Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday A (17 April 2011)

Fr James McTavish, FMVD

A love stronger than our contradictions

Today the Church celebrates what is known as Palm Sunday. Why is it called Palm Sunday? Today we commemorate the moment Jesus entered Jerusalem amidst much pomp and ceremony. St John notes that the people “took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” St Mark does not mention palms but instead leafy branches – “many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields” (Mark 11,8). St Matthew records that people “cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road” (Matt 21, 8). Why did they greet him with palms, leafy branches and branches cut from the trees? Well today we tend to greet VIP’s with banners, streamers or even flags. After the wedding of William and Kate I am sure many well wishers will be waving banners and flags to wish them a happy married life together.

The palm is a Hebrew symbol of joy. The book of Leviticus records that branches of palm were used “to make merry in front of God” (Lev 23, 40). The palm was the symbol used to welcome a King. But Jesus will have none of it. He does not accede to popular demands – as the King of heaven and earth he could have entered in a magnificent chariot, guarded by the Archangels with cherubs flying around playing the harp, violin or even bagpipes. Instead he chooses another way. How does he enter? On a colt. This is in accord with the prophecy of Zechariah, “Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, Meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass” (Zechariah 9:9). Jesus chooses a humble way. It is exactly as St Paul tells us in the second reading of today about Jesus, “Who, 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” (See Phil 2:6-11). This self-emptying of Christ is known as the kenosis.

Sometimes when we are praised we easily revel in the glory. Supposedly when Mother Theresa was being accoladed by the crowds in Rome she commented that she did not what the fuss was for as she was just the donkey. It is quite a humorous idea of the donkey carrying Jesus taking all the glory. With the crowds cheering and waving perhaps the colt was tempted to respond “thank you, thank you!” When we are doing may things and achieving things it is important not to forget God’s grace. What do we have that we have not first received? As St Paul would say “I am what I am by the grace of God.”

Jesus does not root himself in the opinion of the crowds. His stability comes from his relationship with the Father. How often we are affected by what others say and do. We become like a small boat, tossed about on the ocean at the mercy of the prevailing tides of opinion of others. Jesus will live his whole Passion rooted not in the reaction of man but rooted in the love of God. On this Palm Sunday the crowd welcome him, shouting “Hosanna” (which is Hebrew for O Lord, grant salvation). But today we also read the Passion narrative. The crowd who once loved him are now shouting “Crucify him! Crucify him!” It seems that there is here a great contradiction.

A contradiction is when one goes against (contra) what one has said (diction). Another word is inconsistency. St Paul said “Each one must do as already determined.” It reminds us not to simply act on impulse but to try to be coherent or integrated in our thoughts, words and actions. One man I met recently expressed his perplexity over the contradictions in his life – he is an investment banker earning a lot of money. He is also sensitive to the poor. He gave a big charitable donation recently of $25,000 to an orphanage then later he found himself in a restaurant telling his friends about it as he ordered a bottle of wine for $250. But how often in front of the Lord we make resolutions and then don’t keep them – a resolution to fast, to pray more, to love him more. But in Jesus there is no contradiction. He comes to love us until the very end and to give his life out of love for us. He is the protagonist of the show not merely a passive victim. He declares that no one takes his life from him. Instead he gives it up of his own free will.

He will go to his Passion to be mocked, scourged and put to death and will bear it all meekly. As the first reading today tells us “I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.” (See Isaiah 50:4-7) St. John Chrysostom said that there is nothing that gives greater edification to others, and draws souls more powerfully to God, than the meekness of the man who, when treated with derision, contempt, and insult, seeks not revenge, but bears all with a peaceful and placid countenance.

Let us ask the grace to walk with Jesus as we enter Holy Week. We can greet him today waving the palm of thanksgiving for all he has done and is doing in our lives. His grace is working powerfully in us. But may I also be aware of my contradictions, when I pass from my “Hosanna” to “crucify him!” Let us be repentant for the sufferings our contradictions cause to those around us. And may we not lose heart in our weakness but draw strength from Christ, who loved us and give his life for us. Amen.