Palm Sunday

April 13, 2025

Luke 19: 28-40[blessing/procession], Luke 22:14- 23:56[Passion]

This Sunday, at the beginning of Holy Week, is called both Palm Sunday, and Passion Sunday because we reflect on the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the reading of the Passion. In the Roman Liturgy, it was first celebrated as Passion Sunday with a reading of one of the passions at Mass. Later, we began celebrating aspects of the way this first Sunday of Holy Week was observed in Jerusalem with a procession of the Palms from the Mount of Olives to the Church of the Resurrection. And so today we have a reading from the Gospel of Luke about Jesus entering Jerusalem with people waving palms, and from the Passion according to Luke during the Eucharist.

Jesus approaches Jerusalem on the back of a donkey which was the way a king would enter a town. This entry into Jerusalem is a high point of Jesus ministry and influence before the resurrection. Jesus is proclaimed, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.” He is at the point of becoming the kind of messiah that the people expect: the military conquerer of the Holy Land and head of a new government. But all too soon, we know that this in not to be. Jesus is king, but of the lowly and outcast. Luke next quotes from the infancy narratives, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” We can see Luke connecting this glorious entrance and the lowly beginning of Jesus at Bethlehem. In fact, this is the beginning of Jesus’ betrayal and passion. Just after this passage of triumph, Jesus laments the fall of the city of Jerusalem, reminding us that his triumph is to come about in a very different way, on a cross. How hollow all this must have seemed to Jesus; he had always told the fact that his way of being messiah was one of the suffering servant who offered all things for those who could not speak for themselves.

The reading of the passion during Mass fills out what Jesus felt at his entry into Jerusalem and turns his prophecies into reality, at least as far as we celebrate the passion, which we, with the eyes of faith, know is introduction to the resurrection. I am always impressed with the way Jesus, in Luke, begins the passion. He begins with the last supper and says, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” We can almost picture how Jesus felt as he began this traditional Passover supper with this closest friends and disciples. They had been with him throughout his public ministry sharing the triumphs and disappointments, sharing his love and the love he taught them for his Father. They were the ones who Jesus had hand picked to learn his message and whom he loved so much. 

And yet, he knew that one would betray him and the rest did not really understand him, did not really take in what he had said only a short time before: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him, spit on him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.” They did not listen, did not want to understand; instead, they disagreed among themselves as to whom was the most important. Now, at the supper, it seems that they still did not have a clue. Still even now, very soon, the events of Jesus passion would unfold and shake everything they thought they knew. We have just read it.

It is difficult to believe, isn’t it? How could they have so terribly missed the point? But before we get to smug or too pleased with ourselves, we must heed St. Paul “least whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.” Yes, we have the advantage of so much! We have witnesses to the resurrection; we have seen the spread of Christianity over all the world; we have the consolation of the truth. But, we have also seen the failure of Christendom. 

And yet, have we ourselves really understood what Jesus has asked of us? Have we comprehended our role in making present here and now the Kingdom of God Jesus spoke of at the Passover supper? Have we comprehended how the first Christians really lived with everything in common, who were recognized as Christians for how they loved one another and how the took care of anyone in need? Have we become too settled in our christian ways and missed the message? How can I, today help to realize, that is, to make real, the kingdom of God that Jesus preached over 2,000 years ago in which the powerless are helped? Let these thoughts guide us as we live out once again the passion and death of Jesus, and finally his resurrection conquering sin and death.

Fr. John Tran