THE 100,000 faithful at the Palm Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Square last Sunday were challenged by Pope Francis to reflect on the narrative of Christ’s Passion and death, and to ask “Who am I?”, writes Abigail Frymann.
In the procession, he carried a wooden pastoral staff carved by Italian prison inmates, as those gathered in the square waved olive and palm branches that recalled Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Then during the homily he set aside his prepared text and, in a manner evocative of lectio divina, invited those in the square to imagine themselves as participating in different ways in the events in Jerusalem.
Speaking for 15 minutes off the cuff, he asked: “Who am I, before Jesus who enters Jerusalem amid the enthusiasm of the crowd? Do I express my joy? Or do I stand back?”
He then went on to invite people to imagine themselves as teachers of the law, waiting for the chance to arrest Jesus; as the disciples who fell asleep when Jesus asked them to watch with him; as Judas, who feigned love with a kiss; as Pilate, who washed his hands and dodged responsibility; as the fearless women like the mother of Jesus who suffered in silence; and as others, ending with those who “block the tomb in order to maintain doctrine, lest life come forth”.
(See the full homily at www.thetablet.co.uk)
Loading ...
