Reflection for Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday Readings

Last week a major scandal shocked America and indeed the entire world. New York Governor, Elliot Spitzer resigned after being linked to a prostitution ring. I am not referring to him at the beginning of this homily to condemn him from the outside. In fact, each of us at some time has said one thing and done the opposite. I merely bring Spitzer’s example us to draw attention to the dark side of human nature. One look at the world and we see the darkness that human beings can create – betrayal, murder, rape, violence, war, poverty, misery, infidelity, abuse, injustice and much more. Palm Sunday commemorates two simultaneous journeys. On the one hand, every devout Jew of Jesus’ time knew the meaning of him entering the city “riding on a donkey.” Jesus himself knew what he was doing, and his supporters and enemies knew the claim that Jesus was making. Jesus was announcing in the most obvious way his role in the history of human salvation. Jesus was staking his claim as the messiah and redeemer. On the other hand, Palm Sunday begins the journey of Jesus into the deepest recesses of human darkenss and sin. But because he entered the story of human darkness as the messiah, the same journey became the story of human redemption.

Today’s readings give us a glimpse of the Messiah’s character and the significance of his entry into Jerusalem. In the first reading from the book of Isaiah, the Messiah is described as a “suffering messiah.” This suffering is not a meaningless, sadistic kind of suffering, but rather, the kind that expresses solidarity with other suffering people. His embrace of suffering is an antidote to human desire to escape their humanity.

In the midst of intense suffering the messiah keeps his face toward God and his ear tuned to hear God’s word. In the midst of intense persecution, the messiah does not retaliate against those who cause his suffering but keeps his eyes fixed on God. His refusal to avenge his suffering is an antidote to human capacity for violence and rebellion against the Divine.

God though he is, the Messiah rides a donkey to symbolize humility. As the letter to the Philippians suggests, he did not cling on to his divine status but rather humbled himself to embrace the darkest depths of human nature. The Messiah’s humility is an antidote to human arrogance and pride.
Messiah though he is, he remains obedient to God. As the second reading suggests, He remains obedient to God unto death, even death on a cross (Phil 6: 7-8). Jesus’ obedience is an antidote to human disobedience.

Innocent though he is, Jesus breaks the bread and shares the cup as a sign of the breaking of his own body and shedding of his own blood as a ransom for all of humanity. His selflessness is an antidote to human selfishness and desire for self-preservation at all costs.

Jesus enters Jerusalem as the Messiah. He does so not to condemn but to redeem humanity. His self-sacrifice is an antidote to human sinfulness and it’s consequence – death.

Let me offer three points practical implications for today:

1. Before Jesus, every human person walked his/her journey of life alone. After Jesus, no human person has to go through life alone. If we walk life alone, we will fear suffering, we can become arrogant, we become capable of gruesome violence, we have the potential for disobedience, and we can live very selfishly and our future is death. The commemoration of Holy Week is an invitation to begin a journey with Jesus. Holy Week is an invitation to walk with Jesus – in humility, obedience, selflessness, peace, and in loving solidarity with those who suffer. While Jesus comes to walk with us we are invited to walk with Jesus. Each day this week, pay close attention to the scriptures and to the Holy Week celebrations. In a very real way, in the real situations of daily life, we will find Jesus inviting us to walk with him.

2. Walking life with Jesus is no easy task. It is as difficult as Jesus embracing humanity in all its dimensions. This week, no matter what the pain, let us keep our eyes on God. This week no matter what the circumstance, approach it with humility. This week no matter what the compulsions, remain obedient to God. This week no matter what the cost, selflessly share yourself with those in need. This week, no matter, let us only give hope and life. In this way we will find ourselves united with Jesus’ journey for our salvation.

3. Jesus’ journey had an ultimate end – human redemption. The story of our redemption is an act of love. We will see God’s love being played out during Holy Week, reaching its climax on Good Friday. Our redemption, however, does not happen as an automatic side effect of Jesus’ loving self-sacrifice. Rather, God’s love awaits a human response. Our redemption lies in an unconditional yes to God’s unconditional love. Let our love toward God and our fellow human beings know no limits this week. In love, let us not hesitate to enter into other people’s lives so that we can redeem them. In love, let us even be prepared to enter into the darkness other people experience so that we can redeem them. In redeeming them we will find our own salvation.

Let our participation in this Eucharist prepare us for walking with Jesus the events that recall our own redemption. Just as Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem led him to sacrifice his life for our redemption, let this Eucharist begin our journey with Jesus. Amen