|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
He Took, Blessed, Broke And Gave Consecration of Nashik Archbishop Cricket For Peace Religious Leaders Bat For Harmony
|
 |
|
Procession of Palms Fr Anthony Charanghat The procession of palms on Sunday that marks the beginning of Holy Week is a symbolic representation of the joyful exuberance of young Hebrew boys and girls following Christ to join Him in His entry into Jerusalem. Hence, Pope John Paul II instituted Palm Sunday as the day of Youth, the day that young people around the world are called to go out to meet Christ, listen to His Word and to accompany Him in their cities and countries so that He will be among us and be able to establish His joy, peace and love and in the world. But it appears from the reports we read and hear in the media, that youth are more inclined to follow the way of the world rather than the way of His Word. Today it is becoming fashionable for youth to indulge in road rage offences, drug addiction, extravagant five-star lifestyle and unbridled consumerism fuelled by a call centre culture. They prominently feature in dastardly acts of rape, sexual depravity, physical individual and mob violence, murder and gang wars. Cyber-crimes, economic scams and high-profile political scandals and dishonest deals are the new turf on to which youth have moved. All these leave them empty and groping for elusive happiness. If youth wish to experience the true happiness that underlies their yearnings they must go out to encounter Jesus and walk with Him on His way. Following Jesus is above all an expression of joy and the challenge of discipleship, as it was then for the youth of His time - because in Him they will find a true friend, and role model that will challenge them and show them the way to obtain the key to happiness and fullness of life. This joy is also the expression of saying “yes” to Jesus and of the readiness to follow Him wherever He takes them. The expression “the following of Christ” is a description of the whole Christian existence. What does “the following of Christ” mean concretely? Pope Benedict XVI in connection with Palm Sunday and Youth Day last year tells us, for the first disciples, the meaning was very simple and immediate: It meant that these persons had decided to leave their profession, their lifestyle, their immediate gratifications and their whole life, to go with Jesus. It meant a new profession: that of disciple. The basic content of this profession was to go with the Master, to entrust oneself entirely to His guidance. Thus the following was an external thing and at the same time something very internal. The external aspect was walking behind Jesus in His travels through Palestine; the internal aspect was the new existential orientation, which no longer had its points of reference in matters, in the career that determined their life previously, in their personal will; instead they surrendered themselves totally to the will of an Other. Being at His service had by now become the reason for living. The renunciation that this demanded from what one once possessed, the detachment from self, is evidently clear in the Gospels. But with that, it is also evident what the following means and what its true essence is for us: It has to do with an interior change of life. It demands that one no longer be closed in considering one’s own self-interest as the principal purpose of one’s life. It demands the giving of oneself freely to an Other - for truth, for love, for God who, in Jesus Christ, precedes me and points out the way. The challenge to youth here is the fundamental decision to no longer consider utility and gain, career and success as the ultimate goal of life, but to recognise truth and love instead as the authentic criteria. This refers to the choice between living for oneself and giving of oneself - for what is greater. Truth and love are not abstract values; in Jesus Christ they have become a person whom we emulate. Following Jesus, is to root out the seed of selfishness and enter into the service of truth and love. Living out the meaning of Palm Sunday will help us not to fall prey to the allurements of the world and will enable us to find Him as the true source of happiness, freedom and life. |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
