Behold My Hour is At Hand

March 16, 2008

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

By Rev. Joseph McCloskey, SJ

The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?” And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.” Matthew 21:9-11

The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear. Isaiah 50:4

Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-7

From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:45-46

Piety

Let us pray: Lord, in this holiest of holy seasons, please protect us from abandoning you in your hour of need. Despite our actions, we beg you to always remember the covenant gift that you promised to us…the gift fulfilled by your only Son, Jesus, our friend and teacher, who gave up his life for saints and sinners alike. How easy it would be for your Son to suffer for saints to live. Yet he freely gave up his life even for those of us who do not obey and follow you in the spirit of his humility. Open our ears that we may hear and be glad. Give to us this day more than what we truly deserve and help us to respond to you in vocal praise like the “good thief.” Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/031608.shtml

We look at the events in the life of Jesus from the standpoint of people who know the outcome. For us, the resurrection looms over all the events of the hidden life, public life and even more of the passion of Christ. The excitement that shines on Christ as he enters Jerusalem belongs to the joy we should have in Christ’s Resurrection. We look at a Christ who has captured the imagination of his people. They are caught up in the frenzy of making him king. He has done so many things remarkably well and they are looking for a King Messiah who will save them from the power of Rome. The frenzy at his arrival shakes up the powers that be and they do not know how to deal with him. The comment in one of the other gospels about how even the stones would shout out proclaims the rightness of the reception he is receiving. Right things are often done for the wrong reasons. On this day the Suffering servant Messiah is the last thing anyone would have in mind. Christ accepts the adulation of the people. But crowds are fickle and the shouts of this day will all too soon be to crucify him. This day is a paradox. Christ did not work the crowds as politicians do today. He simply accepts the praise.

Action

We are called this Sunday to relive the paradox of what Christ did for us this day. Living out this day in our own lives asks the question of us how seriously we mean our praise of anyone. How many times have we shouted our praise on the day the crowds were going in favor of someone? How quickly have we joined the opposition after praising another? The passion of Christ makes any sufferings in our lives special when we accept our pains for the sake of our love for another. I need to direct my praise of Christ’s suffering to my gratitude for what Christ has done for me in dying for my sins.

A few years ago I was watching the Washington marathon on a Palm Sunday and rooting for each runner as they went past. A little bit of a life I gave to each person who realized I was cheering them on. Being an old runner, I know from personal experience how much it means to hear your name called. Christ is like those runners. He appreciated those who were calling his name. He goes on appreciating us from heaven as we encourage the Christ in all our friends. We are encouraging Christ on his journey into Jerusalem every time we encourage the good a friend is doing.

Palm Sunday can be every day of our lives in the encouragement we give one another.