Word to the Wise
Sunday, April 10, 2022 - 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 23:1-49,163]Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [Philippians]
Many great dramas, particularly operas, begin with a crowd scene in which the hero or heroine is introduced as a member of the village. Scripture scholars tell us that the "passion narratives" were the first parts of the gospels to be composed with the remainder of each gospel composed in the light of the passion narrative! The passion narratives begin with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem for the celebration of the great Jewish festival of the Passover. He comes with a crowd of his disciples who "praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed: 'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest..'
Can we imagine ourselves as a resident of Jerusalem who has never been outside the city in other parts of Judea, let alone in Galilee? Who is this man on a donkey, entering Jerusalem with his crowd chanting his praises? Are we curious enough to follow this crowd, moving with its moods? When we see the same man under arrest and being abused by Roman soldiers and fellow Jews alike and then nailed to a crosss, do we question what is happening or do we yell 'CRUCIFY HIM!"? What will we make of the later claim by those disciples that "HE IS RISEN!"?
Today, in our own time, we listen to and participate in the account of the events in Jerusalem that begin with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. We are handed a piece of palm branch and invited to join the crowd. Do we join as a disciple or as a curious onlooker? Are we believers or simply spectators? What do we make of the "self-emptying" sacrifice which St. Paul speaks of in the second scripture for today? In watching the abuse, can we remember the words of Isaiah in the first scripture for today: "I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting."?
The choice is ours for Holy Week. We can be devoted disciples in the life of Jesus and witnesses to his death and resurrection, or spectators at an event that ends on Calvary. The power and drama of Holy Week can draw us into Jesus' life in a way that is different from any other in the liturgical year. Do we have the courage to admit (as Peter failed to do) that we are "one of this man's disciples?" AMEN