Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
Today is a very popular day in the liturgical year and is one of my favorites. I think this is because we are dropped into the very life of Jesus. We gather in excitement awaiting the entrance of our Beloved into our very lives. We pick up our palms and begin to wave them in joy as we look around in anticipation. We can see the young child being hoisted onto the shoulders of their parents so as to get a better view and then as Jesus comes near the people begin chanting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. O king of Israel: Hosanna in the Highest!” We see Jesus! Riding on a colt and people are laying down their cloaks on the road to welcome the Son of David, the King of Israel. We are moved to lay down our very lives to welcome our King into our hearts. The joy is so complete that, even when Jesus is rebuked and told to silence the crowds he says, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!” For all of creation recognizes the Glory of Jesus in this moment as he enters into Jerusalem to bring about our salvation but the people do not fully understand what Jesus’ Kingship means and what he will endure to bring it about.
As we continue in our liturgy, we can see the shift from jubilation and joy to a realization of what Jesus came to Jerusalem to bring about and what he must endure. In our first reading from Isaiah we hear of the one who “speaks to the weary a word that will rouse them.” One who in the sight of persecution does not turn away from his mission but rather he says, “I gave my back to those who beat me.” The word “gave” here is important because Jesus handed himself over freely, he did not run away from persecution, but out of love for us, he knowingly journeyed to Jerusalem. Jesus’ Passion is now beginning. Our Gospel today begins with Jesus desiring to be with his disciples as he begins his passion, He says, “I have eagerly desired to eat the Passover with you before I suffer”. He desired to be with them not only for support but more importantly to give them strength and understanding for what they are about to witness by giving them his very Body and Blood to consume so that they might enter into a deeper union with him in this time of distress.
Jesus will now face the betrayal by one of his disciples who used the sign of love, a kiss, to bring about evil. He is arrested and taken away and most of his disciples will go into hiding or follow at a distance not wanting to be seen and Peter will deny knowing him. He will be mocked, spat upon, scourged, crowned with thorns, and when given the opportunity by Pilate for the people to release him, they will choose Barabbas. Jesus will endure the chants of “Crucify him! Crucify him!” He will take up a cross to carry to his death, fall under its weight and be nailed to it. From this Cross of torture Jesus’ compassion for the people it not stifled for he cries out in his anguish, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” He suffers more than we can fully understand then the time of fulfillment comes and he cries out, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And he breaths his last breath. There is silence, and we all fall to our knees broken and in awe of what we are witnessing. What we witness today is God’s love for us. Jesus’ Passion is passion for humanity for he gave everything so that we might have life in him. He became the Lamb of Sacrifice that we might have life. Now, as our Holy week begins, let us live in Christ’s Passion and love for us.
Reflection by Br. Placid Dale, OSB
Posted in Articles for Lent, Daily Reflections