with our whole body, soul, mind and strength. Let our sins be washed away by the blood of the Lamb.

This week is called Holy because it is in the events of this week our God has made us Holy. Holiness belongs only to God. It is the quality of God and His inner life. As people of the God of Abraham we are called to participate in His Holiness. “Be Holy for I the Lord your God is Holy”, says the Lord (Lev 19:2). It is not enough to sing Hosanna, say Lord, Lord and acclaim Jesus as our King. The group that march with Jesus today at the entrance of Jerusalem do the same thing but fail to remain with Jesus at the time of crucifixion. To have our Lord as our king we need to participate in His Holiness by becoming Holy. We need to wash our sins in the sacrament of reconciliation with proper preparation. May we enter deep into ourselves to see the wretchedness of our life. Let the assessment of our life help us to humble ourselves in front of the Lord. Confession is the seat of God’s mercy and chamber to exhibit our humility. May we do the maximum possible to humble ourselves in front of the Lord. May the humble Lord, who rides on the donkey give us the grace to be Holy.                 

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