Palm Sunday Homily 2019

At the onset of the Mass we heard of the wonderful reception that Jesus

received as he entered Jerusalem. The Jewish people had traveled from the

surrounding cities to prepare for Passover in the Holy City. The people heard of

Jesus’ arrival because he had sent the disciples ahead to ready the colt and the ass.

They were all there laying their cloaks and palm branches along the road, as if to

lay out the red carpet for him. The people were jubilant, excited and all were

shouting, blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord, and, peace in

heaven and glory in the highest. All the people were shouting and when the

Pharisees asked Jesus to calm them down he replied, “If they keep silent, the stones

would cry out!” As if to say, all of creation was shouting praise and glory to the

King of heaven and earth. The attitude of the people was one of adoration,

glorification and expectation. They expected Jesus to be a king who would defeat

the Romans and return to them, the city of Jerusalem.

That is not what happened. As the people were informed of his coming, so too,

were the Roman officials, and they had Jesus and the disciples watched carefully.

Jesus knew what was to occur, so he arranged to have the upper room prepared for

him and the disciples. They were hiding from the Romans so they could celebrate

Passover in peace. We hear how Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist

which we will soon offer in the sacrifice of the Mass.

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 Jesus knew he was to be betrayed by one of his beloved disciples, but he knew

that this was God’s will, and that this is why He, the Incarnation, God’s revelation

of Himself to mankind, was sent into the world. He knew he was to suffer greatly,

as described in the first reading, he knew he would suffer death on the cross in

expiation for the sins of all men. He knew this was part of God’s plan of salvation

for the world. The second reading tells us, that even though Jesus knew all these

things; he would not stray from God’s plan, would obediently follow God’s will

that these things are to be. We heard in the Gospel how all these things came to

pass.

What we also hear in the gospel, is how the attitude of the people changed.

Once Jesus was arrested, they turned on him. Pilate found him not guilty of the

charges brought against him, but the people shouted away with him, away with

him. They were not shouting for the return of their king, as they did earlier, but just

the opposite, saying, keep him, we don’t want him. They didn’t want him because

he wasn’t what they expected. They went so far as to shout for his death; crucify

him; crucify him. Pilate washed his hands of the whole things, as if to say, “You

people are crazy, and I don’t want anything to do with this”.

I think we can see his point. One minute the people are for Jesus, and the next

they are against him. Every time you hear these readings, don’t you wonder how

the people could so easily turn on Jesus? How can they praise him one minute and
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crucify him the next? Well, my sisters and brothers that is exactly what we do

every time we sin. Our actions no longer give glory and praise to God, but call for

his crucifixion. Each time we sin, we are adding another nail to the cross. With

each sin, Jesus is crucified again. In the responsorial psalm, we hear Jesus’ words,

my God, my God, why have you forsaken me. Perhaps Jesus is not just speaking to

God here. He is addressing a prayer of suffering and anguish for the pain he

experiences when he says my God, my God, but I relate to you that he is then

asking us, those who crucify him, why have you forsaken me. We then hear in the

Gospel; as he is hanging on the cross, Father, forgive them for they do not know

what they are doing. He is asking for the forgiveness not only of those present at

his crucifixion, but for all of us, who continue to crucify him with our sins.

God knows all this. He knows our attitude will change. He knows we will sin.

He knows we will continue to call for Jesus’ crucifixion. He also knows how to fix

this: God’s plan of salvation. The Paschal Mystery; the suffering, death and

resurrection of Jesus is the way. God makes reparation, through Jesus Christ, for

the sins that mankind has committed, and will continue to commit. Jesus was

offered as a sacrifice to make atonement for the sins of the world. It is our sins he

suffers, it is our sins that crucify him; but it is his life, death and resurrection that

save us. The Paschal Mystery is the defining event in God’s plan of salvation.

This is why Easter is the holiest day of the year.

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 As we celebrate the mass, we give glory, praise and thanksgiving to God, and

offer in sacrifice to God that which makes reparation for our sins; Jesus himself.

But my brothers and sisters, it is not Jesus alone we offer. We are called to offer

ourselves, as well. For as we share in the life of Christ, we also share in his death

and resurrection. Let us offer our sins, our lives our entire existence to God on the

altar. Empty yourself of all iniquities, all injuries, all selfishness and all sin. Offer

your entire self on the altar in union with Jesus. Let this week be truly holy. Enter

into the Paschal Mystery by attending the Masses of the Triduum. Spend time with

your family praying the rosary. Spend time in privately in prayer or adoration.

Contemplate the question Jesus asks, why have you forsaken me. Know that God

has a plan for our salvation for the world that he came into this world, as the Word

made flesh. Jesus shared in our human nature, and by this sharing we are afforded

the opportunity to share in his divine nature. And it is by this sharing that we

share in his suffering, death and resurrection. The Paschal Mystery is our saving

grace. Remember my brothers and sisters, God knows that we will change our

attitude from one of jubilation, praise and glory at the arrival of our king to a call

for him to be arrested, taken away and crucified by our sins. But also remember,

that in His infinite love and wisdom, he uses the crucifixion itself as the instrument

of our salvation.