Pope Francis’ Palm Sunday message focuses on love, not death, remembering “those ill-treated by life,” the “least of our brothers and sisters”

And with the grace of amazement, we come to realize that in welcoming the dismissed and discarded, in drawing close to those ill-treated by life, we are loving Jesus. For that is where he is: in the least of our brothers and sisters, in the rejected and discarded.

Pope Francis, Palm Sunday sermon, America Magazine, March 28, 2021

In this horrific movie entitled “The Passion of the Christ,” which focuses on only the brutality of the death of Jesus, one major element was missing: Love, the major message of that sacrifice.

Pope Francis did not forget that message on this Palm Sunday. He focused on the love of Jesus Christ for all human beings, and that is the true element of communication during the Easter season. 

Jesus gave us so much, which is an example of love

Jesus “experienced our deepest sorrows: failure, loss of everything, betrayal by a friend, even abandonment by God,” the pope said. “By experiencing in the flesh our deepest struggles and conflicts, he redeemed and transformed them. 

His love draws close to our frailty; it touches the very things of which we are most ashamed. Yet now we know that we are not alone: God is at our side in every affliction, in every fear; no evil, no sin will ever have the final word. God triumphs.”

Gerard O’Connell, “Pope Francis on Palm SundayL’,In drawing close to those

 ill-treated by life, we are loving Jesus’,” America, March 28, 2021

Related his message to the pandemic

The pope held another smaller ceremony this year, just like last, and in doing so, ties together Jesus’ struggle with the dastardly people who killed him and those suffering from Covid,

“For the second time we are living in the context of the pandemic. Last year we were more shocked, this year we are more tried, and the economic crisis has become heavier,” he said after reciting the Angelus at the end of Mass.

“In this historic and social situation, what is God doing?” he asked, referring to the more than 100 million Covid-19 cases and more than 2.7 million deaths from the pandemic worldwide in the past year. “He takes up the cross. Jesus takes the cross; that is, he takes on himself the evil that this reality brings, the physical, psychological and above all the spiritual evil, because the Evil One takes advantage of this crisis to sow distrust, desperation and lies.”

Gerard O’Connell, America, March 28, 2021

Those ill-treated by life

The message of inclusiveness and love can be found in the book of Matthew, Chapter 25. In it, he makes a famous statement about loving everyone in the world, which is something that so many Christians forget, 

38  When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

39  When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’

40  And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:38-40

When Pope Francis was talking about those who are ill-treated by life, those who are rejected and discarded, he was talking about treating all people with love. 

Who is that “least brother”?

In a reflection of Matthew 25, one commentator said this about Jesus’s words about the least brother,

Who is that “least brother?” It’s interesting that Jesus specifically points to the person considered the least, as opposed to a more general statement that includes all people. Why not say, “Whatever you do to others…?” This would include all whom we serve.

But instead Jesus pointed to the least brother. Perhaps this should be seen, especially, as the most sinful person, the weakest, the most gravely ill, the incapacitated, the hungry and the homeless, and all those who have pronounced needs in this life.

The most beautiful and touching part about this statement is that Jesus identifies Himself with the person in need, the “least” of all. By serving those in special need, we are serving Jesus. But for Him to be able to say that, He has to be intimately united with these people. And by showing such an intimate connection to them, Jesus reveals their infinite dignity as persons …

An invitation to constant focus upon the dignity and value of the person must be the central message we take from this passage.

Reflect, today, upon the dignity of each and every person. Try to call to mind anyone you may fail to look at with perfect respect. Who is it you look down upon and roll your eyes at? Who is it you judge or disdain? It is within this person, more than any other, that Jesus waits for you. He waits to meet you and to have you love Him in the weak and the sinner. Reflect upon their dignity. Identify the person who fits this description the most in your life and commit yourself to love and serve them. For in them you will love and serve our Lord.

“Whatsoever You Do to the Least of My Brothers You Do unto Me – Matthew 25:31-46,” Catholic Daily Readings, Monday of the First Week of Lent

Message

So, what the message of Pope Francis is reflects the love of the act of giving his life to save all of us, not the brutality of the act. 

He also notes Jesus’s words about the twisted hypocrisy of the pharisees and scribes who tried to trick him in his earlier years. 

Remember to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and help those who are ill-treated by life, because Jesus has not forgotten them either.