Blessed
Is the King Who Comes in the Name of the Lord
Palm Sunday: During this most Holy Week, may the time you spend reflecting on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus bring you a greater awareness of GOD’s love for you!
Today we begin Holy Week, the most solemn week in the Church calendar. We reflect upon the events that brought about our salvation. Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem, the City of Peace, in order to announce the Good News, not just with His words but by His act of loving sacrifice for all people. We journey along with Him as He celebrates the great feast of Passover and becomes the New Paschal Lamb Whose blood is poured out so that we, the New Israel, might experience the liberation from sin and the new life of grace. We look on as Jesus suffers His passion and crucifixion. And ultimately, we will experience His glorification from the cross and at the tomb.
Today we begin Holy Week. In our readings today we are taken through the events of the next eight days. It begins with Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The glory at the end of the eight days is alluded to in Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians.
The readings are quite powerful in what they say about Who Jesus is and why He came to earth. It reminds us of His mission and His dedication to announcing the Good News of GOD’s love for us.
First
Reading; Isaiah 50:4-7
I did not cover my face against insult: I know I shall not be shamed
Commentary: The four Songs of the Servant of the Lord occur in the second part of the Book of Isaiah, pronounced by the prophet in the last days of the Babylonian Exile, a time which was vital for the consolidation and re-formation of Israel. They seem to hang together and form a body somewhat, but not entirely, separate from the rest of the prophecy. The third Song sings of the suffering accepted by the Servant for the LORD, humiliation, insult, and spitting.
Who, then, is this Servant? In its primary meaning it has been understood as the prophet himself, reflecting on his own experiences as God’s messenger to Israel, though the difficulty here is that, as well as having a mission to Israel, he is identified as part of Israel. Is that identification in the second Song a later addition? The sufferings described in other Songs must be personal. Perhaps it is the prophet precisely as identified with Israel. Should a further extension of the meaning be understood as the long-term suffering of the People of God in witnessing to the values of Judaism? Certainly, Christianity sees the prophecies to be fulfilled in the mission and sufferings of Jesus.
Responsorial
Psalm 22:8-9,17-20,23-24
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Psalm 22 begins with words that we use as our refrain: “My GOD, My GOD, why have You abandoned me.” Jesus will quote these words as He dies on the cross. The psalm continues as it describes the suffering of an individual: the ridicule by people who belittle the relationship that the Suffering One has with GOD; the piercing of the hands and feet, and the casting of lots for the garments of the One being punished. The psalm ends with trust being ultimately placed in GOD. It speaks about the glory of the LORD being proclaimed by the one who has suffered.
Second
Reading: Philippians 2:6-11
Christ humbled himself but God raised him high
Commentary: This hymn was probably not written
by Paul himself, but taken up by him into the letter, a very early Christian
hymn. It celebrates the triumph of Jesus through his selflessness. The
assertions at the end are staggering. The hymn claims for Jesus the titles and
the worship which are due only to God. What is more, this acknowledgment of
Jesus does not detract from the glory of God but is precise ‘to the glory of
God the Father’. This is perhaps the fullest statement in Paul of the divine
glory of Jesus, and it is won by his humiliation in death.
St. Paul uses an early Christian profession of faith in Who Jesus is. He inspires his readers (including us) to put on the mind of Jesus Christ – the One Who was willing to let go of His equality with GOD, in order to humble Himself to share in our humanity. And humbling Himself, Jesus went all the way to death – and the worst death of all – death on the cross. Yet, in being faithful to doing the will of His Abba-Father, Jesus is glorified and given the name above all other names: Jesus is the LORD. He is one with the Abba and worthy of praise as GOD the Son. This reminds us of the essence of the paschal mysteries we celebrate this week: Jesus’ coming among us, suffering and dying on the cross, and being glorified by GOD, His Abba.
Gospel:
Mark 14:1-15:47
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
Commentary: 1. Jesus deserted the gospel of Mark is concerned with showing Jesus as a real, human person. So, the story of the Passion begins with the very real fear and horror of Jesus in the garden. Mark represents Jesus as almost beside himself with apprehension at the torture that he knew he would suffer. Again and again, he returns to seek companionship from his disciples, to find them callously asleep. The Passion story ends, too, with a loud cry of agony as Jesus breathes his last.
2. The divine Jesus the core of the Passion story is the trial scene. Before the high priest, Jesus acknowledges that he is the Messiah of Judaism and the Son of the Blessed One. To these titles, he joins ‘Son of man’. In the Book of Daniel, the Son of man is a glorious figure who triumphs over persecution to receive from God all power on earth. So now Jesus claims to share God’s throne as that Son of man. It is for these divine claims that is rejected as a blasphemer and handed over to the Romans.
3. The triumph of God When Jesus cries out on the Cross, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me’, he is not in despair, but is beginning Psalm 22. The Psalm begins in persecution but ends in the triumph of God and the vindication of the sufferer. This gives the meaning of his Passion: by it, Jesus brings the triumph of God and his own vindication by God. The Cross is the moment, not of abandonment by God, but of the most complete union of Jesus to the Father. Jesus here establishes the Sovereignty of his Father by his total, loving obedience. This is why the centurion proclaims, ‘Truly, the man was Son of God’. It is also significant that here for the first time in the gospel, a human being recognizes Jesus as the Son of God. It is not a Jew but a gentile – the beginning of the spread of the gospel to all nations of the world.
Reflection: Does the King of Glory find a welcome entry in your home and heart? Jesus went to Jerusalem knowing full well what awaited him - betrayal, rejection, and crucifixion. The people of Jerusalem, however, were ready to hail him as their Messianic King! Little did they know what it would cost this king to usher in his kingdom. Jesus' entry into Jerusalem astride a colt was a direct fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy of Zechariah (9:9):
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem. Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, and riding on a donkey and upon a colt the foal of a donkey. Those who believe, hope, and love receive Christ's kingdom of peace and eternal life
The colt was a sign of peace. Jesus enters Jerusalem in meekness and humility, as the Messianic King who offers victory and peace to his people. That victory and peace would be secured in the cross and resurrection which would soon take place at the time of Passover.
Augustine, the great 5th-century church father, comments on the significance of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem: "The master of humility is Christ who humbled himself and became obedient even to death, even the death of the cross. Thus, he does not lose his divinity when he teaches us humility... What great thing was it to the king of the ages to become the king of humanity? For Christ was not the king of Israel so that he might exact a tax or equip an army with weaponry and visibly vanquish an enemy. He was the king of Israel in that he rules minds, gives counsel for eternity, and leads into the kingdom of heaven for those who believe, hope, and love. It is a condescension, not an advancement for one who is the Son of God, equal to the Father, the Word through whom all things were made, to become king of Israel. It is an indication of pity, not an increase in power." (Tractates on John 51.3-4)
Psalm 24 is another prophetic passage that echoes this triumphal procession of the King of Glory: Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Jesus Christ came to bring us the kingdom of God. He is the true King who offers peace, joy, and everlasting life to those who accept his kingship. Does the King of Glory find a welcome entry in your heart and home? Do your walls echo with the praise of his glory?
Books have been written, movies have been made, about the passion of Jesus, describing the physical and emotional pain Jesus suffered. Yet, rather than by adding words or reading how much Jesus suffered, it behooves us to spend time this week slowly and reflectively re-reading the passion as related to us in the four Gospels. [Matthew 26: 14 – 27:66; Mark 14: 1 – 15:47; Luke 22:1 – 23:56; John 13:1 – 19:42 (John’s account is longer because it includes Jesus’ discourse to (and His prayer for) His disciples during the Last Supper.] Each gives us another perspective on the key events of the mystery of our salvation.
A key line in the Gospel is the words of the Roman soldier after the death of Jesus: “Truly, this man was the Son of GOD!” This should be our profession of faith this week, and always. Let us proclaim it by living as the daughters and sons of GOD, the sisters and brothers of the Lord Jesus. Let us live lives that show we accept the salvation and redemption for which Jesus poured out His blood. Let us be transformed through the Paschal Mystery (the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus), so others will know that we believe that Jesus truly is the Son of GOD, our Savior.
Lord Jesus, be the King and Ruler of my heart, mind, life, and home. May my life reflect your meekness and humility so that you may be honored as the King of Glory!
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The following of Christ, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Come, follow Me, says the Lord. Do you love it? He has hastened on; He has flown on ahead. Look and see where. O Christian, don't you know where your Lord has gone? I ask you: Don't you wish to follow Him there? Through trials, insults, the cross, and death. Why do you hesitate? Look, the way has been shown you." (excerpt from Sermon 64,5)
“OH SAY, CAN YOU SEE?”: “All who
see Me scoff at Me.” —Psalm 22:8
Although the crowd’s acclamation of “Hosanna” (Mk 11:9) would soon change to furious shouts of “Crucify Him” (Mk 15:13), Jesus loved each person in the crowd. Jesus has eyes of love to see each person, both from the vantage point atop the donkey and that of hanging from the cross. Jesus knew that He could not be swayed by the temporary acclamation of human praise (Jn 2:25; Jn 5:41-42). He had His face set like flint to proceed to Calvary (Is 50:7), but His heart was not hard; it was full of love for the broken and wounded (Mt 9:36).
Jesus’ eyes have always been looking at us (Ps 33:13-15, 18), searching the world. The Lord Jesus looks for all who would worship Him in spirit and in truth (Jn 4:23-24). Yet for a time during His Passion, His eyes were blinded as His Precious Blood covered His face. Nevertheless, Jesus fixed His eyes on you as He died to save you.
Will you fix your eyes on Jesus? (Heb 3:1) Will you look upon the Crucified One? Holy Week is the time to look at Jesus, as He truly is, the Suffering Servant Who gave His body and blood for you. It’s not automatic that a disciple fixes his or her eyes on Jesus. Judas took his eyes off Jesus during Holy Week. Fix your eyes on Jesus.
Prayer: Father, today I make a covenant with my eyes (Jb 31:1) to gaze daily upon Jesus (Ps 27:4). “At Jesus’ name every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father: JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!” —Phil 2:10-11. “You who fear the Lord, praise Him; all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to Him” (Ps 22:24).
The personal question/action for today: When I think of the events of Holy Week, what thoughts come to mind? How do I make this week the holiest week of the year? How can I share the Good News of the paschal mysteries with those with whom I come in contact?
Notes: The slogans used: The participants sang the “Hallel” Psalm (Psalm 118), and shouted the words of Psalms 25 and 26. The Greek word “hosiana” originally meant “save us now” (II Sm 14:4). The people sang the entire Psalm 118 on the Feast of the Tabernacles when they marched seven times around the Altar of the Burnt Offering. On Palm Sunday, however, the people used the prayer “Hosanna” as a slogan of greeting. It meant “God save the King of Israel,” or “Save us, O God!”
The symbolic meaning of the Palm Sunday procession: Nearly 25,000 lambs were sacrificed during the feast of the “Pass-Over,” but the lamb that was to be sacrificed by the High Priest was taken to the Temple in a procession four days before the main feast day. On Palm Sunday, Jesus, the true Paschal Lamb, was also taken to the Temple in a large procession.
Reaction of Jesus: Before the beginning of the procession, Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Lk 19:41-42), and when the procession was over, He cleansed the Temple (Lk 19:45-46). On the following day, He cursed a barren fig tree.
Life Messages: On Palm Sunday, we need to ask ourselves the following six questions, and examine our conscience:
1) Does Jesus weep over me? There is a Jewish saying, “Heaven rejoices over a repentant sinner and sheds tears over a non-repentant, hard-hearted one.” Are we ready to imitate the prodigal son and return to God, our loving Father, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this last week of Lent and participate fully in the joy of Christ’s Resurrection?
2) Am I a barren fig tree? God expects me to produce fruits of holiness, purity, justice, humility, obedience, charity, and forgiveness. Do I?? Or, worse, do I continue to produce bitter fruits of impurity, injustice, pride, hatred, jealousy, and selfishness?
3) Will Jesus need to cleanse my heart with His whip? Jesus cannot tolerate the desecration of the temple of the Holy Spirit that I have become by my addiction to uncharitable, unjust and impure thoughts words, and deeds; nor does Jesus praise my business mentality or calculation of loss and gain in my relationship with God, my Heavenly Father.
4) Do I welcome Jesus into my heart? Am I ready to surrender my life to Him during this Holy Week and welcome Him into all areas of my life as my Lord and Savior, singing “Hosanna”? Today, we receive palm branches at the Divine Liturgy. Let us take them to our homes and put them in a place where we can always see them. Let the palms remind us that Christ is the King of our families, that Christ is the King of our hearts, and that Christ is the only true answer to our quest for happiness and meaning in our lives. And if we do proclaim Christ as our King, let us try to make time for Him in our daily life; let us be reminded that He is the One with Whom we will be spending eternity. Let us be reminded further that our careers, our education, our finances, our homes, all of the basic material needs in our lives are only temporary. Let us prioritize and place Christ the King as the primary concern in our lives. It is only when we have done this that we will find true peace and happiness in our confused and complex world.
5) Are we ready to become like the humble donkey that carried Jesus? As we “carry Jesus” to the world, we may receive the same welcome that Jesus received on Palm Sunday, but we may also meet the same opposition, crosses, and trials later. Like the donkey, we are called upon to carry Christ to a world that does not know Him. Let us always remember that a Christian without Christ is a contradiction in terms. Such a one betrays the Christian message. Hence, let us become transparent Christians during this Holy Week, enabling others to see in us Jesus’ universal love, unconditional forgiveness, and sacrificial service.
6) Can we face these questions on Palm Sunday? Are we willing to follow Jesus, not just to Church but in our daily life? Are we willing to entrust ourselves to Him even when the future is frightening or confusing, believing God has a plan? Are we willing to serve Him until that day when His plan for us on earth is fulfilled? These are the questions of Palm Sunday. Let us take a fresh look at this familiar event. It could change us forever, because the Passion of Jesus shows us that, though we are sinners who have crucified Jesus, we are able, by His gift, to turn back to Jesus again and ask for his mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is through the Passion of Jesus we receive forgiveness: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with His stripes, we are healed.” (Is 53:5)
Significance of the Holy Week:
1) A week of remembrance and appreciation
2) A week of thanksgiving
3) A week of repentance and reconciliation
4) A week to keep Christ’s New Commandment of Agape love
5) A week to deepen our Faith and strengthen our relationship with
God.