WORD ALIVE
FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD
In basketball, a player is hailed as a hero when he commits a few errors and makes points during crucial moments. He becomes a "darling of the crowd."
But the next time, he is treated as a bum or villain when he fumbles, misses some baskets, and does not score as expected. It's not surprising that a distraught player sometimes complains that fans are fickle and have short memories.
We can say that of Jesus Christ although he wasn't into basketball. During Christ's public ministry, he cured the sick, fed the hungry, performed miracles for the people.
These material and physical favors aroused the enthusiasm of the crowd to a point that they wanted to make him their king. Thus, when he entered Jerusalem, the premiere city, he was greeted with cheers and jubilant "hosannas."
But Jesus knew the "royal welcome" would be short-lived. A few days after, the cheers and hosannas would be changed to boos and cries of "crucify him, crucify him."
Peter and the other apostles were privileged to be in the company of their Master. They must have basked in his celebrity status as Jesus entered Jerusalem. But on Good Friday when they saw him being dragged ignominiously from one court to the other, Peter and the other apostles could not bear it anymore. Except for John the evangelist, they fled and went into hiding.
Today we do have a good number of Peters and apostles who are loyal and faithful to God — and friends — when all is going well. But when hardships, adversities, or defeat as in elections happen, it might be the end of loyalty. As the truism goes, “Victory has many fathers; defeat is an orphan.”
In daily life, we have commitments of loyalty not only to God and our church but also to the government, our family, to mention some.
One time, a lady approached me confiding that she did not love her husband anymore. “It was not like before, Father, when he was caring, responsible, and thoughtful. Apparently, he has grown tired of our relationship.”
However, married couples should remember that the feeling of love changes through the years. So, one should not expect that the love when newly married would remain the same.
On Palm Sunday, we have palm and coconut branches (palaspas) to be blessed and brought home.
After the blessing, we lay and preserve them on altars or nail them to our door jambs allegedly to drive away evil spirits or invite good luck to the house.
But more importantly, let those palaspas remind us that our love and loyalty to Christ, to our marital and religious vows, moral commitments as leaders do not wither and fade away just like the enthusiasm of the fickle-minded crowd on that first Palm Sunday.
Lesson from the donkey. When Jesus made his triumphal entry to Jerusalem, he rode on a lowly donkey or an ass.
As the Jews waved palm branches and shouted "Hosanna," the donkey thought the crowd's wild adulations were for him. So, he kept nodding his head left and right.
Aren't we much the same at times? When we have talents, titles, and positions, pride gets into our heads. We think we owe it all to ourselves, totally forgetful of the Giver?
‘7 last words.’ The SVD Mission Communications Foundation, Inc. will telecast online on ABS-CBN or Kapamilya Channel the “7 Last Words” on Good Friday, April 15 at 12 noon-3 p.m. Join us at the Divine Word Shrine in Christ the King Seminary, E. Rodriguez Blvd., Q.C. and reflect on Jesus’ last words.
By the way, we sent out solicitation letters for advertisement placements and donations for the TV program. May we hear from you?
Call Brian Deguito at tel. 8723-3343 or e-mail me at [email protected].