Palm Sunday
My dear parishioners,
God is Good!!! All the time!!! And all the time!!! God is Good!!!
Traditionally, this reading is regarded as one of four suffering servant songs, the other three being found in chapters 42, 49, and 53. Taken together, they present readers with what could be regarded as a biography of the servant. Who is the servant? The oracles surrounding these songs suggest the servant is the ideal Israel. The long years of exile made the people wiser. This reading is clear testimony to the marvelous transformation within them.
Today’s liturgy solemnly commemorates the symbolic entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, thereby fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9: “Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold: your king is coming to you, a just savior is he, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” There are two Gospel passages proclaimed today. The first one narrates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and the second passage recounts the entire passion narrative of Mark’s Gospel. Taking our cue from the liturgy itself, the primary emphasis should focus on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem which will then give way to his passion experience.
Preparing for the entry into Jerusalem. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem begins in Mark 8:22 and concludes in Mark 10:52. Central to that journey are three passion predictions Jesus makes and his disciples misunderstand. The reader, however, is prepared for what is about to happen as Jesus enters his final destination of Jerusalem. This entry is meant to be symbolic, portraying Jesus as the prophet of the coming messianic kingdom.
The prophetic powers of Jesus. Jesus gives his disciples detailed instructions for finding and procuring a colt he will need to ride into Jerusalem. Everything worked out exactly as Jesus had instructed. It seems that the Gospel wants to emphasize that Jesus is here operating with supernatural prophetic powers and not just keen human insight.
The entry into Jerusalem. The high point of the narrative is the actual entry from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem. Jesus is recognized by the people in his symbolic prophetic role and he is honored as such. Branches and cloaks cover the road Jesus uses. The people cry out with Ps 118:25–26 which sings Hosanna in the highest. Jesus is coming in the name of the Lord. He will be a successor to the great ruler King David. Unlike King David, however, Jesus will not be a political king. Instead, he will be arrested, put on trial, and crucified as a political insurrectionist. That is the story that now follows.
Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org. All rights reserved
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Aloysius