Hosanna?

    Today we celebrate Palm or Passion Sunday. We examine its significance in our own lives and the extent to which we celebrate. The word celebrate does not mean "to party." It comes from the Latin "celebratio," which means to "gather in memory." What a mistake we make when we try to turn everything into a "party.
    As we celebrate the fullness of the passion and death of the one whom we call "Lord" this week, we might again examine the mentality of which we approach this celebration. How often I have spoken of the three major groups with whom Jesus spoke; the authorities, the crowds, and the disciples. Remember the crowds? The were the curiosity seekers. They loved the miracles. They liked the "magic" and feeling of it all. They were the ones who shouted and sang "Hosannas." But they were also the first to shout, "Crucify Him" when all the "magic" was gone.
    We use the phrase "Hosanna in the highest" at every mass. But more than that, as we "celebrate" the Lord's Real Presence in the Eucharist, we express something even deeper. We express this in the terms of "Holy, Holy, Holy..." This phrase expresses our reality as more than merely the sensational. It expresses an impact on our lives of the grace of God which flows from Jesus' accomplishment.
    As "disciples" who practice the "discipline" of Christ, how are we challenged to share this with each other, not only at this time, but throughout our earthly lives and eternity?

The Passion?

     When we really are involved and are compelled toward something, we develop a passion for it. Let's say we have a passion for sports. Someone might call us a "fan." Sometimes a fan is seen to be obsessive about a certain sport. Yet, he or she is still only called a "fan." Interesting, eh? Why? Because, if we have that same passion or obsession for our Lord Jesus Christ, we're called a "fanatic" by today's society... sometimes, even by other Christians.
     Jesus was obsessed also. He was obsessed with sharing the wonderful existence in heaven with His father and he Holy Spirit with us. He was so passionate about this, that he knew the best way for us to understand how to be with God was to overcome every weakness in the human existence. So He became human and allowed Himself to experience human suffering and death. He is such a fanatic about us in His love for us, that he allowed Himself to go through this. That way, we could see what our sins do to each other.
     In our recognition of how Jesus ended up on the Cross, we could clearly see what our behavior towards each other has the capability to accomplish... death. For Jesus didn't die of natural causes. He died from how we treated Him.
     But the good news is that through this observation, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can have a new beginning through the forgiveness He gives us. We have a new starting point. We die to the old self in Jesus' death and find ourselves living a new life. We recognize His love for us, His Passion, His fanaticism for us. Just think... Jesus is a fanatic about having you and I in heaven with Him. He's a fanatic about having you and I enjoy some of he fruits of that relationship even in this life through our continuing conversion! Passion? Love? Romance? Fanatic? Who cares what word we use just as long as we understand that Jesus loves us so much. We return that love by participating and making changes to our lives so that we no longer crucify anyone again in our lives.

The Celebration

     What a glorious celebration, right? Well, maybe not. It all depends on how you look at it. First of all, what does passion mean. If one is passionate about something, what is the motivation? Is it only an emotion?  No! It means that you believe in something. Jesus has a belief!
     Today we celebrate not only that we believe in Jesus, but that He believes in us. We move deeper into the understanding, not of our convictions, but of His. Jesus went through all of this knowing that someone would respond to His love. He has that much faith that you and I will respond. He is passionately involve with his accomplishment, no matter what it takes. If you aks Jesus, "Was it worth it?" He answers with a resounding "Yes!"
     The passion itself is usually celebrated in terms of the entrance into Jerusalem through the death of Jesus. But is that truly when His passion began? The passion of Jesus started long before history. All creation was in he mind of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It exists through all eternity. Imagine, each of us has been that important in the mind of God for Him to place himself in that pin–point time of history in Jesus' earthly ministry. And it is so powerful that it affects our existence in eternity.
     Jesus' passion existed forever and exists forever. We know it as an historical event. But we also know much more. We know that this passionate historical event lives on in our lives as we imitate him. We don't look to Him as an earthly king as they did at his entrance into Jerusalem. We know that earthly kings come and go. Jesus' kingship is personal and eternal. If we proclaim Him King, our proclamation means something totally different. It means that He is what every earthly king has not been. He doesn't force His kingship on us. He offers it instead.
     There is no greater love than this, to lay down one's life for a friend. Imagine, Jesus calls you and I his "friends." Yes, He must have great faith in us... that we will respond!