HOMILY ON THE PALM SUNDAY, YEAR B
([Mk.11:1-10] Is.50:4-7, ps.21, Eph.2:6-11 & Mk 14:1-15:47)
FOLLOWING JESUS -THE SUFFERING SERVANT
Today is THE PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION which begins the HOLY WEEK. It is the Sunday that commemorates JESUS’ TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM to accomplish his redemptive mission on earth through his PASSION, DEATH & RESURRECTION.
In the Preliminary Gospel Reading and the Passion Reading of this special celebration, we see an intertwined of EXALTATION AND SUFFERING. We begin with the Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem where a massive crowd welcomes Him with great joy proclaiming, “HOSANNA” and waving the palms in their hands as Jesus rides on a colt. But suddenly, the mood darkens and we are faced with the PASSION OF CHRIST where the crowds now clamour in a loud voice: ‘CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!!
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem riding on a colt was a direct fulfilment of the Messianic prophecy of Zechariah (9:9), which says: ‘Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious and riding on a donkey and upon a colt the foal of a donkey’.!The colt was a sign of peace and Jesus riding on it depicts meekness and humility, as the Messianic King who offers victory and peace to his people.
The Psalmist in Psalm 24 echoes the triumphal procession of the King of glory saying; O GATES! LIFT UP YOUR HEADS; GROW HIGHER, O ANCIENT DOORS! LET HIM ENTER, THE KING OF GLORY. Does the King of glory find a welcome in your home and heart? Will you lift up your heart for the King of Glory to enter or will you prefer to close it against the Lord in frustration? Christ came to bring us the KINGDOM OF GOD. He is the true King who offers peace, joy, and everlasting life for those who accept his kingship. It is only the one who humbly opens his heart for Him that He enters to dines with -Rev.3:20.
O! gates lift up your heads, let Him enter the king of glory. THE LIFTING UP OF HEARTS FOR THE LORD’S ENTRY INCLUDES BEING UNITED TO HIM BOTH IN HIS GLORY AND IN HIS PASSION, ie in the joyful times of our lives as well as in the challenging moments of our lives. As we approach the Sacrament of Penance this gracious Holy Week, may we ask for forgiveness for those moments we turned away from the Lord, refusing to lift our hearts open for him to enter, and have also allowed ourselves to be instruments of DENIAL, BETRAYAL, FALSE WITNESS, PERVERSE JUDGEMENT, MOCKERY, TORTURE meted to the Lord, as we witness them in the PASSION NARRATIVE.
It’s easy to shout HOSANNA! For the Lord but very hard to stand for Him, with the cross. One may ask, where were the ‘HOSANNA CROWD’ during the unjust trial meted onto Jesus before CAIAPHAS, PILATE and HEROD? Did they all of a sudden disappear into the thin air? It’s really quite difficult to comprehend how those who in a short while ago shout “HOSANNA” for the Lord would suddenly turn to yell for his Crucifixion.
Often some of us Christians, do not remain steadfast in our faith in the face of challenges. Our faith rather quickly goes down like the temperature of boiled water. Is your faith a matter of good feelings, when the going is well? We really have to evaluate our Christian discipleship as we begin the HOLY WEEK this Sunday accompanying the Lord in his Passion.
In our first reading today -Is.50:4-7, the prophet Isaiah presents us with the song of the SUFFERING SERVANT OF THE LORD who learns to obey through suffering. This song has been interpreted as direct prophecies about Jesus’ PASSION & RESURRECTION. In it Isaiah says: ‘EACH MORNING THE LORD WAKENS MY EARS TO LISTEN LIKE A DISCIPLE’. This means that a true disciple is a person of prayer, who regularly listens to God in a MASTER-DISCIPLE relationship to nourish himself first, to be able to communicate to the people what God really wants and also to know how to go along with the WEARIED & THE TROUBLED.
By implication, one cannot speak God’s word meaningfully to others without first listening to God himself. When a Christian neglects this rhythm of MASTER-DISCIPLE RELATIONSHIP in his life, he not only resorts to human sophistry which is devoid of divine inspiration but he will also join deflated in faith at the face of any slightest FAITH-CHALLENGING SITUATION.
Therefore, always give the Lord the first place in your life and allow His teachings and values to determine and colour your daily decisions and choices.
Reflection by
Fr Damian Ikemefuna Ozokwere cssp