DAILY- HOMILY

April 13, 2014
Palm Sunday

Mt. 21:1-11 / Is 50:4-7 / Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 / Phil 2:6-11 / Mt 26:14-27:66 or 27: 11-54

First Reading: Is 50: 4-7
The Lord Yahweh has taught me so I speak as his disciple and I know how to sustain the weary. Morning after morning he wakes me up to hear, to listen like a disciple.The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear. I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn. I offered my back to those who strike me, my cheeks to those who pulled my beard; neither did I shield my face from blows, spittle and disgrace. I have not despaired, for the Lord Yahweh comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced.

Second Reading: Phil 2:6-11
Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking on the nature of a servant, made in human likeness, and in his appearance found as a man. He humbled himself by being obedient to death, death on the cross. That is why God exalted him and gave him the Name which outshines all names, so that at the Name of Jesus all knees should bend in heaven, on earth and among the dead, and all tongues proclaim that Christ Jesus is the Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel: Mt  27:11-54 
Jesus stood before the governor who questioned him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "You say so." The chief priests and the Elders accused him, but he made no answer. Pilate said to him, "Do you hear all the charges they bring against you?" But he did not answer even a single question, so that the governor wondered. It was customary for the governor to release any prisoner the people asked for on the occasion of the Passover. Now there was a well-known prisoner called Barabbas. As the people had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Whom do you want me to set free: Barabbas, or Jesus called the Messiah?" For he realized that Jesus had been handed over to him out of envy. As Pilate was sitting in court, his wife sent him this message, "Have nothing to do with that holy man. Because of him I had a dream last night that disturbed me greatly." But the chief priests and the Elders stirred the crowds to ask for the release of Barabbas and the death of Jesus. When the governor asked them again, "Which of the two do you want me to set free?" they answered, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "And what shall I do with Jesus called the Messiah?" All answered, "Crucify him!" Pilate insisted, "What evil has he done?" But they shouted louder, "Crucify him!" Pilate realized that he was getting nowhere and that instead there could be a riot. He then asked for water and washed his hands before the people, saying, "I am not responsible for his blood. It is your doing." And all the people answered, "Let his blood be upon us and upon our children." Then Pilate set Barabbas free, but had Jesus scourged, and handed him over to be crucified.  The Roman soldiers took Jesus into the palace of the governor and the whole troop gathered around him. They stripped him and dressed him in a purple military cloak. Then, twisting a crown of thorns, they forced it onto his head, and placed a reed in his right hand. They knelt before Jesus and mocked him, saying, "Long life to the King of the Jews!" They spat on him, took the reed from his hand and struck him on the head with it. When they had finished mocking him, they pulled off the purple cloak and dressed him in his own clothes again, and led him out to be crucified. On the way they met a man from Cyrene called Simon, and forced him to carry the cross of Jesus. When they reached the place called Golgotha (or Calvary) which means the Skull, they offered him wine mixed with gall. Jesus tasted it but would not take it. There they crucified him and divided his clothes among themselves, casting lots to decide what each should take. Then they sat down to guard him. The statement of his offense was displayed above his head and it read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." They also crucified two bandits with him, one on his right and one on his left. People passing by shook their heads and insulted him, saying, "Aha! So you will destroy the Temple and build it up again in three days. Now save yourself and come down from the cross, if you are Son of God." In the same way the chief priests, the Elders and the teachers of the Law mocked him. They said, "The man who saved others cannot save himself. Let the King of Israel now come down from his cross and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let God rescue him if God wants to, since he himself said: I am the Son of God." Even the robbers who were crucified with him insulted him. From midday darkness fell over the whole land until mid-afternoon. At about three o'clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lamma Sabbacthani?" which means: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? As soon as they heard this, some of the bystanders said, "He is calling for Elijah." And one of them went quickly, took a sponge and soaked it in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave him to drink. Others said, "Leave him alone, let us see whether Elijah comes to his rescue." Then Jesus cried out again in a loud voice and gave up his spirit. Just then the curtain of the Temple sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and several holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after the resurrection of Jesus, entered the Holy City and appeared to many. The captain and the soldiers who guarded Jesus were greatly terrified when they saw the earthquake and all that had happened, and said, "Truly, this man was a Son of God."

Reflection:
     Everyone one loves parades! There is something in human nature that makes pageantry and shows not only enjoyable, but desirable. When Jesus enters Jerusalem people picked up palms and olive branches and carried them as they entered the holy city. Most of the people who followed him saw him as a healer, a friend of the poor and potential liberator from the oppressive rulers. It was a festive and joyful occasion, something similar to a victory parade that people today celebrate after winning a championship game. But it didn't sit well with the Sadducees and Pharisees who controlled the temple. They saw Jesus as a threat to their authority and their way of life. To get rid of him, they used the excuse that one man must die for the sake of the nation, but it was more to get rid of someone who told them the truth of their distorted way of life.
     What is the symbolism of the branches from the palm trees? They are usually signs of kingship and royalty. Matthew 21: 1-11 tells us people picked up branches, laid them across Jesus' path and waved them in the air. Some of them greeted Jesus as a potential political and spiritual leader of Israel who would lead them out of bondage. But Jesus made it clear from the start that his mission was to free mankind from the bondage of sin and then he would bring them to everlasting life. 
     To have a deeper appreciation of the Passion of Christ let us try to go back to the time and place of his Passion. First, take a look at the people that the Evangelists mentioned in the gospels. Undoubtedly some came because they personally saw him cure the sick, heal the lepers and raise the dead to life especially Lazarus and believed in him. Others also saw what Jesus did but would not change their minds and, as a matter of fact, they eventually turned away from him and asked for his death. It is so difficult to figure out the behavior of the human heart. They can be ungrateful even after they have received so much from the giver.
     Second, look at the soldiers and the guards who were there to do their duty. The Roman guards seemed to have manifested extreme cruelty when dealing with prisoners. It was common practice to inflict maximum pain on helpless prisoners. It took Christianity to outlaw the practice of fitting the humans against the animals in the arena in Rome. Keep in mind that Jesus endured the sufferings and pains of the Cross for us. Every blow he took, every insult he received and every pain he endured was for the salvation of mankind.
     Third, remember that the apostles who traveled with him and ate with him were expected to be faithful to the very end. Jesus taught them and formed them according to His Father's will, but the formation years were not enough to help the disciples face this crisis. Peter vowed he would defend Jesus to the very end. Realizing he was going to die at the hands of evil people Jesus needed some human support, but he found none. They were too sleepy and too concerned about themselves. The transforming power of the death and resurrection had not yet taken effect. So at the agony in the garden, Jesus has to come back to his Father and tell him to take away this cup from him. But Jesus quickly adds that he would do his Father's will rather than his own. Once more it is a sign of Jesus love for all of us. Jesus says at this time that he will die for us so that we may have life eternal. 
     Fourth, consider the behavior of the crowd that could easily be swayed by the leaders of the people. Matthew describes the vicious behavior of the crowd towards Jesus. When Pilate asked the crowd whether they wanted pardon for a notorious criminal rather than the execution of an innocent person like Jesus, the crowd chose Barabbas. Even as he hang on the Cross they taunted him and told him that if he was really the Son of God he would be able come down from the cross and save himself. Jesus remains silent and suffers for the rest of humanity. His response to all the verbal and physical abuse is to forgive the people because they did not know what they were doing.
     What is my response to Jesus as he goes through his Passion? What I have done for him? What am I doing for him? What will I do for him?

Prayer Requests:
We pray ...
... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn
... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary
... for families who are in need of healing
... for world peace and reconciliation

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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