If you care about real and true news, I’ll give you one; and the news is: “This is the most important week in your life.” Is that news enough? Then brace up for what it brings. As it was during the week of the Passover 2000 years ago, I predict that, as usual, the world aided by their media will steer some controversy to distract mindless Christians from Holy Week. If they don’t find some juicy he said/she said to peddle, it’ll be about sex in high places or some jab implicating a prominent Church figure. And the reason is this: Because the events of this week do not serve worldly instincts and is hated by the enemy, the option left is to spice up innuendos to serve as grill for the media meal, so to take your mind away from Christ and the redemption He wrought for you. Beware!
Why do we carry palms today? The answer to the question expresses the reason for this season, and this Holy Week. First, we carry palms to symbolize our victory, which Christ won for us by His passion, death and resurrection. Second, the palms symbolize the true identity of the Lord, acclaimed with the words: “Hosanna (save us)” and “Son of David,” also “He who comes in the Name of the Lord,” the “King of Israel;” words that were troubling for the authorities, both Roman and Jewish. Yet, Pilate would later affix the sign (INRI) acknowledging Christ’s kingship, mockingly though.
We heard in the sacred narrative—the passion, various characters who played varied roles: good, bad, very bad, ugly. Luke’s characters reveal that no one can be neutral before Jesus. You’ll find yourself at each point in your journey with Christ taking up any of those roles; roles that will define us before God’s judgment seat. Let’s take a look at just 14 characters:
- Peter—A fragile rock, who kept following even at a distance. Impetuous, yet, with gaze fixed on Jesus, representative of sinful/redeemed humanity.
- Judas—Betrayer, lover of money. All betrayals of divinity require insincere marks of affection, like a kiss. A friend will be your worst betrayer.
- High Priest—Felt his authority threatened and plays tricks to eliminate a perceived threat. Are you playing tricks with someone’s life or fortune?
- The Sanhedrin—Twisting the law and evidence to get desired conviction.
- Pilate—Politician, talked from both sides of his mouth. Knew the truth and what was just but preferred unjust sentence. Are you afraid to tell the truth (to our children and friends) lest you lose your self-importance?
- Herod—Had a bloody alliance with Pilate on the principle that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. The gains of revenge are always short-lived.
- Barabbas—Preferred to a just one. The hand of Barabbas is plastered all over the world as we install evil men and women with no morals as celebrities, while implicating the just with every imaginable accusation.
- The crowd—Sheeple, unthinking, reactional, easily swayed, victims of groupthink. Often the crowd doesn't know what’s happening and doesn’t know that it doesn’t know. Sapere Aude! (Dare to think), in the true sense.
- Simon of Cyrene—A disgruntled helper won over by the serenity of the Man of Suffering. We cannot look the other way when our sister/brother suffers.
- Women of Jerusalem—Stood firm when the men wavered. Tradition has it that He gave to one of them, Veronica, the imprint of His holy countenance.
- Two criminals—Jeered at him, but one proved he was a master thief and “stole” even paradise. Heaven’s gate is never closed to the seeker.
- Soldiers—Zombies as always, especially when armed and charged up.
- Centurion—Saw the Truth and glorified God amidst the gloom of deviltry.
- Joseph of Arimathea—At once bold and fearful. Afraid? You keep faith!
Each of us is invited to place ourselves around the cross of Christ as an intentional actor in that eternal drama. Where do you belong?
Fr. Chukwudi Jo Okonkwo