THROUGH UNTRUE

Today’s Gospel reading presents a striking image: The almighty God appearing utterly powerless. It challenges the common assumption that power lies in the ability to control or dominate others by force. Although God is omnipotent, He did not use force to carry out His plan of redemption. Instead, He chose to embrace vulnerability and suffering, revealing that true power is found in the willingness to suffer for and with others.

Through His supreme act of self-sacrifice, Jesus shows us that since sorrow is as much a part of life as joy, the goal is not to escape suffering but to transform it. He gave us a model to follow, turning the cross — an instrument of torture and shame — into a symbol of hope and resurrection. In choosing the path of powerlessness, Jesus turned what seemed like an epic fail into His greatest triumph. As St. Paul wrote, the crucified Christ reveals “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23ff).

Yet, it is disheartening that many of us observe Holy Week much like the crowds who merely watched Jesus endure His Passion. The terrible ordeal that Jesus endured invites us to become participants, not passive spectators. His question to His disciples in Gethsemane is also directed to us: “Are you willing to suffer with me?” (Matthew 26:40).

One might object: “Why should we? Hasn’t Jesus already won our redemption? Shouldn’t we simply rejoice and enjoy the journey to heaven?” Many who think this way treat Holy Week as a vacation. They travel abroad, flock to beaches and resorts, and indulge in food, drink, and entertainment. Allergic to suffering, they avidly follow the televangelists who peddle a god of good cheer, success, and prosperity.

Jesus has indeed accomplished His sacrificeon the cross. But our redemption is an ongoing process of sanctification. As St. Augustine wisely observed: “God created us without us, but He cannot save us without us.” The Christian life is a lifelong imitation of Christ, a journey of dying to self and surrendering to God’s will. This process forms our character, purifies our faith, and deepens our reliance on divine grace. As we share in Christ’s suffering, we bear a powerful testimony to God’s presence and love in a world marred by pain, injustice, and brokenness.

At its core, participating in the suffering of Christ goes beyond enduring hardship. It means recognizing that suffering, when offered to God, becomes redemptive. St. Paul writes: “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, the Church” (Colossians 1:24).When suffering is offered to God, it becomes an act of love and intercession. It binds us in deep solidarity with those who suffer through acts of mercy, advocacy, and accompaniment.

Palm Sunday fulfills its purpose when it stirs real conversion. When, for instance, a corrupt politician admits, “I am the cause of the suffering of millions of Filipinos because I enrich myself at their expense.” Or when a priest confesses, “People are losing their faith because of my hypocritical way of life.” Or when parents tell each other, “Our children wander the streets because we have failed to make our home a place where they feel safe and loved.” Or when young people say, “The world is broken because we keep blaming others instead of owning up to our choices.”

Unless we allow ourselves to truly feel the pain that Jesus bore for our salvation and the hurt endured by others because of our indifference, Palm Sunday and Holy Week become just another guilt trip.