Commentaries

Palm Sunday – Year A

Being Deliberate

The verbs used in Matthew’s story of the Passion of Jesus indicate that Judas is deliberate in his decision and action of betrayal. It is Judas who takes the initiative to “[go] to the chief priests and [say], “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you.” Once he has received the money, “he looked for an opportunity to hand him over” (26:14, 16). Later on, as the events unfold, we again find Judas doing every thing with a plan. Before he leads the crowd to the garden, he has “arranged a sign with them” to betray Jesus (26:48). Then, he carries his plan to have Jesus arrested.

Peter and the other disciples are no less guilty than Judas.[1] At the supper, “Peter said to Jesus, ‘Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.’ And all the disciples spoke likewise” (26:35). Yet, when Jesus was arrested, they “all left him and fled” (26:56). (And none of the Synoptic Gospels – that is Matthew, Mark, and Luke) has any of the disciples return to the crucified Jesus). Worse, as we know, Peter would deny Jesus three times, and with each time, his denial becomes more fiery[2]. The first time, “he denied it in front of everyone, saying, ‘I do not know what[3] you are talking about” (26:70). The second time, “he denied it with an oath, ‘I do not know the man”’ (26:72). The third time, he again denied knowing “the man,” but this time with “curse and swear” (26:74).

How Peter and Judas reacted is well-known. Yet, it is worth noting that their actions are described with very active verbs. Peter “went out and began to weep bitterly” (26:75). And Judas, after “flinging the money into the temple, departed and went off and hanged himself” (27:5). (Surprisingly, the end of Judas is only found in Matthew). The two choices here are either repentance or despair.[4] We all sin, but we can choose what to do with our sins.

Jesus is even more deliberate in his fulfilling of the Father’s plan for our salvation. The reading for this Palm Sunday begins with verse 14 of chapter 26 in Matthew. The chapter, however, opens with the indication that “all the teaching of Jesus is finished[5] (“When Jesus finished all these words”). He now tells the disciples that he would be handed over. He is about to fulfill the Father’s plan.

As he institutes the Eucharist, he tells the disciples that it is “for the forgiveness of sins” (26:28). While he is in agony in the garden, he prays that the Father’s will be done (26:42). Afterwards, he alerts the disciples, "Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over," and so he takes charge, "Let us go" (26:45). Then, he allows himself to be arrested so that “the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled” (26:56). His faithfulness to the Father’s loving plan reaches its climax when he “gave up his spirit” (27:50). At that moment, the gentile centurion and “the men with him” recognize, “Truly, this was the Son of God” (27:54). He is the Son of God who died “for the forgiveness of sins.”

We sin, deliberately. Yet, God is even more deliberate in saving us.

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[1] In Matthew, Judas is explicitly referred to as “one of the Twelve.” Francis J. Moloney (see Footnote #2)

[2] Moloney, Francis J. The Gospel of the Lord: Reflections on the Gospel Readings Year A. p. 97

[3] Stress is mine.

[4] Moloney, 100.

[5] Ibid., 96.