Glimpses of God's Goodness are published for all Sundays and Feast Days at www.sndden.org, the international website of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
April 13, 2025
Luke 22:14, 23:56
Today, we enter the most sacred week of the Christian journey—Holy Week. Palm Sunday sets the stage with a striking paradox: a triumphant entry into Jerusalem that leads, inevitably, to the road of suffering. The crowd welcomes Jesus with palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mt 21:9). Yet, within days, those same voices will turn to cries of “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” (Lk 23:21).
This contrast challenges us: How do we welcome Christ into our own lives? Are we faithful disciples who remain by His side in moments of trial, or do we abandon Him when discipleship demands sacrifice? Do we praise Him when life is easy but turn away when the cross becomes heavy?
Luke’s Passion narrative invites us into the heart of Christ’s suffering, revealing a love so profound that it embraces even those who betray, deny, and abandon Him. At the Last Supper, Jesus kneels before His disciples, washing their feet—an act of radical humility. He serves even Judas, who will betray Him, and Peter, who will deny Him. This challenges us: Do we serve others, even when they fail us? Do we love without condition, as Christ does?
In Gethsemane, we witness Jesus in His most vulnerable moment. The weight of sin presses upon Him, and His agony is so intense that His sweat falls like drops of blood. “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but Yours be done.” (Lk 22:42). In moments of suffering, do we surrender to God’s will, or do we resist when it leads us through pain?
During His arrest, His closest friends scatter. Peter, despite his earlier promise of loyalty, denies even knowing Jesus. Pilate, though finding no fault in Him, succumbs to pressure and injustice prevails. Like Peter, do we deny Christ—not necessarily with words, but by our choices? Like Pilate, do we compromise truth to avoid discomfort?
Walking the Way of the Cross: Who Are We in the Story?
As Jesus carries His cross, different people respond in different ways. Their actions reflect the choices we face in our own spiritual journey: Simon of Cyrene—He is pulled from the crowd and forced to help Jesus carry the cross. At first reluctant, he soon embraces the burden. How often do we resist helping others because it feels inconvenient? Do we, like Simon, learn to embrace the crosses we are given?
The Women of Jerusalem—They weep for Jesus as He stumbles under the weight of the cross. But Jesus turns to them and says, “Do not weep for Me; weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Lk 23:28). Do we mourn for the suffering in the world—not just with sorrow, but with a desire to bring change?
The Two Thieves—Both are crucified alongside Jesus, but their responses differ. One mocks Him, while the other, in humility, asks, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (Lk 23:42). Which voice do we echo in our own lives? Do we turn to Jesus in trust and repentance, or do we reject Him in bitterness?
The Centurion—A Roman soldier, witnessing Jesus’ death, proclaims, “Surely this was a righteous man.” (Lk 23:47). Do we recognize Christ in the moments of suffering and sacrifice, or do we only see Him in moments of glory?
Palm Sunday is not just the beginning of Holy Week; it is an invitation to transformation. If we desire to share in Christ’s resurrection, we must first walk the way of the cross. Dying to self—letting go of pride, selfishness, and our desire for comfort, so we can live in love and truth. Embracing service—choosing to kneel as Jesus did, washing the feet of those around us, especially those we find difficult to love. Standing for truth—even when it is unpopular, even when it comes at a cost.
Discipleship is not about waving palm branches in moments of celebration—it is about remaining steadfast at the foot of the cross. It means carrying the burdens of others, forgiving those who hurt us, and surrendering to God’s will even when it leads us through suffering.
Holy Week does not end in death. Beyond the cross lies the empty tomb. Beyond the pain of Good Friday is the joy of Easter morning. The suffering we endure, the sacrifices we make, the love we pour out—they are not in vain. In Christ, death is not the end. Life triumphs. Love wins. Hope is restored.
Lord Jesus, as we enter this Holy Week, open our hearts to walk this journey with You. Strengthen us to remain faithful in suffering, to carry the burdens of others, and to stand for truth even when it is difficult. May we not just praise You with words but follow You in action, leaving behind footprints of love, mercy, and sacrifice. And as we journey to the cross, keep our hearts fixed on the promise of the resurrection. Amen.
Luke 22:14, 23:56
When the hour came, Jesus took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you that from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.
“And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray me is with me on the table; for the Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.” And they began to debate among themselves who among them would do such a deed.
Then an argument broke out among them about which of them should be regarded as the greatest. He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in authority over them are addressed as ‘Benefactors’; but among you it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant.
For who is greater: the one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I am among you as the one who serves. It is you who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred one on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
“Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.” He said to him, “Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you.” But he replied, “I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny three times that you know me.”
He said to them, “When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No, nothing, “ they replied. He said to them, “But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me, namely, He was counted among the wicked; and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment.” Then they said, “Lord, look, there are two swords here.” But he replied, “It is enough!”
Then going out, he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place he said to them, “Pray that you may not undergo the test.” After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.” And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him. He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief. He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.”
While he was still speaking, a crowd approached and in front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas. He went up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” His disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked, “Lord, shall we strike with a sword?” And one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said in reply, “Stop, no more of this!” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. And Jesus said to the chief priests and temple guards and elders who had come for him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? Day after day I was with you in the temple area, and you did not seize me; but this is your hour, the time for the power of darkness.”
After arresting him they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest; Peter was following at a distance. They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter sat down with them. When a maid saw him seated in the light, she looked intently at him and said, “This man too was with him.” But he denied it saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” A short while later someone else saw him and said, “You too are one of them”; but Peter answered, “My friend, I am not.” About an hour later, still another insisted, “Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he also is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.” Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly. The men who held Jesus in custody were ridiculing and beating him. They blindfolded him and questioned him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they reviled him in saying many other things against him.
When day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, “If you are the Christ, tell us,” but he replied to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth.”
Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate. They brought charges against him, saying, “We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Christ, a king.” Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.” Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds, “I find this man not guilty.” But they were adamant and said, “He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here.”
On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting to see him for a long time, for he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at length, but he gave him no answer. The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him harshly. Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly. Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them, “You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.”
But all together they shouted out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.” — Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder. —Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate addressed them a third time, “What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.
As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus.
A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ At that time people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?” Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed.
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last.
The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, “This man was innocent beyond doubt.” When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts; but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events. Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried. It was the day of preparation, and the sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind, and when they had seen the tomb and the way in which his body was laid in it, they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. Then they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Sister Veronica Tiunke Fatoyinbo, SNDdeN, is a member of the congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Nigeria Province. She currently serves as the Country Director of the African Sisters Education Collaborative (ASEC) in Nigeria, where she champions the transformative power of education for women religious and the communities they serve. She holds an M.Ed. in Administration and Planning from the National Open University of Nigeria and a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Professional Education from Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. With a deep passion for education, leadership, and empowerment, Sr. Veronica has dedicated her ministry to fostering collaboration, strengthening capacity, and inspiring a new generation of women religious to be catalysts for change in Nigeria and beyond.