Homily Palm Sunday Year A Jesus who suffered is Lord
Homily
Palm Sunday Year A
Reading
1: This reading brings us immediately to the Passion of Jesus. Without
rebellion or defense, the Suffering Servant of God (an image of Jesus) gives
himself freely to his torturers for our sake. He gave his back to be scourged,
his face to be slapped and spat on. All the while he trusted himself into the
hands of the Father.
God
prepared the people through the prophet for the future upcoming suffering of
his Son. If they had been attentive and had been truly looking for the Messiah
God was sending them, rather than the one they wanted, they may have recognized
him in the process. But even as Jesus fulfills this and other prophesies in his
suffering and death, they still did not make the connection.
Gospel:
The reading takes us through the Passion and death of Jesus, who died for our
sake. He gave himself freely to the will of the Father, as he embraced the
emptying process begun at the Incarnation. He became man to lay down his life,
so that we may have eternal life. He became by choice the sacrifice of
expiation for the sins of all.
In
the Gospel narrative is a reflection of each of us. We have been like Judas
betraying him for various sinful pleasures and choices. We have been like
Peter, professing our commitment but, when pushed, denying him by our silence.
We are like the disciples, fearful for our own safety rather than faithfulness to
Jesus.
We
are like the crowds, who acclaimed him King on Palm Sunday and then demanded
his death because of our sins. We are like the women, who weep for him and who
stand under the cross with Mary and John. We are like Pilate, who is willing to
sacrifice another to protect ourselves. We are like the good thief, who came to
recognize the truth of Jesus’ identity.
We
were not spectators but participants in the suffering and death of Jesus. We
participated through our sins. Jesus died to save us and restore us as sons and
daughters of the Father.
Reading
2: The reading gives us an overall view of Jesus’ life, from before the
Incarnation, to his birth, to his commitment to do the will of the Father, even
to the death on the cross, his resurrection and ascension and ultimately his
exultation at the right hand of the Father.
While
the people on Palm Sunday acclaimed him King, Messiah and prophet, the Father
proclaims that Jesus Christ is Lord and God to whom every tongue proclaims and
knees bow.
The
question is to what extent is Jesus our personal Lord and Savior? To what
extent does he rule our life? We can acclaim him externally like the crowd on
Palm Sunday, but the real acclamation comes from the heart and our way of life.
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