Palms and betrayal

The morning of the Sunday before Easter begins a magnificent journey for Christians who come to know Jesus better through reflecting in prayer, liturgy and life about the deep mysteries which the Roman Catholic Lectionary initiates today through texts that tell of Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the many acts of betrayal He experienced and His death at the hands of His persecutors by crucifixion. The passage from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah resets our expectation of the Messiah as the suffering servant. He comes to speak, listen and live the will of the Father. In living with God, the physical violence and betrayal of friendship does not deter Him from His mission. The text from the letter to the Philippians gives thanks and recognizes the action of the Divine to self limit so that the creature could experience the Presence and Love of Creator in a personal way. We might imagine the slogan which applies to teachers, coaches, and youth leaders (male and female) that reminds us that he is never greater as a man then when he stoops to help a boy. The Gospel which presents the Passion of the Lord this year is from the Gospel of Matthew. For Andy Alexander, S.J. the many betrayals of Jesus in the text offer reminders of how we, in small and not so small ways may betray the hope or confidence or expectations that we have established with others. We may have to try and understand betrayal with the forgiveness and love of Jesus. The featured reflection on the Text this Week web site is by Sara Miles,Director of Ministry at St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco. Her preparation for Holy Week is an invitation to visit with Jesus in these events in the expectation that we will arise and move through our lives becoming Christ to others.