Last Sunday in our liturgy Jesus entered Jerusalem in a triumphant procession to the cheers of children and palm waving crowds.

He left Jerusalem in disgrace on Good Friday, carrying a criminal’s cross and followed by a jeering mob.

One wonders did the same people who cheered for him on Sunday also shout ‘Crucify him, crucify him’ a few days later? 

These are not the only contrasts in the sad story of Christ’s Passion.

There is the contrast between the confident enthusiasm of the disciples beforehand and their terror stricken and desertion afterwards. 

The Cross is central in the story of redemption.

On Holy Thursday, we celebrated the Last Supper and last night, Jesus faced the cross with human dread

The Cross was inevitable because the new message of Jesus of love and forgiveness was a reproach to the world.

Christ’s challenge to the world is countered by the world putting him to death.  God’s answer, through Christ is the resurrection.

But the resurrection does not bring about an automatic transformation of the world.  Suffering and injustice, pain and disaster still exist.

The Cross happens to all of us, as we too well know, but if Christ accepted his cross and triumphed over it too, we can accept ours.

Holy Week is not an easy week on which to accompany Jesus, but the choice to walk with him or ignore him belongs to each of us. 

With Christ at our side we can change the world; we can liberate it from sin and suffering.  We can build up his Kingdom of justice, love, forgiveness and peace.

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