Homily for Palm Sunday
The gospels are a great story. In any good story, we have turning point which eventually leads to the climax of the story. Today, we remember a major turning point in the life of Jesus. When we look at events that happen in our lives some happen by accident. Other times, we make choices that we know are going to have ramifications, maybe unpleasant ones. We may shrink back at such times even if we are standing for what is right. But then again, we may move forward knowing there will be a personal price to pay.
Jesus made a choice on that first Palm Sunday. He elected to confront the powers of darkness. The story of Jesus’ triumphant ride into Jerusalem seems like an affirming moment. He jumps on a donkey nearby. His disciples are giddy because Jesus is finally getting the recognition that he deserves. Somehow people are rallying behind him. All seems to be going to plan. A plan, that will lead to a worldly triumph for Jesus. Jesus, it would seem, will gain influence by popular acclamation.
But if we read the Gospel closely we see that Jesus has a deliberate plan. He wants to engage in a prophetic action. Whenever someone engages in such a display they are being deliberately provocative. In a sense, a prophet wants their symbolic action to result in turmoil. If controversy does not result they feel like they have failed.
One of the great prophets of the 20th century was Mahatma Gandhi. He led the fight for Indian independence. He wanted India to be free from the domination of British Empire. We see him in grainy black and white pictures on television giving speeches to the masses. He usually is wearing what looks like a diaper and a home spun cloak. Why is he dressed like that? He was making a prophetic statement. Britain was controlling the cotton trade in the world. Cotton was sent to England from India. The fabric was made into clothes that were sold around the world which led to more wealth for the British empire. The wealth was gained by exploitation of the poor. Gandhi refused to buy clothes from a store. He made his own. His naked arms, legs and torso was a protest which the world saw. No matter what the weather, no matter where he was in the world, Gandhi dressed in his home-made clothes. He performed many other acts of protest. He wanted confrontation. He knew this was the only way things would change. People told him to go slower, but he would not.
Jesus’ parade into Jerusalem prophetic. Jesus did not want slip into the city. He deliberately chose to ride into town at the height of a festival. Tens of thousands of pilgrims were in Jerusalem for Passover. He arranged for the donkey that carried him into the city. A donkey was an animal that Kings rode in times of peace. Make no mistake, Jesus was declaring himself a king. Palm fronds were used for celebration when the temple was restored after the Maccabean revolt against the Greeks a couple of hundred years before Jesus was born. The message to the powerful was clear. A new revolt was taking place against unjust authority. Jesus would lead it. The people shouted Hosanna which was not just a word that proclaimed adulation, but in effect was a prayer for deliverance. The people were asking Jesus to save them. He did not say, “Be quiet.” He encouraged the people to look at him as the one who was a savior. Jesus knew that he was deliberately bating the Jewish authorities, the Romans, Satan…..all the oppressive powers of his world.
His actions began the events that we call the passion. We remember the passion at the liturgies of the next week as we commemorate the Easter Triduum. We are invited to participate in symbolic actions of our own which speak of the Gospel we believe in from the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday to the adoration of the cross on Good Friday to the blessing of the Easter fire in the darkness of Holy Saturday. The liturgies of this week are our chance to confront our own apathy. We can say to the world we don’t care how you feel about Jesus, but we love him. Holy Week is our chance to repent, to reconnect, to deliberately choose to follow Jesus. We can make this week another turning point in our life with Christ. We have a choice. Will this week be like any other week. Or will we enter in to the Passion story?
Please note: this is a rough draft, grammar will not be perfect.