Word to the Wise
Sunday, March 24, 2013 - Palm Sunday: At the Mass - ABC
[Isa 50:4-7; Phil 2:6-11; A: Matt 26:14 - 27:66 or 27:11-54 B: Mark 14:1 - 15:47 or 15:1-39 C: Luke 22:14 - 23:56 or 23:1-49,248]As [Jesus] rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks in the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen....
[For the procession: Luke 19:28-40; for the Mass: Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11 and Luke 22:14 - 23:56]
It must have been quite a scene! A man riding on a donkey is accompanied by some followers who are praising God in loud voices and spreading their cloaks on the road in front of him! [Other versions refer to the palm branches ( cf Mark 11:8), but this year is Luke's year and even if he doesn't mention them, we will still receive a piece of palm!] No doubt the Pharisees are worried by the content of the praises as well as casting a wary eye at any Roman soldiers who might intervene! Riots were common during Passover in Jerusalem! Such a tumultuous welcome is quite a contrast to our orderly Palm Sunday processions. (I have heard of congregations that manage to find a donkey for the pastor or someone to ride!) In the end, we need to gather our thoughts and our imagination to allow ourselves to enter into this grand scene that begins the sacred "drama" of Holy Week. In a few minutes, while holding that "palm of praise," we will be "yelling" "CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!" Those words ought to give us pause, for sure!!!! It is our loud cries that convince a skeptical Pilate to sentence Jesus to death!
"Wait a minute!" we might say! "We weren't there!" Oh yes we ARE there! And we need to accept our role in all of this if we expect to accept the benefits of the resurrection on Easter Sunday! Maybe Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday will be all that most of us can handle, which is unfortunate because of the incredible spiritual and theological richness of the church's Holy Week celebration. At least today we will walk in the procession, and participate in the Passion According to St. Luke, and take the piece of palm home with us and hopefully put it somewhere to remind us, if nothing else, of what is being celebrated this week (and, in a sense, at every Eucharist throughout the year!). We have to do what we can. I recommend reading all four passion accounts and spending a few moments with each of them. This is something we can do at home. Maybe we can find a copy of THE PASSION movie and watch it. Whatever we do, I pray that this will not just be another week that ends with dyed eggs and Easter bunnies! AMEN