the passion in our hearts that cries out: could You be our Messiah?

It is Palm Sunday today. This day marks the start of the great Passion of Christ. It is the start of this year's Holy Week.

As Christians, we are invited to meditate on the love of God for us. The atmosphere is inviting us for making sacrifices. We may miss food and parties and may give up going to the movies or enjoying a favorite pastime- in the spirit of sacrifice.

When we speak of the Passion of Christ, what immediately comes to our minds are the pains He endured, the sufferings He lovingly bore and the Death that He courageously faced.

When we speak of the Passion of Jesus, we remember what the people in power did to Him. They mocked and ridiculed Him, they scourged and beat Him, they left Him in sufferings and ran away from Him for fear of being dragged along with Him.

Our immediate thought about the Passion of Jesus is what was done to Him- by His friends, the people in authority, in religion, and in government.

There is a second meaning to this Passion of Christ. The Passion of Christ does not only refer to what came from outside and what people did to Him. The Passion of Jesus could also refer to the power that came from within Him- a great commitment to something and to somebody.

The second meaning of passion is power that springs from within, that makes all things possible because of love. The Passion of Jesus for what is good is known to all of us. The Passion of Jesus for the will of the Father is an example for us to follow.

Jesus had a strong passion for the poor, the marginalized, the least, the last, and the lost.

Jesus had a strong passion for the distressed and the lonely, the ostracized and the kickout.

Jesus had a strong passion for the lepers and those whom society repelled.

Jesus had strong passion against religion leaders who make religion a burden to carry.

Jesus had a strong passion against racial and religious prejudices against all things that make human life less human.

He had a strong passion to heal the sick and to forgive tax collectors, harlots, and adulteresses.

Those whom religious leaders considered untouchable, He caressed and hugged. Those whom society considered unclean and unworthy, He called to be His disciples.

On account of this revolutionary passion, casting the mighty from their thrones and lifting up the lowly, Jesus had to undergo His painful Passion.

It was the passion of Jesus from within that led Him to His painful Passion inflicted upon Him from the outside. It was the power within Him that gave Him the grace of love and courage to face the powers before Him.

In our prayers and reflections during His Passion week, let’s ask ourselves two questions:

First- Do we still have our passion for the good, for the holy, for the truth and for morality?

We all started well. We all had our youthful ideals and our fervent hopes and desires. At some point in the past, we all promised not to lie, not to cheat, not to steal, not to go wayward. With our heads held high and our hearts full of inspired zeal, we promised to pray and to serve without counting the cost.

Along the way, we were hurt and wounded and we saw the compromising disposition of those around us. Our passion lost its intensity and fervor, and turned lukewarm.

Yet, if we say we are still on fire with love to serve and to live by the truth,
Do we have enough proof to show this?

Do we still have that passion in our life- that passion of suffering that cleanses and purifies?

If today we realize what cold fools we have become, it is not time to retreat and feel rejected.

It is definitely not the time either to think that we have become such lukewarm children of God whom He said He would rather spit out.

That is precisely what the enemy wants us to do- walk away completely from the Lord and think nothing of ourselves.

Yes, we may be nothing, but it is in this nothingness…because of this nothingness, that precisely we need our Savior. That is why Jesus came. That is why He suffered and died. That is the reason for the Passion.

Maybe this Holy Week is another call from God to come back to Him.

Instead of walking away ashamed of broken promises we made in the past and of showing Him our hearts turned cold, why not come to Him, as we did in the past, sincerely recalling those days when with childlike simplicity we told Him we will be entirely and completely His???

We may have changed but Jesus has not! His love for us has the same passion and ardor. Each time we move away, like the lost sheep, oh!, how He wishes to come after us and make sure no harm will befall us!

He is here, waiting! He is at the Cross with arms outstretched waiting for any of us whose hearts have turned cold, numb or afraid to come back and ask Him to take us with Him.

All we need to do is ask!

All we need to do is come back to Him with all our hearts, with no fear of rebuke.

Can we use this great opportunity of our lives to rekindle in our hearts that burning passion and desire of love for the Lord?

Can we accompany Him in His own Passion by enduring our own pains and sufferings courageously, lovingly, and faithfully like Jesus: our passionate Savior?

Bless us all as we contemplate with our Lord in the passover of our lives!

Could You be healer
To a heart that's been wounded
In a battle that's never seen
Could You be teacher
To a mind of confusion
Tell me what does this all mean

Are You deliverer
Of an imprisoned feeling in chains
Can You set my spirit free
And just one more question
Allow me this question
Could You be Messiah to me
Could You be Messiah to me

Could You be father
To a soul that's been abandoned
By a world to busy to hear
Could You be friend
To a helpless survivor
Can You take away my fears

I heard them all sharing
This newfound conviction in them
Are You all that they make You to be

And just one more question
Allow me this question
Could You be Messiah to me
Please be Messiah to me

Now i've been looking for someone like You
And i'm so tired, i'm tired
I've read every book and i've sang every song
My mind maybe right but my heart feels so wrong
Tell me how much further can my life go along
Which way do the roads lead where do I belong...

Are You forgiver
Of my most unknown secrets
Provider of all that I need
Could You be brother
The one who knows better
Would You now stand in the lead

When all this is over all the thunder and lightning
In the daylight just what will I see
The answers to my questions to all of my questions
Could You be Messiah to me
Could You be Messiah to me
Could You be Messiah
Please be Messiah to me...
thank you