Prepared by DaliusLL
Photos by SOCCOM
Photos by SOCCOM
Sandakan: Around 1000 parishioners of St. Mary’s Cathedral celebrated
Palm Sunday in English Sunset Mass on 8TH April 2017. The faithful
assembled at the Parish Hall compound at 5.45pm with their palm branches and
leaves in their hands to celebrate the beginning of the Lord’s Paschal mystery
of His passion and resurrection. During the blessing of the palm leaves, His
Reverend Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom called upon all the faithful to participate
in the mystery of salvation with Jesus in faith and devotion, in the Lord’s
entering into the city of Jerusalem. He said that by following the footsteps of
Jesus, and with His grace, all may have a share in His resurrection and His
life. Then a short procession followed, from the Hall entrance to the Cathedral
with the faithful singing the hymn “Hosanna….Hosanna….in the highest”, which
heralds Christ’s triumphant entry into the Church.
In his homily, Bishop Julius explained that the story of the cross has
changed everything: it speaks about weaknesses, and it speaks about defeat,
failure and death according to the standard of man. The Son of Man died on the
cross where there is no one to save him from this tragedy and shame, but what
man perceived as weakness and shame is the very means for God to show His
power. The weakness of the Son of God gives power to every Christian; the shame
of the Son of God has taken away the shame of sins in our life. The death of
the Son of Man, has made God to give life to everyone who believes in Him. Now
in Jesus, everyone who feels weak can be strengthened by His grace. Everyone
who was dead to sin is given a new life, and everyone who does not count in the
eyes of others becomes a child of God. Everyone who believes in Him is worthy
in the eyes of God no matter what one’s life circumstances has gone through.
The prelate further spoke about the cross by saying, “the story of the
cross is about love; the love of God to each one of us, and it speaks about God
who is with us in our joys and also in our sufferings. It speaks about God who
gives us courage to face all sorts of trials; it speaks about God who gently
admonishes us not to be afraid of anything or anyone and this is the wonderful
truth about Christianity.” He concluded by calling on the faithful to put on
their hope in Jesus who died on the cross and yet through that very cross has
given life to all.
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