PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD (YEAR C)

1st Reading          Isaiah 50: 4-7

Psalm                     22: 8-9, 17-18a, 19-20, 23-24 (R. 2a)

R:// "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

2nd Reading       Philippians 2: 6-11

Gospel                  Luke 22:14-23:56

BE A HELP TO THE HELPLESS

Beloved, today is Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord (Year C). This year, we have the passion narrative from the Gospel according to Luke. In year A, we read from Matthew, and in year B, we read from Mark. Because we are in Year C, we are reading from Luke. John's account of the Passion is read on Good Friday every year. 

I would like us to look at three groups of helpers in the narrative according to Luke. There are three groups of people I want us to pay attention to. Jesus is on the way to the cross and to be killed. 

The first person is Simon of Cyrene. He came unto the scene before Jesus' ascent of the mountain. He helped on the way up to the mountain. After that, we do not hear about him again. Simon is a Jew, living in Cyrene, a city in modern-day Libya. Simon is the father of Alexander and Rufus (Mk. 15: 21). Why is he in Jerusalem? Deuteronomy 16:16 demands that all male Jews return to Jerusalem to celebrate the three pilgrimage feasts. The Passover is one of those feasts. Simon, a Jew living outside the Jewish territory, returns, and he meets this tragic incident. He was coming into the city of Jerusalem when he was seized to assist Jesus. As a father, he may have been coming in with his sons. He left his duty as a father at that moment and allowed himself to be seized to assist Jesus. His celebration of the Passover would have been disturbed because that was not how he planned his day and the celebration to have gone.

Beloved, there are those who lay aside everything, even the most important duties of worship and family responsibility to help us in our suffering. They may be compelled by the situation to help. Never forget them. Never forget those who shared a bit of your burdens. In fact, the Gospels never forget to mention Simon of Cyrene's name. Similarly, help someone to allay the pain of their suffering, at least up to a point. There are those who help us to go through our sufferings up to our "mountains". Never forget them. Also, emulate them. 

The second person who assisted Jesus is the "good" thief. At the moment of death, while on the mountain and on the cross, there is yet another group of helpers. Two men were caught, declared ciminals, and were crucified with Jesus. One thief joined in the mockery of Jesus by the soldiers. His question aligned with what the soldiers asked Jesus. The soldiers, while mocking Jesus, asked, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!". The thief also asked, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!". At that, the "good" thief rebuked him. He came to Jesus' defence at the moment of death. While others oppressed him when he was in pain, this "good" thief relieved him of an aspect of his pain – the pain of mockery. In fact, after his defence, there was no more mockery of Jesus. 

Dear friends, there is a group of people who come to our aid at the end of our lives to defend us and absorb a portion of what we are going through. There are those who say exactly what we are, and their speech convinces others so that where oppression emanates from ceases. We need such kinds in our society today. Such kinds also come to us in various ways. At the peak of our suffering, such helpers appear. 

The third group of helpers lies in the image of Joseph of Arimathea. The Gospel describes him as a "good and rightous man". Interestingly, Joseph, the husband of Mary, is described as a "righteous man" (Matt. 1: 19). Joseph of Arimathea came after Jesus' death. The life of Jesus seemed to be wrapped in the help of Josephs. At birth, a Joseph was there. At his death, a Joseph was there. The name Joseph, "Yosef", means "he will add" or "God will increase". Jesus got additional help. God added help to his help. When we seem helpless, God increases our help. 

Even after his death, there was help, assistance, or aid. When all is said and done, there are those who play the help of a Joseph in our lives. They assist us and those whom our sufferings affect gravely. They give from the best of their treasuries just as Joseph gave out a newly hewn rock tomb to be used to bury Jesus. 

Beloved, notice that before, during, and after Jesus' death, there was help offered. God fashioned and ensured it. In the same way, God does not leave us helpless. Help comes to us. Just as others allow themselves to assist us in our low moments, so must we also open ourselves to aid others, at least to alleviate the pain of their suffering. 

However, there is a group that, if we are not careful, we can overlook. The Word of God mentions that "...and all his acquaintances and the women who followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things" (Lk. 23: 49). They started with him and ended with him. They did not appear at some points. They simply did not change. They were with Jesus before, during, and after his death. They never stopped helping. I think we should look at this group closely in our private mediations. 

Nevertheless, know that there are helpers who start with us, and they not only end with us but continue to remember us even when we die. 

May the Help of the Helpless always abide with us. May we also be help to the helpless. 

Pax et Bonum