Two Names, Two Choices

Reflection Date: March 29, 2026 | Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
Daily Readings: Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14—27:66  

 Children of God:
One of the most remembered names in the story of the Passion is Judas.

The name Judas comes from the Hebrew name Judah.

It originally means “praise” or “one who is praised.”

In the Old Testament, Judah was one of the sons of Jacob and the name became associated with the people of Israel.

Yet in the story of Jesus, the name Judas became connected with betrayal.

Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus.

He walked with Jesus, listened to his teachings, and witnessed many miracles.

But in the end, he agreed to hand Jesus over to the authorities.

Now let us look at another name in the story, the name Jesus.

The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew name Yeshua, which means “God saves.”

It reveals the mission of the one who came to bring salvation to the world.

In the gospel of Matthew, the story of the Passion unfolded with intense emotion and drama.

Judas went to the chief priests and asked what they would give him if he handed Jesus over to them.

They paid him thirty pieces of silver.

Later, during the Last Supper, Jesus spoke about betrayal among his own disciples.

The events continued with Jesus praying in the garden, his arrest, his trial, and finally his crucifixion.

The one whose name meant “God saves” faced rejection, suffering, and death.

Yet through that suffering, the mission of salvation moved forward.

What are our inspirations for today?

First, Being close to Jesus does not automatically mean being faithful.

Judas spent time with Jesus as one of the chosen apostles.

He listened to the teachings and saw the miracles.

Outwardly, he looked like a faithful follower.

Yet something inside him slowly changed.

His decisions led him to betray the very person he followed.

His story reminds us that faith is not only about proximity but about commitment.

Even today, people may appear close to the Church or to religious activities.

But the real question concerns the heart.

Faithfulness grows through daily choices that align with the values of Christ.

Second, God’s saving plan continues even when people fail.

The betrayal of Judas and the suffering of Jesus did not stop the mission of salvation.

In fact, these painful events became part of the path toward redemption.

Jesus remained faithful to the will of the Father even when he faced rejection and suffering.

His mission continued because his love was stronger than betrayal.

This reminds us that God’s grace can work even through human weakness.

Our mistakes do not have the final word when we return to God with humility and trust.

As we reflect today, we ask ourselves: In my daily life, do my choices reflect loyalty to Christ or moments of compromise? When I fail or fall into weakness, do I return to God with humility? How can I grow in faithfulness to the mission of love and service that Jesus showed?

Children of God:
Palm Sunday begins the solemn journey of Holy Week.

The story we heard reveals both human weakness and divine love.

Judas reminds us how easily people can lose their way. Jesus reminds us that God’s saving love remains constant.

Even in moments of betrayal and suffering, the mission of salvation continued.

This week invites us to look honestly at our own hearts.

We ask whether our choices lead us closer to Christ or farther from him.

Yet we also remember that God’s mercy remains open to us.

The Lord who faced the cross also offered forgiveness and hope.