Three Images on the Longest Gospel Reading

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Palm Sunday is most exciting because this is the only Sunday when the faithful come to Mass with intricately decorated branches. Children especially love the trimmings until they notice how they have to stand up and listen to the longest Gospel reading. I still am fascinated by the children's short attention span but am more fascinated at how the parents repress their children. But that is not my story. Today, the Liturgy of the Word delves on Isaiah's prophecy, Paul's letter to the Philippians, and the detailed Gospel of Luke 23: 1-49. Will leave you to check your Bible as an activity for this discussion. What we need to know is that in fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, and our Lord Who knew that the hour has come for Him to fulfill the prophecy, He was received like a King as He entered Jerusalem. Remember, the Jews were waiting for a Savior, and who would be magnificent and gallant enough to rescue them but a great and noble King. Ecstatically, they laid linen and waved palms, clueless of what is to come. In a matter of hours, our Lord is with His apostles for the last supper. He washed the feet of His apostles like a suffering servant, instituting the Holy Priesthood, before instituting the Holy Communion in the breaking of the Bread. "This is My Body, This is My Blood." Paul emphatically said to the Philippians."Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord." In the Passion, our Lord was like a prophet, His words foreseeing as He tells the weeping women "Pray for your children's children," and to the repentant thief, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." As we move on to what Filipinos call "Mahal na Araw" or "Semana Santa" or Holy Week, let us reflect on what our Lord Jesus had to go through for us. He was King, Suffering Servant, and Prophet. He endured us in order to save us.