PALM
SUNDAY -A - 17 MATTHEW’S PASSION
The
Palm Sunday liturgy is an opportunity for us to be there, as it were, in the
crowd, both at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where he was proclaimed
Son of David amidst shouts of Hosanna and Blessed is he who comes in the name
of the Lord, as well as in the crowd before Pilate only a few days later who
shouted for him to be crucified.
These
forty days have been a journey from Ash Wednesday to now. We have followed
Jesus from Galilee to the Holy City. We have seen what he has done, we have
heard what he has taught, and we have seen how the people have reacted. Many
believed that he was indeed the Messiah, the Promised One sent from God. Others
believed he was a good man, a teacher, perhaps even a prophet, but nothing more
than that for they knew where he came from.
The
religious authorities believed other wise. They believed he was an imposter, a
blasphemer, a radical who stood to end their way of life. What he was doing and
teaching was upsetting the status quo and if not stopped, would bring down the
wrath of Rome upon their heads, and they were not prepared nor were they
willing to have that happen.
So
they conspired against him, how to put him to death. But were divided over how
to do it. Then along comes Judas, one of the twelve, who, for reasons known
only to God, has become so disgruntled with Jesus that he is willing to betray
him, if the price is right.
Jesus
desires to eat the Passover meal with his disciples. It will be his last
supper. He announces at table that one of them will betray him and that they
will all abandon him. On three previous occasions he has told them that he will
be handed over to be crucified. But they don’t seem to understand or else they
choose not too.
They
all partake of the bread and wine, including the betrayer, and afterwards Judas
goes out to conduct his plan. He knows where Jesus will go after the meal. In
the garden Jesus is arrested under the cover of darkness so as not to cause the
people who acclaim him as Messiah to come to his defense. The disciples all
flee as Jesus predicted.
Jesus
is brought before the Sanhedrin. False charges are unsubstantiated. The high
priest, Caiaphas, takes over. He questions Jesus. But Jesus is silent.
Then,
the high priest asks him if he is the Messiah, the Son of God? Jesus implies
that he is by his response, “from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at
the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” He is charged with
blasphemy and condemned to death, and ordered to be taken to Pilate. All the
while Peter is outside denying him three times.
It
is near Passover and the Holy City is beaming with pilgrims from all over the
Empire who have come to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast. Not all have even
heard of Jesus of Nazareth, much less the miracles he has wrought or the
teaching of the kingdom he has proclaimed.
Thus,
when he is brought before Pilate and they hear that he is charged with being
the King of the Jews, which he does not deny, they are easily whipped up by the
scribes and Pharisees circulating through the crowd to ask for Jesus Barabbas,
the robber, to be released instead of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer. And when
asked by Pilate what he is to do with their king, they shout crucify him.
The
longest night in the life of Christ comes to an end as he is ordered to be
crucified.
Having
already been mocked by the chief priests and scribes at his so-called trial
before the Sanhedrin, Jesus is now mocked by the soldiers who will escort him
to Calvary. Robed in purple and with a crown of thorns upon his head, they
kneel and hail him as “King of the Jews.” Then they spit on him and strike him
before taking him out to be crucified. They enlist another to carry his cross.
Jesus
is crucified between two bandits. The inscription “This is Jesus, the King of
the Jews,” hangs above his head. Crucifixions were always along the road
entering the city so that all who passed by would be reminded of what happens
to those who oppose Rome. The charges against the person would also be visible
for all to see. The passer-bys wagged their heads at Christ and derided him for
saying he would destroy the Temple.
The
chief priests, scribes and elders came out to watch him die and mocked him
saying, “he saved others; he cannot save himself. If he is the king of Israel;
let him come down from the cross now and we will believe in him…” The bandits
who were crucified with him also taunted him. Then darkness fell over the land.
Jesus cries out to God and gives up his spirit. Christ has died.
An
earthquake erupted. The curtain in the Temple was torn into. Tombs on the
western slope of the Mount of Olives were jarred opened and many bodies of the
saints would be resurrected after Jesus’ and roam the city. The Centurion and
those who were with him keeping watch over the crucified were afraid of what
had happened and confessed “truly this man was God’s Son.”
The
Passion of Christ is an account of betrayal, denial, ridicule and conspiracy.
The triumphal entry had been a claim of Messiah ship. Ironically it was his
death on the cross that brought its confirmation, and not by the Jews, but by a
Gentile. Where do we see ourselves in all of it?
If
we are honest with ourselves we must admit that our following of Jesus places
us, from time to time, in both crowds. There are times when we readily praise
God and give Him thanks for the many blessings we have received and continue to
receive through the merits of His Son, Jesus.
And
there are times when we find ourselves in the other crowd, not that we shout
that Jesus should be crucified, but that by our sinful words and actions we
crucify him yet. That is a sobering thought and not one we like to think about.
And
then there are those who were in both crowds, who neither said or did anything,
they simply dispersed after it was determined he was dead, or merely returned
to their homes after the feast had ended without giving what they had just
witnessed a second thought. Sometimes we are like them after having heard God’s
Holy Word and received the Blessed Sacrament. We simply go back home as if we
had received, nor heard anything that would make a difference in our lives.
Let
us not forget the disciples. We know what they did. They ran back to the upper
room and locked themselves in for fear of the Jews. And that is where they
waited until the news of the empty tomb reached them, and then they refused to
believe that Christ had risen from the dead. Fear overrides Faith every time.
We have all been guilty of allowing this to happen.
All
of these, you see, were on the other side of the cross. We are on this side of
the cross. We are Easter Christians, and as Easter Christians our journey with
Jesus continues. For the cross and the empty tomb did not end it. Our faith is
in the Risen Christ and the Hope of eternal life His death and resurrection
brings to all who believe in Him. This is the Easter faith.
As
we await the opportunity to celebrate once again the joy of Easter, let us
re-commit ourselves to walking the way of the cross, following His example of
great humility; so that at the last day, we may, by God’s grace, share in His
glory, who lives and reigns with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, One God, now
and forever. AMEN+
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