Palm Sunday March 24, 2013

Bulletin Palm Sunday March 24, 2013

Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11 Luke 23:1-49

The Lenten journey is over or rather it begins its intensive study of God’s love for me and every single person ever created. In the different churches that I have been associated in these past 45 years, different palm processions and ceremonies have taken place. Now I’m think back to what it was actually like almost 2000 years ago when Jesus came into Jerusalem. Matthew, Mark and Luke maintain that Jesus only came to Jerusalem once during His public ministry. John says that Jesus was at least present during His last three Passover celebrations.

Now Jerusalem was a huge city and it was situated high on the mountainous hills. The center point of the city was the temple. This was the rebuilt second temple called ‘Herod’s Temple.’ It was absolutely magnificent in its beauty and construction and hugeness. This was the time of the Passover anniversary and Jews from all over Israel and throughout the Roman Empire came to be a part of this holiest of days. Travelers from distant areas would come by boat to Jaffa which is now Tel Aviv and then take a caravan for the trip to the Holy City and would find lodgings in one of the many ‘hotels’. (Our pilgrimage last year took an hour by bus.) Then they would purchase a sacrificial animal, usually a pigeon or a lamb, in preparation for the following day's events. What did they see?

The internet explains: “The gleaming white marble of the structure of the temple was visible from well outside the walls of the city. The scale of the building was designed to impress, and it dominated the landscape, effectively becoming the focal point of Jerusalem. Even the three great towers near Herod's palace seemed small in comparison.

The first thing a pilgrim would do would be to approach the public entrance on the south side of the Temple Mount complex. He would check his animal, then visit a mikveh, where he would ritually cleanse and purify himself. The pilgrim would then retrieve his sacrificial animal, and head to the Huldah gates. After ascending a staircase three stories in height, and passing through the gate, the pilgrim would find himself in the ‘Court of the Gentiles.’"

And Jesus entered the city amid the acclamation of the crowd proclaiming, “Hosanna in the Highest ... blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” I’m sure that with Jerusalem being so famous there were loads of ‘parades’ or grand entrances for the many famous rulers and dignitaries who came. The hawkers were selling their equivalent of sun glasses, banners, umbrellas, souvenirs etc. and switched ‘suddenly’ when a ‘new rich and famous’ person arrived. Matthew tells of Jesus entrance 23:1-11 and the people proclaimed Him their ‘King.” Matthew adds an interesting note, “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.’”

Luke starts his gospel today with the Last Supper account and Jesus’ farewell address, then on to the Mount of Olives and His arrest. Luke shapes his account in a unique way describing Jesus as God’s chosen prophet who was sent to save the very people who will reject Him and kill Him. Jesus is totally innocent of the charges; even Pilate declares this as does the centurion at the foot of the cross. And Jesus does nothing to save Himself; His sole concern is to save others; me and all who have ever been created and will be created. He was totally unlike the others who made ‘triumphant’ entries into Jerusalem. He was not concerned with power, prestige, possessions. He was concerned with me and each of His creation. He came to show that it’s not ‘my power’ that counts but God’s and this is achieved by prayer. It is not prestige and importance that count, it is in being a servant and caring for all that God places in my life, especially those in need and those who have nothing that I help by my almsgiving. And it is not pleasure and ‘wining and dining’ that count but in realized that I have been gifted and loved and I must fast to realize that this helps me to rely on God and be grateful for what I have. And Jesus is constantly teaching in Luke’s account. Each ‘person’ that comes before Jesus, He helps.

• His question to Judas must have made him pause and reflect...”Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?
• To Peter who would deny Him three times, Jesus just loved. So obvious a lesson to me: no matter where I am at in my sinning, God loves.
• Jesus declared to the Council of Elders who He was, even though there was nothing Jesus could say to change their evil intent. Jesus told the truth and loved.
• He even reached out to Pilate who knew that Jesus was innocent but didn’t have the courage to say so.
• In His silence, Jesus reached out to Herod who just didn’t know what silence in front of God is all about. Jesus reached out to the ‘daughters of Jerusalem’ by focusing on them and their children. It’s all about God’s love.
• Jesus reached out to those who nailed Him to the cross, “Father forgive them.” Forgiving the ones who hurt me, who persecute me, who are unkind or sullen to me; and Jesus says to love them, pray for them, forgive them.
• Jesus reaches out to one who was next to Him whose life had been horrible to others and himself, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

What lessons...Jesus just kept on giving and caring and loving. And I wrap myself up within me and close me up to others God has placed in my life because I’m tired...or upset...or hurt...or worried...or not interested...or run-down...or just plain lazy. I have much to reflect on:

• What does the Eucharist mean to me? Do I come to receive for myself or as ‘strength for my journey’ to help others?
• Does the promise of eternal life influence the way I live today? Or do I think I don’t have to do anything, I’m in?
• What is my understanding of the phrase ‘dying to self’? How do I try to live this out in my life each day? Do I even think about it each day?

Sacred Space adds to my reflections:

• “Jesus makes us think again about what it means to be a leader as He shows us new meanings of ‘friend’ and ‘servant.’ I take time with these words, considering what they mean for me.
• In the presence of God, I look at how I lead, serve, and befriend.

Fr. Paul Schmidt adds a reflection:

“At the beginning of our passion narrative today, Jesus said to His disciples: ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.’ Jesus says the same to us: I have eagerly desired that you should come to Mass today. I want you to walk with Me through this Eucharist. I want you to walk with Me through this Holy Week. I want you to experience the power of My death and resurrection. I want you to live with Me the new life of Easter. I am re-aching out to you. Do not be afraid. Come along!”