Lectio Divina Meditation for Passion Sunday Year C

Palm Sunday
March 28
“The Road to Glory … The Way of the Cross”

1. Lectio
Luke 19:28-40
28 … (Jesus) went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 Now it happened that when he was near Bethphage and Bethany, close by the Mount of Olives as it is called, he sent two of the disciples, saying,
30 'Go to the village opposite, and as you enter it you will find a tethered colt that no one has ever yet ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, "Why are you untying it?" you are to say this, "The Master needs it." '
32 The messengers went off and found everything just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said, 'Why are you untying it?' 34 and they answered, 'The Master needs it.'
35 So they took the colt to Jesus and, throwing their cloaks on its back, they lifted Jesus on to it. 36 As he moved off, they spread their cloaks in the road, 37 and now, as he was approaching the downward slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole group of disciples joyfully began to praise God at the top of their voices for all the miracles they had seen.
38 They cried out: Blessed is he who is coming as King in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens!
39 Some Pharisees in the crowd said to him, 'Master, reprove your disciples,' 40 but he answered, 'I tell you, if these keep silence, the stones will cry out.'

Comments
Holy Week begins with Palm or Passion Sunday. We find two differing scenarios, the first is found in gospel reading above which is read at the beginning of the procession into the Church and the second is found in the gospel reading of the passion during the Liturgy of the Word. The sharp contrast is highlighted by these 2 gospel readings. At the beginning of the week as Jesus enters Jerusalem, he is greeted by the crowds with excitement and enthusiasm for they believe that he would be the leader or the new king that would liberate them from the Roman conquerors. At the end of the week, the same crowd will shout and demand for his crucifixion because Jesus has disappointed them as his kingdom is unlike the kingdoms of the earth. Ultimately, we are reminded that the true road to glory for Christians must take the way of the cross. Without the cross, there can be no glory. It is better to be glorified by God than to be honoured by men.

2. Meditatio
1. Remember the times you received honour and praises from people. How did you feel? (Pause)
2. Now remember the times you were humiliated and embarrassed in front of others. How did you feel? (Pause)
3. Now, imagine that you are at a junction and there are two roads in front of you. The road on the left leads to human glory. Picture people standing and lining that road praising you, they are applauding and carrying banners with your name on it.
4. The road on the right leads to the cross. On this road, you would see people condemning, criticizing and accusing you. Which road will you take?

3. Oratio
Jesus Lord,
You have shown us that the glory of God
far outweighs the honour we receive from men.
May we always follow you on the road to the cross,
The cross which is our redemption,
The cross of humiliation,
The cross of your divine love,
And the cross of your glory.
Amen.

4. Contemplatio
Hold the image of the cross in your mind. Gaze at the cross with love.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life – Participate in the liturgy of Holy Week. Take time to reflect on the readings and rich symbolic actions which you will witness during the liturgy.
2. Communal Life – Pray for each member of your family during this Holy Week. Try to spend time together as a family, especially in attending the services of Holy Week.