Palm Sunday - B (March 28, 2021)

 

The Cross

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark

(Mark 14:1–15:47)

 

Mark begins his Gospel with a direct opening, “The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

 

The introduction now reaches its climax. 

 

Jesus was betrayed by one of his disciples.  The other disciples have deserted him.  Now, on the cross, he is “mocked” by his opponents, “He saved others, he cannot save himself.”  Jesus himself cries out to the Father, ““My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

 

Not the miracles.  Not his preaching.  Now is the moment when Jesus’ identity is fully known.  The centurion professes, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

 

By his cross, the Son of God reveals the fullness of God’s love.  He brings to us God’s salvation.  By his cross, the only Son of God makes all people sons and daughters of God. 

Palm Sunday - B (March 25, 2018)

Mark 11:1-10

Who Is My King?

During the time of Jesus, Palestine was under Roman rule.  Roman soldiers had their base in Caesarea Maritima, west of Jerusalem.  When the occupying forces marched into Jerusalem, they would want to show their military might.  For our interest, visualize the Roman cavalries on horses.  Moreover, in ancient cultures, a warrior king comes riding on horses.

The reading from Mark used today for the procession with palms tells us that Jesus comes into Jerusalem from Bethany to the east.  He rides on a colt as a king who comes in peace, not a warrior on a horse.

This king of peace conquers by his cross.  Thus, it is only on the cross where his true identity is revealed.  Witnessing his death, the centurion professed, “Truly this man was the son of God.”  (Mark 15:39)

I have to ask myself, who is the king that I follow in my life, in my thoughts, my attitude, my words, and actions?

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Notes on geography are taken from John Petty, http://www.progressiveinvolvement.com

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Good Friday

Jesus' death brings courage
 

"Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body.  

Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds.
They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom." (John 19: 38-40)

Joseph used to follow Jesus in secret "for fear of the Jews." Now, he even goes to Pilate and ask for the body of Jesus.

Nicodemus "was a Pharisee [and] a ruler of the Jews." (John 3:1).  He "had first come to to Jesus at night" probably because he did not want people to know.  Now he comes bringing "a mixture of of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds." It would be pretty difficult trying to hide something that heavy.

Do I want to be known as a follower of Jesus? Why would I keep my relationship with Jesus secret?

May his passion and death out of love for me give me the courage to profess and live my faith in him.

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Palm Sunday - A

Commentary

Philippians 2: 6-11

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.

Palm Sunday - A (April 13, 2014)

Readings

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Palm Sunday - C

Commentary

Luke 22: 14 –23:56

The Price of God’s Love

This Gospel passage continues and brings to climax the great themes of God’s boundless love and forgiveness.  This has been one of the themes of the Sunday Gospels during Lent for this Cycle C taken from Luke.

We have heard God’s love and forgiveness from Jesus’ teaching on God’s patience in the parable of the fig tree (2^rd Sunday of Lent).  The theme of God’s love continues with the image of the father’s boundless love for the two sons who do not appreciate it (3^rd Sunday of Lent).  Then, God’s love and forgiveness becomes tangible in the flesh in Jesus when he forgives and opens the path to relationship with God to the woman caught in the act of adultery (5^th Sunday of Lent).  

In forgiving sinners and in sharing with humanity God’s love, Jesus Christ reveals himself as the true Son of God (this identity of Jesus was introduced in the Gospel passage of the temptation in the desert (1^st Sunday of Lent) and the transfiguration (2^nd Sunday of Lent)).

Jesus now shares a meal with Peter and the other disciples, who are sinners.  [1]   They are people with human brokenness, lack of understanding, fear….  One of them will betray Jesus.  Another will deny knowing him.  The rest will abandon him. 

Moreover, for them, for the two criminals crucified with him, for the high priest, the rulers, the soldiers, and, indeed, for all sinners, Jesus gives his life.  

To the Father, the Son offers his life for the forgiveness of all sinners.  On the cross, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”  

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[1] Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of the Lord, Reflections on the Gospel Readings Year C. Collegeville, MN. Liturgical Press, 1991; p. 83.

Palm Sunday - C (March 24, 2013)

Readings

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