"Tell Jerusalem her King is coming to her, riding humbly on a donkey's colt"

  “Tell Jerusalem her King is coming to her, riding humbly on a donkey’s colt!” (Zech.9:9; Mt.21:5)

Palm Sunday

April 1, 2012

Introduction

Palm Sunday & Passover

On Ash Wednesday  our foreheads were besmeared with the ashes of burnt palm branches, and we were  reminded that we are dust and unto dust we shall return. On this last Sunday of Lent (which opens Holy Week) we receive blessed palms in remembrance of the first Palm Sunday, when the Lord rode triumphantly into Jerusalem. The incredible news that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead (Jn 11:1-45) had spread far and wide. So when the people heard that He was coming to town, they enthusiastically went out to welcome the wonder-worker. Cheering crowds laid palm branches before Him, as He rode into Jerusalem, seated upon a donkey.

This week is holy also for the Jewish community. this coming Friday, April 7, will be the first day of Passover - a seven - day celebration commemorating the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The Lord God instructed the enslaved Israelites to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood oa a spring lamb. Then the Lord God rained death upon the unmarked homes of the Egyptians, but passover over the homes of the Israelites marked with the blood of the lamb. Hence the Feast of the Passover. (Ex. 12:21-23)

A remarkably short distance

In the Palm Sunday liturgy the reading of the Passion follows the blessing of and procession with palms. The scene changes dramatically: the cheering crowds waving branches and shouting “Hosanna” suddenly become the jeering crowds of Good Friday, shouting “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Mk. 15:13)  What a remarkably short distance lies between Palm Sunday and Good Friday! Very probably the crowds of Palm Sunday and Good Friday were not one and the same.

A preacher writes, “I never know what to do with Palm Sunday. It’s fun to sing and dance, but I know where things lead. Making a big deal about Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem seems rather beside the point, when I know that Good Friday is on the horizon.”

Scripture readings for Palm Sunday Mass

Isaiah 50:4-7    Philippians 2:6-11   Mark 15:1-39

Second reading Philippians

Christ Jesus, though He was God, did not demand and cling to his right as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, and took on the form of a servant and became a human being. And He humbled himself even as to go so far as to die a criminal’s death on a cross. Yet it was because of this that God raised Him up to the heights of heaven and gave Him a name which is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

according to Mark

Rubric: The Passion, if eloquently proclaimed, speaks for itself, and needs no further words. After an eloquent reading of the Passion `the sound of silence’ is far more powerful than the words of a preacher who might feel that he needs to add a few words of his own. Instead of working hard at a sermon on Palm Sunday, let the priest work hard at an eloquent reading of the Passion, which will speak for itself.

Narrator: black

Jesus: red

Other individuals: blue

Crowds: green

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As soon as morning came, the chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin held a council. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "So you say." The chief priests accused Him of many things. Again Pilate questioned Him, "Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of." Jesus refused to say a word, and Pilate was amazed.

Now on the occasion of Passover Pilate would set free any prisoner the people asked for. At that time a man named Barabbas was then in prison along with the rebels who had committed murder in a rebellion. When the crowd gathered and asked Pilate for the usual favor, he asked them, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" He knew very well that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed Him over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate again said to them in reply, "Then what do you want me to do with the man you call the king of the Jews?" They shouted back, "Crucify him." Pilate said to them, "Why? What evil has he done?" They only shouted the louder, "Crucify him." So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Then the Roman soldiers took Jesus away into the barracks of the palace, called out the entire palace guards, dressed Him in a purple robe, wove a crown of thorns and pressed it on His head. Then the soldiers saluted Him saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" They kept striking His head with a reed and spitting upon Him. They knelt and paid mock homage to Him. When they had finished their mockery, they took off the purple robe and dressed Him in his own clothes. Then they led Jesus out to crucify Him.

On the way they met a man named Simon, who was coming into the city from the country, and they forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (This was Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.)  They took Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means `The Place of the Skull.’ There they tried to give Him wine drugged with myrrh, but He did not drink it. Then they crucified Him—and threw dice for his clothes.

It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified Him. The inscription of the charge against Him read: The King of the Jews. With Him were crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. Those passing by reviled Him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha! You who are going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!" Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked Him among themselves and said, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with Him also heaped insult on Him.

At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Some of the bystanders who heard it said, "Look, he is calling Elijah." One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed and gave it to Him to drink saying, "Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down." Jesus then gave a loud cry and breathed his last. [Here all kneel and pause for a short time.]

The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing Him saw how He breathed his last he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"

[After some moments of silence, a short prayer like the following would be appropriate.]

A prayer after the Passion

We feel for you today, Lord Jesus, as you ride

 your drowsy donkey through the crowded streets

  of gaudy old Jerusalem, alive with palms.

You suffered a hero’s welcome

 and learned the pain of a hero’s heart,

 torn by the thought of tomorrow,

when the shouting would be over.

You had your ticker-tape parade and rode forth in majesty

to receive the keys of the city - the keys of death.

In the face of this, Lord, can you explain

why we keep striving to be heroes?

Let us join you under the palms tonight.

(by Norman Habel)