PALM  SUNDAY

Is 50:4-7; Phil 2:6-11; Mk 14:1-15:47

Give life freely for love of all people

Fr. Augustine Ekeno,SJ

Parish Priest

St Theresa of Child Jesus, Parish

Rumbek/ South Sudan

The readings of this Sunday describe two realities related to how Christ gave up his life freely for love of all people. First, we are told how his self-giving for all to have eternal life disposed him to the most humiliating, painful and torturous experiences, and eventually to the glorification of his resurrection. We are told about the kind of life or path of life that brings forth life in Christ. To follow this path of life in order to give life freely for love of all means being ready to embrace humility, patient suffering and total surrender to the will of God in order to have a share in his resurrection. This story of life-giving invites us to ponder how we can give life freely for love of all.

The second reality exposed by the readings includes that of betrayal. The gospel tells of how Jesus was betrayed by Judas. Two facts about Judas is that, first, he was a close friend of Jesus. Judas was one of the disciples. He was no stranger to Jesus, but a close and familiar friend. Secondly, he was a lover of money. The Judas in the gospel epitomizes many ‘Judas’ in the society that have exploited and used their friends and the most vulnerable to meet their selfish ends. One such vulnerable group that has suffered in the hands of the present day ‘Judas’ are the people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

Like Jesus, PLWHA have been betrayed by people very close to them. Some of them have been betrayed by their own parents, brothers and sisters, religious leaders, and politicians etc. Some of them have been betrayed, exploited and abused by money hungry men and women who are willing to do and say anything about PLWHA as long as they can make money. These people do not care about giving life. Using the poor to make money is sucking life out of them. It is exploitation. Being money minded can blind us from recognizing our responsibility to give life to the most vulnerable and broken-hearted through offering love, care, healing and treatment, and social and pastoral accompaniment.

Click here for the French version: Dimanche des Rameaux