Many Failed Jesus: The Journey from the Supper to the Passion. Palm Sunday
PALM SUNDAY BREAKFAST
Before the Procession: Matthew 21:1-11, At The Mass – Isaiah 50:4-7, Philippians 2:6-11, Matthew 26:14-27:66
Palm Sunday, also called Passion Sunday, ushers us into the Holy Week , commemorating Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, on the road to His agony and passion. It is associated in many churches with the blessing and procession of palms.
Today we celebrate Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem riding humbly on a donkey. Jesus enters the city where He will be mocked, tortured, stripped and crucified and eventually lead us to conquer death.The liturgy begins with a blessing and procession of palms, then the lengthy reading of the Passion, with parts taken by the priest, lectors, and congregation.
The palms are often taken home by the members of the congregation to serve as sacramental (sacred signs of the sacraments), and burned the following year to serve as the ashes for Ash Wednesday.
Because of the lengthy nature of today’s readings, we deem it pertinent to take some few points home from today’s readings and celebration.
Humble but Powerful King.
Jesus triumphant entry marked Him a King but a different one indeed. In the Jewish tradition, the palm branch is always a symbol of triumph and victory (Leviticus 23:40; Revelation 7:9).
In 2 Kings 9:13, Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, received the customary announcing of a king with the spreading of cloaks upon the ground. Jesus, the Messianic King, was given a similar honor.
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. and shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:8). an acknowledgement of His Kingship and Davidic and Divine Origin.
Normally, when kings and Romans came to Jerusalem, they impress people with their importance. They ride great horses and dressed in rich garb. They entered the city trailing an entourage of soldiers and servants but the Son of God came into the Holy City accompanied, not by soldiers and servants, but by a band of disciples. He came riding, not on a horse, but on the colt of a donkey.
His humble procession made a statement. It proclaimed that the Almighty God chooses to work, not through displays of power, but through displays of humility. We saw it a Christmas. We saw a babe born, not in a palace, but in a stable, dressed, not in fine silks and linens, but in swaddling clothes, attended, not by princes and courtiers, but by lowly shepherds.
On Palm Sunday, we see it again. Jesus comes into Jerusalem in a way that proclaims his humility. A sign that love conquers all.
Hope in the Midst of Gloom: Last Sunday Reflection
Hosanna in the Highest.
Today, the people were crowded around the gate watching Jesus enter the city, and they were celebrating and calling out, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
The word hosanna comes from a Hebrew word meaning “save now” or “save us, we pray.” The first word of Psalm 118:25 is howosiah-na, translated “Save us!” and the crowd’s use of this word at the triumphal entry was significant—especially as they waved palm branches. By saying “hosanna” as Jesus passed through the gates of Jerusalem and referring to David and David’s kingdom, the Jews were acknowledging Jesus as their Messiah.
The Jews had been waiting a long time for the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17:11–14; 2 Chronicles 6:16, and their shouts of “hosanna in the highest” indicated the hope that their Messiah had finally come to save them.Sadly, the salvation that the people of Jerusalem wanted that day was political, not spiritual.
Today we have abandoned the main focus of our existence to pursue shadows. We have abandoned God to pursue things that will eventually end here. We have darkened our souls by the sins we commit to replenish and pleasure our bodies, yet the body we try to impress will end up here as dust.
Man has abandoned the spiritual to pursue shadows. Sometimes, they kill, kidnap, deceive to achieve this, yet they will leave all these to the world beyond. It is not only Judas that has failed Jesus, we are in the same crew.
Secondly, Many times we ask God for something or for blessings but later what we see are suffering upon suffering, difficulties and challenges. Sometimes we begin to question God not knowing that the suffering is for good.
Our ways and God’s ways are not the same. As the people shouted “hosanna in the highest,” little did they know that what that would actually mean; Jesus had come to save (Luke 19:10) but not in the manner they desired. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22).
Their cries for salvation and their demand that it come “now” were answered with the cross. Sometimes behind the cross, there is a blessing awaiting us. Never lose faith in God.
If We are Jesus.
If we are Jesus, would you have done it that way? Would you have entered Jerusalem on a donkey, not minding if you are divine? No we would have entered with a mighty and great reception, riding on the most expensive jet.
Would you have allowed yourself die for others? I doubt it! rather we will like to feed on the sufferings of the people just like many are doing during this hard moment, increasing the prices of goods, filling up the media with lies for the sake of money. It is not only Judas that has failed.
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Secondly, God would have installed Jesus there on a throne, high and lifted up. But God did not care about installing Jesus on a throne in the Temple.
God cared about installing Jesus on the throne of our hearts. God wants Jesus to be Lord of our lives in every century. He conquers with love and selflessness and not with power and intimidation.
He would have sent thunder to cripple His enemies, yet remained calm and allowed the will of God to enjoy its course but if we are in His position we will vaporize all our enemies, we will not like anyone to see the light of day except us. Let us learn from the Master.
Not Only Judas Failed Jesus
After reading the gospel narrative, it is well understood if we are to blame Judas for betraying His master. Judas eats with Jesus at the same plate, what it surely entails is that even a closest companion can betray our trust even when we least expect and from who we least expect that. But Judas is not the only one who fails Jesus.
After celebrating the Passover meal, Jesus takes James and John and Peter with him to retreat to Gethsemane to pray. As Jesus pours his heart out in grief, his closest friends cannot even keep their eyes open. They were deeply asleep.
These are His three closest companions remember, As the crowds arrive with swords and clubs, who among us knew how James escaped from Gethsemane? I do not think any of the apostles around him knew, because it would have appeared in their gospel narratives.
Mark 14:46–50 says they all left him and fled. They could not defend their master. As we approach, the end of this Lenten season, many who claimed to have special love for Jesus never cared if there is anything lent or not, many continued in their usual lifestyle, while we remember the sufferings of the one they said they Love. We all have failed Jesus.
Secondly, Beloved, it is at the time of tribulation, we can know that only God can stand for us. Secondly, While Jesus is taken to the house of the high priest, Peter follows into the courtyard. But instead of honoring his teacher, Peter denies Him three times. He would have used that precious moment to bear witness to the master but Peter did otherwise.
It is at this time of suffering and challenges that we can bear witness to the God we said we love, not a time to lose faith. Friendship is for better for worse. Thirdly, what of the crowd shouting hosanna hosanna, they saw the Jews and turned from Hosanna to shouting Kill Him and crucify Him.
In the end, only a Gentile centurion and a number of women stay faithful to Jesus. No one in his inner circle, no one with religious responsibility, no one with civil power does anything at all to stand for Jesus.
This is life for us. It is the time of challenges when our faith and love are tried, we can know who is who. Let us keep our faith strong.
Conclusion.
1. Finally just like Judas, Peter, the crowd etc, we have betrayed, denied and abandoned Our Master. The worst betrayal we can do to any one is to repay such person with evil after being good to us and sacrificed many things for our welfare yet we repay him or her with evil.
This is what we have done and this is what we have continued to do. It is not only Judas that has failed. We have failed. The church in her wisdom is calling us all to join the celebration of the Holy week, make the week holy and change from the evil ways we do. We have failed Jesus, betrayed and denied Him by the we live our lives.
2. Let us follow each other with love and save each other from the sufferings of this present moment just list Jesus has done. Despite anything we are passing through, only God knows the reason. We can give avalanche of reasons, uncountable scientific explanations of the sufferings of the moment but only God knows what is really happening. Let us use this Holy week to continually seek Him. Let His will be done in our lives.
3.Palm Sunday reminds us that people can praise you today and reject you tomorrow. The crowd shouted “Hosanna!” and later shouted “Crucify Him!”. Though it may not actually be the same crowd. Hence, we have to understand that you do not build your life on people’s approval. Today, many welcomed Jesus with palm branches, but few stayed with Him at the cross. So, following Christ is not just about excitement, it is about total commitment.
4. Jesus entered Jerusalem with humility, not pride. He came riding on a donkey, instead of a horse. which is used by other powerful religious and political leaders. Hereby striking a the real reason He came. He did not come as a political messiah but spiritual one. He strikes a difference between worldly greatness and spiritual one. We have to understand that True greatness is found in humility, not in showing off.
4. Let us not forget that Jesus healed, taught, and loved, yet He was rejected. This is teaching us that even when you do right, some people will still oppose you. Some people will misunderstand your mission. The Jews actually expected a political king, but Jesus came as a Saviour different from their expectations. So, when you are out to do something good, do not expect everyone to understand your purpose. You have to stay focused anyway.
5. Do you know that Suffering can be part of God’s plan? The story from Palm Sunday to Good Friday, we can see that everything unfolded according to God’s will. Let us understand that what looks painful today may still be part of a greater purpose. Whatever you are passing through is not the end of your mission. Mockery is not the end of your story. Today, they mocked Jesus, insulted Him, and challenged Him to come down. He would have given up because of these. So, do not let people’s words define your destiny.
Sometimes, You don’t need to prove yourself to everyone. Today, they said, “Come down from the cross and we will believe you.” Jesus did not listen to their mockery. So, You are not called to impress people, you are called to fulfill your mission.
6. Even in pain, Jesus remained connected to God. He cried out, *“My God, my God…” In your hardest moments, don’t run from God, cry out to Him. Your Darkness does not mean defeat. Do you also discover that the land today was covered in darkness, but something powerful was happening in the midst of that darkness. This is teaching us that your darkest hour may be your turning point.
God can break barriers in one moment. The veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom. So, do not be afraid, God can open doors that have been closed for years.
7. What looks like the end is not the end. Today, Jesus was buried, the tomb was sealed, and guards were placed. Yet that is just a journey or part of the salvation story. So, when everything seems finished, God is just getting started.
“Palm Sunday teaches us that following Christ is not just about waving palms, it is about carrying the cross. Because beyond the cross, there is always resurrection.”
God bless you and Happy Sunday
Fr. Sanctus Mario
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