AND ME. WHICH ONE DO I CHOOSE? JESUS OR BARABBAS?

The Palm Sunday Liturgy has already introduced us to the Easter. It links radically two opposed moments which are separated just by few days: the glorious welcome of Jesus in Jerusalem and his implacable execution in the Golgotha, hosanna! accompanied by joyful greetings and Let him be crucified! along with insults full of disdain. Do not we ask ourselves astonished: What happened in that brief time? Why does this radical change of attitude? How can be possible that those joyful yells of hosanna (that means save us) and blessed who comes who were expressions of recognition and welcome Messiah - Son of David change quickly in insults, hits, mockeries, endless whips and a definitive disdain and rejection: Not that one! Release Barabbas!... to that one, Let him be crucified! Let him be crucified!? The surprising easiness to change of heart about Jesus so radically does not make us think so much in others or finger the amorpha mass in order to feel ourselves acquitted people, on the contrary, we should reflect humbly in our own fickleness and inconsistency. How many times are we repentant, excited, touched deeply by an encounter with Lord, convinced that Christ is the answer for all our happiness searches, that HE is THE LORD so we open Him the doors of our mind and our heart, we welcome Him with joy and enthusiasm, with palms and cheers but a little after due to our options and opposed actions to his teachings, we expel Him and yell: Let him be crucified!, preferring the Barabbas of our vices and sins? CONCRETE MEANS 1. It is important to unmask, resist and refuse the voices that want subtly and skillfully put us against Jesus so we can build our fidelity to Lord with little options for HIM every day! It is important to strong our friendship with HIM through daily and persevering prayer! On the contrary, we will discover that our initial hosanna becomes a treacherous yell: let him be crucified when proof and temptation moment appears, when we hear internal or external voices inviting us to forget or eliminate Lord Jesus from our lives. Look Mary, learn from Her to always remain loyal to Christ, in good and bad moments, in excitement as well as in moments of cross. Invoke Mary, ask her every day to help you to be a coherent, brave and audacious Christian. 2. Even though it is just mandatory to attend the Sunday of Resurrection Mass (or Paschal vigil in Saturday at the afternoon), try to attend to the different activities scheduled in your church or movement to live the Easter with the Lord and in the company of Mary, taking part in the talks and diverse liturgical such as: Mass of the Lords Supper at Holy Thursday; Celebration of the Passion of the Lord at Holy Friday; Participation in the Seven Words Sermon; Attending to the Stations of the Cross; Praying of the Rosary at Holy Saturday; Assistance in the Paschal Vigil Saturday at the afternoon or the attending to the Sunday of Resurrection Mass.

3. In these days, before Easter, I can prepare myself by reading and reflecting the Passion of Lords narrations found in any of the Gospels. 4. The reading of the second part of the recent book published by the Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, is highly recommended in these days of Easter. 5. During these days, it will also help you a lot to watch again the movie The Passion by Mel Gibson.