Palm Sunday Homily

Palm Sunday is a fascinating day. We reenact Jesus' triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, wave our palm branches, and sing Hosanna. It’s a joyful event. Most people seem to love getting palm branches, and some are very creative in making different designs out of the palm fronds.

                  However, the joy of the triumphal entrance soon becomes ugly. We hear of the plot to entrap and arrest Jesus, His betrayal by one of His closest friends, and His subsequent trial and execution. How did things go so badly in such a short amount of time? They went from joy and praise to condemnation and mockery. Such is human nature, isn’t it?

                  Human beings are much like this. We can love and honor someone one minute and then condemn and deride them soon afterward. Someone, a politician, a sports celebrity, a Hollywood celebrity, or whoever says something or does something inappropriate is quickly condemned. There is no mercy. There is no forgiveness. One strike, and you’re out.

                  I think that one of the reasons that so many people turned against Jesus is that He was not the kind of king they expected. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem amidst all the accolades of the people, they were probably expecting a warrior king who would soon conquer and vanquish the Romans. After all, they had heard story after story about how Jesus had performed miracles. Jesus even raised Lazarus from the dead. Surely, Jesus would be able to defeat the Romans with the power that He had. But that didn’t happen. Jesus was arrested, beaten, humiliated, scorned, scourged, and made to carry His cross to His own crucifixion. This was not the king that the people were hoping for. In their eyes, Jesus must have been another imposter. Jesus must have been another disillusioned dreamer who thought He was God’s Messiah. What happened to Jesus would never happen to God’s chosen one, would it? Such are the thoughts of men and women. Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts, nor are our ways God’s ways. For, as high as heaven is above the earth, so are God’s thoughts and ways above ours. (Is 55)

                  As we enter Holy Week, we are asked to ponder the mystery of the passion: The suffering and death of our Lord. Why would an all-powerful God let Himself be treated like this? What is God trying to show us about forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace? What is God trying to show us about the sacrifice it takes to achieve forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace? This is the mystery of the cross. This is the mystery of God’s divine love and mercy.

                  We should ponder other things this week: Which example am I most likely to follow in how I treat others? Do I most likely follow the example of the crowd that adored Jesus one day, then several days later condemned Him? Or do I follow the example of Jesus, who willingly forgave His persecutors and from the cross said, “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing?” Am I the type of person who condemns others quickly, or am I quick to forgive? Every time we are quick to condemn and fail to forgive, we put Jesus back up on the cross. Every time we bitterly complain about something wrong that someone did to us in the past, we hammer the nails into Jesus’ hands and feet again. What is in our hearts? This is definitely something to ponder and pray about during Holy Week.