Homily for the week of March 28, 2010

PALM SUNDAY, YEAR C, 2010

Isaiah 50:4-7

Phi 2:6-11

Luke 23:1-49

We are beginning Holy Week with this liturgy of celebrating our salvation. During the days of this week we are invited to take little “holy Moments” to experience our need for salvation. We are freed, not only from eternal separation from God, but our being separated from our selves, our better selves and by that from the experiences of being united with others.

We begin these "holy moments" with this Palm Sunday. Palms were very common at the time of Jesus. Egyptians believed that palm branches could protect them from serious diseases. Miners carried small pieces of blessed palms in the shape of a cross as a protection when they entered the dangerous mines. Palm branches woven into the shape of a cross were placed in homes to protect them from lightning and demons. Farmers wold place palm crosses in their field to repel insects and help the crops to produce more abundantly. These and many other practices used palms as a sign of strength. There is an old legend that told that if a heavy weight is placed on the top of the palm tree it would grow taller. So when Jesus entered Jerusalem on his last visit there before his death on the cross, people met him with palm branches. The palm branches which we bring home today can be a reminder for us that, just as Jesus overcame suffering, we too can be protected when we see our palm branch in our home.

Our Gospel reading gives us two roads. There are two parades described in the two Gospels. One parade leads into Jerusalem with Jesus’ being welcomed and proclaimed. We could view Him as doing a foolish thing as He enters the city of His arrest, suffering, and death. This leads to the other picture where Jesus leaves Jerusalem days later in disgrace and abandoned. The Liturgy of palms and the liturgy of the Passion bespeak the duality of our human response to God through out history. Sometimes we welcome him in and other times we push him away.

In the Gospel, we hear Jesus’ not rebelling, not turning back. The words he speaks are of his personal truth and not a defensive refute. Jesus’ words are of handing over; his teachings, his body in the Eucharist, his spirit on the cross. Judas hands him over as well, but refuses to take in that spirit.

Jesus came triumphantly into Jerusalem, but he knew what faced him. The death would be terrible, and the suffering that would accompany it would be excruciating. Worst of all would be the pain of abandonment. Jesus would die abandoned by everyone. His friends and disciples would run away and leave him alone.

From among his very best friends, one would turn him over to the authorities and another would deny knowing him. Jesus’ experience of abandonment even seemed to extend to his Father:My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

In dying his lonely death on the cross, Jesus brought salvation to all those who are abandoned by others: the poor, the homeless, the unemployed, the lonely elderly, those suffering from communicable diseases, the hungry, political prisoners, prostitutes, those on death row. Jesus died and rose that they might be liberated from their abandonment. Your attitude must be Christ’s, we are told by St. Paul. We must empty ourselves and take the form of slaves on behalf of those who are abandoned by the world.