Palm Sunday - A (April 2, 2023)

 

The Divine Became a Slave so that Slaves Might Become Divine

Readings

 

In the Second Reading, St. Paul professed that Jesus emptied himself of his divinity in choosing to become one like us and by accepting the death on the cross of a slave.  In so doing, he freed all humanity, who once were slaves to sins and death. 

 

Moreover, as the Son of God, he shares with us his divinity.  His words and his Eucharist (the Gospel) continues to pour out on us every day and makes us one with Him, children of God. 

 

Thus, the events of Jesus passion, death, and resurrection make this week Holy Week.  And we celebrate this week as an act of praise and thanksgiving.     

 

Palm Sunday - C (April 10, 2022)

 

The Great Love of God

Philippians 2: 6-11

 

The Son of God came to live among us.  He accepted the death on the cross of a slave. (The Law of Moses forbids crucifixion.  The Romans would not use crucifixion to put Roman citizens to death.  It was only for slaves). 

 

In so doing, the Son of God, who has no sins, freed us from slavery to sin and makes us children of God. 

 

Let us spend some time during this Holy Week to reflect on the immensity of God’s love for us.  

 

Painting by Salvador Dalí, wikipedia.org

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 - C (April 14, 2019)

The King Who Died the Death of a Slave

Readings

The readings for the celebration of Palm Sunday call us to the mystery of God’s salvation.  Out of love, the Son of God who is a king, came to live among us.  He died the death of a slave to set us free from slavery to sins and death.  In this way, the Son of God makes us now all children of God. 

The Gospel for the Palm Sunday procession draws our attention to Jesus’ kingship.  The people of Jerusalem recognize Jesus as the King promised by God through Scriptures.  Luke refers to two details in Zechariah on the kingship of the Messiah – that Jesus enters city from the direction of Mount of Olives and he does so riding on a colt [1].  And the people’s acclamation “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord” is actually a quote of Psalm 118:26 [2]. 

This king is not just any king.  “Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, … emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (2^nd reading, Philippians 2). 

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[1] “On that day God’s feet will stand on the Mount of Olives” (Zechariah 14:4) and

“Your king is coming to you, a just savior is he, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt” (Zechariah 9:9)

[1] & [2] from www.progressiveinvolvement.com

 

Image source:  www.agnusday.org

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

Image source: www.agnusday.org

Palm Sunday, A (April 9, 2017)

Commentary

Readings

The Humility of the Son of God – an Act of Love

One of the central themes of the celebration of Palm Sunday is the humility of the Son of God.

This theme is highlighted by two images or details. 

First, Jesus’ riding on a donkey entering Jerusalem.  A warrior or victorious king would ride on a horse or a horse-drawn chariot. 

Second, his crucifixion – the capital punishment reserved for slaves.

Thus, St. Paul’s reflection, “Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, … emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; … he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

How great is God’s love for us! 

And may we learn from his humility and gentleness. 

 Image source:  www.agnusday.org

 

Palm Sunday - C

Commentary

Luke 22:14 – 23:56

Jesus – the Mercy of God

Luke reports some unique details in his account of the Passion of Jesus:

1. “Jesus turned to” the women who mourned and lamented him, and spoke to them.

2. On the cross, Jesus said to the Father, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”

3. To the criminal who asked, “Jesus, remember me...,” Jesus replied, “Amen, I say to you, today, you will be with me in Paradise.”

4. After Jesus “breathed his last,” the people who “saw what had happened returned home beating their breasts.” 

With these details, Luke emphasizes the mercy of Jesus. With Jesus' death, repentance and forgiveness immediately began. The recipients of God's goodness included Herod and Pilate, who “became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly.”

Truly, Christ died for us and for our sins. He is the mercy of God. 

Palm Sunday - C (March 20, 2016)

Readings

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Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion - B

Commentary

Mark 14: 1 – 15: 47

“Truly This Man Was the Son of God”

During the two trials in front of the Sanhedrin and Pilate, Jesus speaks only twice, one to the high priest, the other to Pilate.

Pilate asks if he is the king of the Jews, and Jesus' reply could sound ambiguous, “You say so.”

But to the high priest's question, “Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?,” Jesus' answer is crystal clear and affirmative, “I am.”

This identity of Jesus as the Son of God is proclaimed, again in affirmative tone, by the centurion, after his death on the cross, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

In Mark's Gospel, “The Son of God” is the central identity of Jesus. In fact, Mark begins his Gospel clearly stating his theme, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (1:1)

And this identity cannot be understood apart from the cross.

St. Paul understood this, as he wrote to in the Letter to the Philippians, “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.” (2^nd Reading of Palm Sunday)

As an act of Divine Love, the Cross became the instrument of our salvation.

By His Cross, we are saved!

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion - B (March 29, 2015)

Readings

Image source:  http://www.agnusday.org

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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