Don Bosco Philippines South Province

Homily on Passion Sunday; 13 April 2025, SJBP Cotcot, Liloan

Almost forty days ago, we came together to have ashes marked on our foreheads to begin the season of Lent. Today we begin the Holy Week. We have gathered once again, not anymore with ashes on our heads, but with palm branches in our hands. What are these branches for? Are they amulets to ward off bad spirits? Are they lucky charms to attract good fortune? No, not at all! They are signs of our unwavering faith in God. They are symbols of our total trust in him. By holding these palm branches we are actually professing our firm faith and total trust in Jesus, our Lord and our God, our King and our Savior.

It is important to keep in mind that having these palm branches blessed and displayed in our homes or in our rooms is not an assurance that we shall always be blessed or that we shall always be spared from pain and suffering, from sickness or accidents. It does not mean that we shall always be protected from calamities and misfortunes. On the contrary, they are strong reminders for us that we are called to follow Jesus until death, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, all the days of our life. I’m sure these very words sound familiar to many of you, right? Yes, these are the same words that the bride and the bridegroom say to each other on their wedding day, as they commit themselves till death to be one in the love of Jesus and raise up as good Catholics the children God will give them.

All of us, in fact, have already been dedicated to God on the very day of our baptism, confirmation and first Holy Communion. We had already been cleansed and reborn as God’s children in Baptism. Many of us have already been gifted generously with the Holy Spirit in Confirmation, and almost all of us are already being nourished by Christ’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist. Through these three sacraments of Initiation we have belonged totally to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Consequently whatever trial we might be going through right now in these mega-difficult times, we are reminded now to offer ourselves in union with the passion and death of Jesus, so that being made one with him, we may also come to share in his mission of bringing the whole world back to God, and at the end of our lives, we may share in the glory of his resurrection. For this reason while the blessing of palms is significant for us Catholics, the more important highlight of today’s liturgy is actually the reading and proclamation of the Passion of our Lord.

From the passion narrative we have just heard, we get an idea of how much Jesus suffered. We realize how extremely painful and humiliating his death was which he patiently endured for the forgiveness of our sins. All those trials took place as the prophet Isaiah had prophesied long ago. “I have offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; I have not turned my face away from insult and spitting.” (Isaiah 50:4-7). Grabe, di ba!!! And yet despite those unbearable trials and sufferings, the level of trust and confidence in the Lord remained high as can be seen in the words of the same prophet “The Lord Yahweh comes to my help, this is why insult has not touched me.”

I guess and I believe what the Lord can simply be telling us today is this to FOLLOW HIM with FULL TRUST: If you sometimes find life unfair and unbearable, esp. with all the natural calamities happening one after another, the injustices being committed against the poor and the weak, including your own personal and family problems, then just try to gaze at Jesus on the cross and you will realize you are not suffering alone. He is there with his pierced heart suffering with you to bring the whole world back to God. Jesus is saying, “Know that I am with you in your lowest moments and in your darkest hour.” And by holding on to the sacred palm branches of this day let us courageously respond to Him saying “Lord, I offer you these trials, troubles and tribulations in union with your passion in atonement for all my sins and those of the whole world.”

At this moment allow me to underline the word atONEment which also means reparation. Please try to notice the word ONE in the middle of it. So, with that word, ONE, what does atonement really mean? It means not only the willingness to repair the damages caused by our sins, but also the desire to be ONE with Jesus who has suffered on the cross for our salvation. Therefore, if today we are in pain, and we find meaning in our suffering, then and only then shall we begin to experience inner peace. We will become more patient, more serene and more and more like Jesus.

There was once a priest who gave a homily at a wedding. And he told the couple about the precious rings of marriage. I’m sure you know two of these rings: the first one is the engagement ring that the man gives to his beloved when he proposes to marry her. And the second one is the wedding ring which the bride and the groom give to each other.

However, once they are married there are three more rings they should be ready to wear: bo-RING, when they begin to find each other boring; boxing-RING when they begin to quarrel and fight over anything; and suffer-RING when they begin to hurt each other physically or emotionally. As soon as these three other rings come, the husband and wife are called to wear the last but most important ring of all, namely, offer-RING. Whether they have become richer or poorer, healthier or sicklier, better or bitter, they should be able to make the offer-RING of their joint lives entirely to God.

Now to conclude… Dearly beloved, sooner or later these palm branches that we have blessed today will dry up and wither. But will you allow your faith and trust also to fade away? Of course not especially as we continue to celebrate the Jubilee Year of HOPE! With faith and hope always burning in your hearts you are invited to raise your hands and open palms towards the heavens. The palms of your hands are to be the living signs of your undying and unwavering faith, hope and love for Jesus. And with your hands up in the air I invite you to repeat the same words: “Lord, I offer you these trials, pains and sufferings in union with your passion in atONEment for my sins and those of the whole world. ” And then, with the same palm of your hand make the sign of the cross on your body to unite yourself with Christ’s passion and death on the cross.

Dearly beloved brothers and sisters, the Passion of the Lord has begun. As we enter “Jerusalem” waving our palms and palm branches we are invited to enter more deeply into the heart of Jesus burning with love for us… and to plunge ourselves in the vast ocean of his mercy and compassion. May we experience for ourselves the overwhelming love God has for each one of us.

I wish you all a grace-filled and fruitful Holy Week. GiGsss!

Disclaimer: This section of the website is a personal creative writing of the author and does not necessarily reflect the official views, opinion, or policies of the Salesians of Don Bosco – Philippines South Province. For concerns on the content, style, and grammar of this piece, please contact us.