"Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord"
Luke 22: 14 - 23: 56
"He emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human weakness."
(Phil 2: 6-11)
Our Lent, as it always does, begins with palms and ends with
palms. So, the palms we hold today are
not just “leaves” from bushes grown for this purpose. Five weeks ago, we were marked with ashes on
our foreheads and those ashes came from at least some of the burned palm leaves from last year as the ones we
received today. And so this week we mark
the end of Lent and the beginning of a week made holy by the events that we
will remember. These events in the earthly life of Jesus forever have changed humankind and our friendship with God.
But, the palms, or likely also olive branches with
silvery-green leaves, were waived by the adoring crowds as Jesus entered
Jerusalem on a donkey not long after he had raised his friend Lazarus from the
dead. It’s not a scene of sadness or
betrayal, which will come in a few days, but rather a scene of praise; a royal
moment in which the frenzied population shouted and acclaimed Jesus as their
King! With all this acclamation how could anything be better or go wrong? After
all, his words were transforming, his miraculous power was impressive and
mysterious, and his gentleness and mercy to all he encountered was becoming
legendary. But, we know that not all were wild with admiration. In fact, their
wish was anything but supportive; it was ominous and sinister.
So, our liturgy this week takes us through praise, betrayal,
rejection, abandonment, sacrifice, service, a life poured out in pain and
suffering, and final glory and miracle.
On Wednesday of this week we hear of Judas, a trusted Apostle, who
turned dark and whose spirit became corrupted with greed. Jesus characterized
the moment as he identified Satan’s work again in a spirit of betrayal as he
was confronted in the desert.
So Judas turns Jesus in to the authorities who are seeking to
know where he hides out with his trusted circle. “In the olive garden below Jerusalem - in
that valley at night,” states Judas. Did
he know what the real motive for Jesus’ capture would be? It is hard to imagine that Judas would have
secretly plotted for Jesus’ demise and death after following him for such a
long time. Judas witnessed his miracles;
heard his teaching; he saw the rapt admiration of the crowds. How could he have gone so far to have
conspired with his captors for Jesus destruction?
It is more likely a plot gone badly. Judas was betrayed as well. Maybe his misguided intention was to allow
Jesus the opportunity to be questioned by the Jewish authorities, all the while
hoping that Jesus would use his miraculous power to align in overturning the
Roman forces of occupation? Yet, he may
have not have known the Jewish authorities were also using him for their own
dark intentions.
Nonetheless, it was a betrayal indeed. Judas despaired, which in the least shows his
remorse but inability to seek forgiveness from the one who surely would have
offered it to him.
Even sadder, we know of Jesus’ “rock” – Peter who perhaps even
more than Judas betrayed our Lord outright.
Not in a secret plot but boldly denied, out loud, three times that he
even knew Jesus at all! At least Judas did not deny that he knew Jesus quite
well. Peter, in cowardly weakness,
disavowed himself and turned so regrettably to an action that brought him to
weep and deeply regret but thankfully, not to despair. And Jesus forgave him along the Sea of
Galilee after he appeared in risen form – “Peter,
do you love me?” Three times to
redeem Peter and prepare him for the mission ahead, the risen Lord commanded
Peter: “Feed my sheep”
Thursday, called Holy, we see the profound humility of God we
hear of on Palm Sunday in our Second reading from Philippians 2: 6-11: “He humbled himself, taking on the form of a
slave . . .” And so Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, among whom we
could assume Judas was included. God washed
their feet as an unforgettable example of love poured out for others. Then he further gave him his body and blood
in the Eucharist and forever commissioned them to “Do this in memory of me.”
We move then to the central image of the Christian faith, the
cross, known in ancient times as the most tortuous and barbaric death reserved
for the most hardened criminals. Why did
Jesus die in spite of his innocence?
Scholars tell us it was the charge of blasphemy brought against him;
that he claimed to be equal to God, and implied that indeed he is God among us.
The greatest violation of the First Commandment was to claim to be God or equal
to him; a charge deserving of death. Despite
Pilate’s objection that he found no reason to crucify Jesus, he acquiesced to
the crowds, or at least those who presented Jesus, to have him eliminated. And
so, this death was for that eternal truth and so the Cross is forever a sign of
hope and salvation for humanity.
+ + +
Our dramatic week reaches its ultimate peak next Saturday at
the Evening Vigil – the central celebration of the entire Liturgical Year is
that sacred night at which new members are washed in baptism and anointed with
the Chrism in Confirmation, then feed on Christ himself in the Holy
Eucharist. We hear the stories of
salvation from the Old Testament and the unexpected confusion turned to joy
from the empty tomb of Jesus to his appearance to Mary Magdalen and all Easter
season to the awestruck Apostles.
It is unlike any other time of year. If you can, plan to attend all the Holy Week
Services. Yes, you will spend more time
in Church this week and yes the services will be longer than normal. Remember
no one ever died of “terminal Church.” Your family or relatives or neighbors
might brand you as somehow overly religious if you do so – or even if you come
to Good Friday in addition to Easter Vigil or Sunday. But, it is an opportunity to evangelize and
to show the depth to which God gave his life on the Cross for you and for them.
Invite them to come with you.
So, let’s give thanks and pray for the grace to come to
resurrection – a Sunday of miracle and renewed faith along all in the Christian
world.
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