BY Jose “joesum” Sumampong, Jr.
PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD (C)
April 10, 2022
Kindly open your Bible and Read LUKE 22; 14-23:56
Points for Reflection: I am sharing to my dear readers these stories which I have collected to help you reflect as the Universal Church celebrates the Passion Sunday. Here they are:
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In March 1986, USA Today carried a front-page story about the crucifixion of Jesus. It was based on a doctor’s article in the New England Journal of Medicine. After commenting on the medical dimensions of crucifixion, the doctor observed that we tend to romanticize the death of Jesus. In reality, he said, it was one of the most brutal deaths anyone could ever imagine.
Ancient writers tell us that scourging, which often preceded crucifixion, was itself a terrifying ordeal. It wasn’t unheard of for a victim to die during the scourging.
Ancient writers also tell us that victims of crucifixion sometimes went insane. They spent their final hours on earth completely out of their mind.
One ancient writer tells us that after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, Jewish freedom fighters waged guerrilla warfare against the Romans.
One day the leader of a small guerrilla group was captured. The Romans threatened to crucify him in plain sight of the others, who were holed up in caves on a steep hillside.
The rest of the guerrillas surrendered rather than see their leader suffer such a humiliating and horrible execution. (Mark Link, S.J.)
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The trees in a dense forest wondered what they would become when the woodsman cuts them down and puts them into use.
One day, they decided to pray that their wishes might be fulfilled.
The first tree asked to become part of a beautiful palace, where kings and queens might dwell, where the great would come to gaze with astonishment at its grain.
The second tree asked to become part of a great ship, that would sail the seven seas, and travel around the world.
The third tree preferred to stay in the forest where he might grow into the tallest of all, and forever point like a finger to God.
The first two had their wishes fulfilled. The third was cut down and hewn into a cross. Today it no longer stands in the woods and points to God and heaven: it stands over all the hills and high places of the world – pointing upward to heaven and God. (Tonne, THE CROSS)
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A man was walking along and fell into such a deep hole that he could not get out. So he began to shout very loudly for help.
A learned-professor came along and found him. He looked down into the hole and lectured the unfortunate man: “Why were you so foolish as to fall down there in the first place? You should be more careful. If you ever get out again, watch your step.”
And with that he took off. Then a holy monk came along. He looked down into the hole and told the man, “I’ll try to reach down as far as I can, and you reach up as far as you can. If I can grab your hand, I’ll pull you out.”
So they tried but it did not work. The hole was too deep. So the monk said he was sorry and left the man to his fate.
Now Christ comes along. He sees the man’s problem and with- out asking him any questions, he just jumps down into the hole. Then he lets the man climb onto his shoulders and even onto his outstretched arms… and gets the man out.
This is known as personal involvement (Quote, MAN IN THE HOLE)
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Tagbilaran City. Mid-July. Every year. This City of Friendship celebrates a festival that resurrects history dating back to the 16th of March, 1565. Each year, Boholanos commemorate this historical event. Participants revive a historical event that the late General Carlos Romulo called as “the first international treaty entered between a Filipino and a foreign power.” Popularly known as SANDUGO, the week-long merry-making is in honor of Boholano chieftain, Datu Sikatuna and Spanish Navy Officer Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the two key players of the Blood Compact.
One of its major activities is the street dancing. The main city’s avenue is transformed into a lilting countryside fiesta complete with dancers and musicians dressed in brightly colored costumes performing the Sandugo rituals of steps and sound.
During this festive moment of movements and dramatic re-enactment of the historic Blood Compact, nothing succeeds like excess: colorful banners, large floats, dancers parading and dancing to the rhythm of drums and other indigenous instruments.
But after the parade, most of us go back to confront the various realities of our day to day lives. During this confrontation we are bound to face our own pains and sufferings.