Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the first day in the holiest week of the Christian faith. During this week, the Passion of the Lord will be read repeatedly; the liturgy will at times be longer, and more in depth. Yesterday before the beginning of Mass, I spoke about how at times the liturgy may trigger certain feelings or emotions, and that I wanted people attending to pay attention to what those feelings and emotions might be, why they were coming up.

Its also good to consider these feelings in the context of the Passion. In the story of the time from the Last Supper to the end of Our Lord’s life, there are moments where we have opportunity to see ourselves.

We all begin at the table, asking “Who will be the one to betray you, Lord? Is it I?”

What have we done in our lives we may regret? Have we treated a person as an object to derive use from them? Have we allowed ourselves to be used? Have we bent a rule, presented something as the truth without including the whole story?

We are the disciples in the garden, sleeping while Jesus desperately prays in anguish for His life?

Are we Judas, selling out, only to recognize the depth of what we have done and trying to repent? Have we struggled with issues of the deepest of despair?

Are we an accuser? Do we point a finger and assign blame because it somehow allows us the illusion of protecting ourselves from our own guilt?

Have we ever been in the position of Mary, watching her Child in anguish and pain, knowing there was nothing we could do?

Are we Simon, forced to carry a cross for another, bitter with resentment for being chosen to do a task we don’t feel is ours to carry? Do we recognize the opportunity for transformation in such situations?

Are we Pilot, unable to say what he knows to be true because the mob stands against him?

Are we a centurion, attacking the faith with the nails of rage, grief, and hate, rather than those who have manipulated the faith for their gain? Do you throw taunts, or test, or unable to stand in faith?

In that moment, can you see your pain from the Cross, looking down on those bellow you?