Palm Sunday, Mar.

28, 2010
(Is.50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23:56)

Catholics ought to remember that the Passion of Christ is before us every time
we celebrate the Eucharist. Nonetheless, in Holy Week we reflect on the Passion
itself twice during this holiest week of the liturgical year, on Palm Sunday and on
Good Friday. The following meditations consider the Passion according to Luke
and are meant to aid a prayerful reflection during Holy Week. They are structured
to imitate the “Way of the Cross.”
Station I. The Dinner
Was it a Passover meal? Odd...Luke starts the Eucharist with the cup! “Take
it and share,” he said. Then the more familiar words: “This is my body...do this in
memory of me.” Only Luke (and Paul) mentions this mandatory memorial...but
they were once companions…curious! Why do you always talk in riddles? And
still another cup! Your blood? A betrayer? Is it I?

Station II. Table Talk

Wine loosens many tongues. Why this talk of greatness when we all know
there’s something foreboding about this night...an eerie sense that all’s not right? To
be a servant is to achieve greatness in his eyes? He does have ways of putting us up
against ourselves. So many of us expect service rather than beings servants! Peter
talks a good game. Doesn’t the cock crow at midnight and at three, even before the
dawn? How many live by swords only to perish by them? No wonder he said “It’s
enough!”

Station III. The Mount of Olives

He prays as he taught...to be delivered from temptation and your will be done,
not mine! Why is Luke the only one to say “sweat like blood?” Was it about
baptism? Was he linking Baptism and Eucharist for later generations by their
mixture? What test are we hoping not to undergo…sickness, death, disease, divorce,
unemployment, imprisonment? “…not my will but yours be done.”

Station IV. The Arrest

It begins so suddenly. Judas comes with the fatal kiss or does he? Was Judas
trying to bring about a meeting between Jesus and some of these Jerusalem leaders
to show he was no threat? Some wonder about that. The disciples were not wimps.
Off went an ear with one thrust of the sword. On it went again with Jesus’ healing
touch. He healed lots in Luke. But the triumph of darkness (for a time) must have
its due.

Station V. Peter Stumbles

“I don’t know him!” Peter, branded forever with those words, must have felt
bad. Do we when we deny we know him? We do, too, in many ways, when our
actions belie our words. And then some cock crows to remind us and we weep.

Station VI. The Cruelty

Why are we so fascinated with violence? They mocked him, beating him. Are
not the poor mocked and beaten down and we let it happen? Will we never learn
that violence breeds violence? But he was not violent.

Station VII. Jesus at the Sanhedrin

The link is made gradually, by innuendo...Are you the Christ?...Are you the
Son of God? Jesus never answered. They drew their own conclusions.

Station VIII. Before Pilate

Are you the King of the Jews? He never answers. They say he opposes paying
taxes to Caesar and that he claims to be a king, which would make him a political
rival to Rome. Pilate wants none of this. He hands him off to Herod, the Roman
appointed King of the Jews. Let Herod deal with him then.

Station IX. Before Herod

Politics always makes for strange bed fellows. Herod gets the silent treatment.
He deserved no answers. Why must violence be the weapon of choice for those who
lead? Herod and Pilate became friends! Isn’t that a team?

Station X. Back to Pilate

Inciting revolution was the charge. Pilate toys with the chief priests and the
rulers and the people. I find him not guilty. Why flog him? Who shouted “Away
with him! Crucify him! Release Barabbas!”? Is Luke indicting everyone in
Jerusalem? Did Pilate ever mean to release Jesus? In the end he handed him over
(after three times declaring him innocent) to deal with him as they wished. To
whom did Pilate hand him over?

Station XI. The Way of the Cross

Why did Simon of Cyrene get involved? And who pressed him into action?
Who were the women who mourned?

Station XII. “The Skull” Place

He said earlier: “He was counted among the wicked.” That explains the
criminals there...only two?
Who crucified him? Who were these who knew not what they were doing? The
taunts are those of Everyman in every age...who could claim to be chosen by God,
to be Messiah (“Christ of God”), and not expect rejection? But then did he claim to
be? Soldiers knew the charge: “King of the Jews”. The two criminals symbolize
Everyman in every age...either unbelief and scorn or faith and paradise.

Station XIII. He Dies

Good Friday always has a solemnity about it, his ultimate embrace of
humanity by dying. And what confidence!...Father, into your hands I commend my
spirit. Didn’t Jesus cry out about being forsaken? Not in Luke who had other
concerns. ...he breathed his last, having a certain comfort of its own…peace and
completion at last.

Station XIV. Post Mortem

Where was the centurion when he needed him? After the poison enters, or the
electricity flows or the trap door opens, it’s too late to proclaim innocence. The
damage is done. The Galilean women and others watched from afar. The otherwise
unknown Joseph from Arimathea is remembered for all time because of his one act
of kindness, but he fails to close the tomb! A curious omission. But now it’s time
for a Sabbath rest.

Fr. Lawrence L. Hummer