Parishioners gather at the cathedral’s compound for the procession to enter the Church
By Linda Edward
Apr 1 2023
KOTA KINABALU – It is the day of the triumphant entry of our Lord Jesus into Jerusalem. With palm leaves at hands, waved into the air, the people welcomed the Saviour into His place of glory. This scene is re-enacted every year during the Palm Sunday by Catholics all over the world.
The Palm Sunday sunset Mass saw more than a thousand Church goers flocked into Sacred Heart Cathedral on Apr 1. Archbishop John Wong presided the Holy Mass which also marked the beginning of the Holy Week.
Taking from the second reading, the Letter of St Paul to the Philippians 2:6-11, the prelate focused on three points for the people to reflect over the Holy Week namely “He emptied himself”, “He became a slave” and “He humbled himself and died”.
The prelate said the Holy Week is a journey of emptying oneself, becoming a slave in charity in helping one another and being humble along the journey.
He also threw light on the opposites of the three points, “The opposite of empty is fullness, the opposite of slave is Master and King, and the opposite of humble is being raised up and glorified by the Father.”
The contrast of the three points make manifest that the journey with Jesus does not end with death but resurrection and fullness of life.
He invited the people to embark on the journey, “are you willing to take this journey with Jesus?”
On this week, Catholics will attend the Triduum Mass starting with Holy Thursday, Good Friday service, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday.
Archbishop John Wong presided the Holy Mass, starts with the Gospel reading before the procession
