he Ladies of Charity website offer this Lenten Reflection for the Sixth Week, April 13, 2014

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion – Gospel: (Matthew 21: 1-11 and 26: 14-27)

Reflection:

From the high hosanna acclamation to the low of betrayal, denial, and abandonment the gospel take us up and down to the brink of life itself. Like the disciples, we also know who Jesus is. Every Sunday we make our profession of faith:

“We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God…” This Palm Sunday we are invited to reflect on our own knowledge of who Jesus is and how well we confess him in our daily living. It is a daily choice to live the gospel’s requirement that we die to ourselves for the sake of others. This is how we confess Jesus as the Son of God. This is how, rather than denial and abandonment, we come to stand at the cross with Jesus. (Living Liturgy, p 88).

“The world has grown cold, it is for us Catholics to rekindle the vital fire which had been extinguished. It is for us to inaugurate the era of the martyrs, for it is a martyrdom possible to every Christian. To give one’s life for God and for one’s brothers (and sisters), to give one’s life in sacrifice, is to be a martyr. It is indifferent whether the sacrifice be consummated at one moment, or whether slowly consuming, it fills the altar night and day with sweet perfume. To be martyr is to give back to heaven all that one has received, wealth, life, our whole soul.” –

Bl. Frederic Ozanam- (Ramson, Praying with Frederic, p.103)

Prayer:

Lord, give us the generosity of martyrs, so that we can give: to an enemy,

forgiveness

to an opponent,

tolerance

to our family,

love and respect

to all men and women,

charity. Amen

Try This Today: The “Master has need of us” to rekindle the vital fire which has been extinguished in our world. What form will martyrdom take for you or for those who are dear to you?

Society of St. Vincent de Paul, National Council of the United States