What would happen if the story of our Lord’s Passion were a reality show?

by May Tam
2016-03-20
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Isaiah 50:4-7


Philippians 2:6-11



One common feature among the Gospel writers was the way they narrated the passion and the death of Jesus. No longer were the sayings and deeds of Jesus arranged according to the writers’ intentions (for their specific communities), but all of them followed closely the sequence of the passion of Jesus chronologically beginning from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. In our modern days, it would be like a camera man recording the event over several days in what now popularly called-------reality show. Imagine if this reality show is now accessible electronically, what effects will it bring to the world?

Surely it may be the most publicized story ever reported. It may enrage activists who are against social injustice. It may infuriate humanitarians who are against cruelty. It may provoke advocates who are against capital punishment. It may generate sporadic protests or rallies to save that pitiful “criminal”. It may even be used to promote anti Semitism. Emotional responsiveness is easily stimulated by images we see, but how long can these images sustain our human sentiments? How many people still talk about the tiny body of the drowned refugee boy on a beach in Turkey? How many remember Nepal earthquake with casualties over three thousands? These fairly recent stories give way to ever newer stories each day. Their once sensational moments discolor even in a short period of time. The story of our Lord’s Passion, no matter how “real” and great it is, may not escape the fate of momentary remembrance and desensitization over time. How sad if that is the case, for then Christians “are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor 15: 19).

Thanks to our Holy Mother Church who, in her yearly celebration, reminds us of this great story and keeps it going for two thousand years. Our good Lord who knows our human weaknesses but loves us still, had commanded this story to be remembered in every liturgical worship, so that our faith can be revivified by His passion, death and resurrection.

Dear friends, what are our responses today if we see Jesus enter into Jerusalem in a live broadcast? Do we have the courage to watch Jesus when He prays in Gethsemane, ready to be arrested, judged and tortured? Can we withstand the grievances when He is being ridiculed and mocked? Are we in anguish when seeing Him fall flat on the road to Calvary? Do we dare to witness the moment when the nails puncture His hands and feet and then His last breath on the cross? Or………..do we, treating it as just another story, habitually switch the screen and put it out of our sight, out of our mind?

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