Sunday Reflections

People have the right to change their mind.  I may decide to order another flavour of ice cream other than chocolate, even though it is my favourite.  I may choose to wear a suit coat instead of my usual sweater.  I am sure we would all agree that these are minor decisions. 

In the two gospels of today we also see that people can change their minds.  In the gospel of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem we hear the people shouting, “Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!”  Yet, in the reading of the Passion we encounter the same people shouting, “Crucify him!  Crucify him!”  Obviously, the people had changed their mind in the space of four days.

Indeed, in our human condition, we can be fickle.  However, in our following of Jesus – knowing, loving and serving Him – we cannot display this quality.  Our faith is founded on convictions, not on feelings or the influence of the crowd (as seen in the gospels).  Our accompanying of Jesus during this Holy Week, and its rich liturgies, confirms in us our will to be faithful to God, and live lives that bear witness to Jesus.  We walk with Him to Calvary, witnessing His act of love in our redemption, and then we prepare to shout “Alleluia” on Easter.