Commentary
The Slave Who Sets Us Free
Christ Jesus “emptied himself, taking
the form of a slave…. He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of
death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:7-8)
This core of the Christian
faith is expressed in some of the details of the various readings selected for
this celebration of Palm Sunday.
-
Jesus is the Savior who
brings peace. It is evident in the
manner of his entering the city to bring to fulfillment God’s plan of
salvation. He does not come as a warrior
king riding on a horse, but as a humble prince of peace, on a young donkey.
-
He was crucified, the
most undignified capital punishment.
(1)
In the Roman society,
crucifixion was never used for a free Roman citizen, but “on the lower classes,
that is, slaves, violent criminals, and political rebels.” [1]
(2) In Jewish tradition, there is no crucifixion as such. Nevertheless, hanging is for a criminal who
has committed a “capital offense.”
Moreover, “who is hanged is accursed by God.” So much so, that Moses commanded the people
to remove the corpse. Otherwise, the corpse, if it “[remains] on the tree overnight” would “defile
the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you as a heritage.” (Deuteronomy
21: 22-23) [2]
Yet, that is the manner
of death the Son of God accepted out of obedience to the Father, and out of
love for the human race. In this way,
the Son of God enables us, who are slaves to sins and death, to be free
children of God forever.
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[1] & [2] Daniel J. Harrington, S.J. The
Gospel of Matthew. Sacra Pagina
Series. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical
Press, 1991; p. 397.
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