Palm Sunday

April 8, 2020

Palm Sunday

Of The Passion of the Lord

April 5, 2020

Deacon Anthony J. Cincotta

Assistant Director for Retreat Ministry

 

Book of the Prophet Isaiah 50:4-7

Psalm 22

Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians 2-11

Matthew 26:14-27-66

 

“My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?”

 

Have you ever felt alone, unable to cope, confused or even vulnerable?  I suspect that all of us, from time to time, have a tendency to think that God may have forsaken us.  Many around our word may be experiencing these emotions due to the threat of the Coronavirus.  It is a time when we need God in our lives more than ever.  Apparently, as we heard in today’s Holy Gospel of the Passion of the Lord, Jesus experienced that feeling as well.

How can this be that the Son of God, Our Lord Jesus, could possibly have experienced and expressed this type of being forsaken?  So much so that He cried out for all to hear, “My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?”  We can only ponder the mystery, but the very pondering of those words can give us strength.

We can take a quick look throughout Salvation History and remember when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.  Abraham remained obedient to the Lord’s command and proved himself up to the task and his son was saved.  God was with Abraham every step of the way.

We can remember in the Book of Exodus how God assisted Moses by leading the people through the desert as a cloud during the day and a pillar of burning fire at night.  God was with the people every step pf the way.

Finally, something happened with Jesus on His way to the cross.  The love of God the Father hovered over Him every step of the way.  Examples of this love is shown as Simon the Cyrene (Fifth Station) helps ease the pain of the cross weighing heavily on the shoulders of Jesus.  Or Veronica (Sixth Station) toweling off Jesus’ sweaty and bruised face.

But once nailed to the cross He was alone and left to die.  Forsaken?  I don’t know.  It certainly seemed so as He cried out, “My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?”

Perhaps you know the feeling of being forsaken or being abandoned.  Perhaps your words have been, at one time or another, “Why Lord, why?  Where are you?  I need you!”

As we walk the Way of the Cross in the companionship and loving memory with Jesus on the Palm Sunday, and on every day of our lives, we must be grateful for the courage of our Christ who set His face like flint and walked on in a faith that did not fail Him.  His Father in heaven was with Him, every step of the way.

Question of the Day:  Do you believe that God is with you every step of the way and will never abandon you?

Prayer:  “Nourished with these sacred gifts, we humbly beseech you, o Lord, that, just as through the Death of Your son You have brought us to home for what we believe, so by His Resurrection You may lead us to where you call.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.”  (Prayer After Communion – Palm Sunday Of The Passion Of the Lord – April 5, 2020) 

Please continue to pray for the victims of the Coronavirus and for all who are affected by this unprecedented pandemic.

Prosit