All “Hung” Up by Sam Miller

All “Hung” Up by Sam Miller

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

“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, and I have not rebelled, have not turned back.”  Isaiah 50: 4-5

“…The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death, but they found none.  Many gave false witness against Him, but their testimony did not agree… Even so, their testimony did not agree.  The high priest rose before the assembly and questioned Jesus, saying, "Have you no answer?  What are these men testifying against you?"  But He was silent and answered nothing.  Again, the high priest asked Him and said to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"  Then Jesus answered, "I am; and 'you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.'"  At that, the high priest tore his garments and said, "What further need have we of witnesses?  You have heard the blasphemy.  What do you think?"  Mark 14: 55-64a

Piety:

"You who fear the LORD, praise him;
all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him;
revere him, all you descendants of Israel!"Psalm 22:24

Study:

Am I the only one that gets all “hung” up about reading the Passion of the Lord on Palm Sunday?  Why can’t I have the whole day to celebrate a time when there was joy in the recognition of Jesus, the Savior, I wondered!?!  So, I “googled”, “The Passion on Palm Sunday” and found ~ “…The passion of Jesus is read twice in the Catholic liturgy: once on Palm Sunday …and again on Good Friday, when John’s Gospel is proclaimed.  There’s more here at this link. However, I’m going to paraphrase it according to my understanding.

On Palm Sunday, the long Gospel reading, this year from Mark, does indeed present an overture for all of Holy Week.  We begin our celebration with the blessing of the palms and a reading from the 11^th chapter of Mark recounting Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem.  At that time, the population of Jerusalem was greatly increased due to all the faithful gathering there, preparing to celebrate Passover.  Jesus’ followers were celebrating Jesus while it seems others in the crowd were swept up by the idea of celebrating period.

During the Liturgy of the Word, we’ll hear from the 14th & 15^th chapters of Mark, only this won’t be a continuation of that joyful celebration.  This will ultimately be a celebration for the chief priests and scribes who will through treachery, betrayal and false testimony manage to arrest, condemn and hand Jesus over to be killed.  Some of the “extras” who’d held palms and shouted “Hosanna” could well have been in the crowd the chief priests stirred up to demand the release of Barabbas and Jesus’ crucifixion. 

Through this Gospel we’ll be journeying with Jesus as His head is anointed with costly perfumed oil, by a woman anticipating anointing His body for burial; as Judas Iscariot goes to the chief priests promising to hand Him over to them; as Jesus celebrates the Passover meal, all but naming His betrayer, and establishing Eucharist; as Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, gets taken into custody and experiences desertion!  Spoiler alert, by the end of the Gospel, Jesus gets “hung” on a cross, giving ALL, as the Father willed.  Bottomline, “For many Catholics, Palm Sunday is the only time they hear the Passion read since the Good Friday liturgy is often held during workday hours and the congregation is much larger on Palm Sunday.”

Action:

Try getting to Mass on both Palm Sunday and Good Friday and if you see someone you don’t recognize, be welcoming to them!!  You may be greeting a CEO Catholic (Christmas, Easter ONLY) who is looking to become more active, invite them!  You may be greeting a fallen away Catholic, welcome them to come back to the Church!  You may be greeting a member of the “crowd” who doesn’t understand but wants to learn, become a sponsor!!  “Make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ!”

Easter Blessings & de Colores!!!