The reason for our Palm-waving: Palm Sunday

                                     The reason for our Palm-waving:

Palm Sunday

April 2, 2023

www.johnpredmoresj.com | predmore.blogspot.com

predmoresj@yahoo.com | 617.510.9673

Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66

 

  Because this is Passion Sunday, it is customary to speak about the Passion narratives, and I’m drawn to the entrance narrative when Jesus first arrived in Jerusalem. He had done most of his ministry in Galilee and regions near the Jordan River, and to be a true prophet to Israel, one must set one’s gaze to Jerusalem, the Holy City. The whole of Jesus’ existence was for the sake of the reign of God so that the reign of God had a place within Israel to exist. He arrives in an unusual fashion – riding upon a donkey and a young horse and people are cheering for his arrival, waving palm branches and laying them on the ground out of respect for his honor. He arrives as the Messiah to take possession of it as the messianic kingdom is now breaking into view for all. Jesus is victorious because he is the ultimate, righteous ruler who does the will of God entirely, and at the same time, he is a lowly person, low before God. Likewise, we are ready to take up our branches – somewhat in jubilation – so that we can pay fitting tribute to this important start to Holy Week.         

 

          We know what will happen to Jesus by the end of the liturgy, and we are still filled with excitement to see him arrive in cultured Jerusalem, the center of all things Jewish, and to be a part of his story. We want to get our palms and wave them because Jesus is fulfilling his mission and we know he is doing it for us. What do you expect to see? What are your hopes as this part of his story begins? He remains a curiosity. Jesus’s entrance was an unmistakable sign. He was the sign as the representative of God. He came to the city as a poor, unarmed king, the Messiah of peace, the one who proclaimed God’s reign. He rejected all force and violence as he made himself publicly known as the Messiah. He called Israel to make a fundamental decision. He was at the Temple in the center of Israel at their greatest feast with all its inhabitants assembled. This was Israel’s decision day. This was big. Scripture says, “The whole city was shaken.” Who is this man who has captured the hearts and minds of so many people? As the prophet arrives, the city is put on edge as they know there will be a clash with the religious establishment. They wondered, “What does this mean for our faith’s future.” 

 

          In Jerusalem, the conflict will intensify as his action in the Temple forces Israel to choose. Will Israel recognize and see the inbreaking of the kingdom and become a part of this new Israel that Jesus is assembling around him. This is the hour. The Passover feast is near, and Jesus will celebrate this meal that commemorates God’s abiding presence to Israel, and Jesus is constituting something new, a new Israel, one that was more faithful to God’s rule. The nation must decide, and Jesus knows he may be a rejected prophet who will be handed over, lifted up, but all done for the sake of Israel. 

 

          Jesus always directs us to steadfastness of God. This week, we watch what happens with Jesus, and we keep an eye on the movements and actions of God, who stands by Jesus. The week becomes a celebration of what God is doing, even amidst pain and suffering. God hopes Israel, and we, will return wholeheartedly to the covenantal promises we made. It is our decision day too. Can we see the inbreaking of God’s reign in our world today through Jesus? He always creates something new. Will we deepen our friendship with him, no matter what happens? He showed us that God’s fidelity never dies, and as long as our world exists, God will stay faithful to God’s hopes for and promises to us. This is the reason we wave our palms.

 

Scripture for Daily Mass

 

Monday of Holy Week: We hear from Isaiah 42 in the First Oracle of the Servant of the Lord in which God’s servant will suffer silently but will bring justice to the world. In the Gospel, Lazarus’ sister, Mary, anoints Jesus’ feet with costly oil in preparation for his funeral.

Tuesday of Holy Week: In the Second Oracle of the Servant of the Lord (Isaiah 49), he cries out that I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth. In deep hurt, distress and grief, Jesus tells his closest friends at supper that one of them will betray him and another will deny him three times before the cock crows.

(Spy) Wednesday of Holy Week: In the Third Oracle of the Servant of the Lord (Isaiah 50), the suffering servant does not turn away from the ridicule and torture of his persecutors and tormentors. The time has come. Matthew’s account shows Judas eating during the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread with Jesus and their good friends after he had already arranged to hand him over to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver. The Son of Man will be handed over by Judas, one of the Twelve, who sets the terms of Jesus’ arrest.

Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday: Only an evening Mass can be said today and we let our bells ring freely during the Gloria that has been absent all Lent. In Exodus, we hear the laws and customs about eating the Passover meal prior to God’s deliverance of the people through Moses from the Egyptians. Paul tells us of the custom by early Christians that as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. In John’s Gospel, Jesus loves us to the end giving us a mandate to wash one another’s feet.

Good Friday: No Mass is celebrated today though there may be a service of veneration of the cross and a Stations of the Cross service. In Isaiah, we hear the Fourth Oracle of the Servant of the Lord who was wounded for our sins. In Hebrews, we are told that Jesus learned obedience through his faith and thus became the source of salvation for all. The Passion of our Lord is proclaimed from John’s Gospel.

Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil: No Mass, baptisms, or confirmations can be celebrated before the Vigil to honor the Lord who has been buried in the tomb. The Old Testament readings point to God’s vision of the world and the deliverance of the people from sin and death. All of Scripture points to the coming of the Righteous One who will bring about salvation for all. The Old Testament is relished during the Vigil of the Word as God’s story of salvation is told to us again. The New Testament epistle from Romans tells us that Christ, who was raised from the dead, dies no more. Matthew's Gospel finds Mary Magdalene and the other Mary at dawn arriving at the tomb only to find it empty. After a great earthquake that made the guards tremble, and angel appears telling the women, "Do not be afraid." The angel instructs them to go to the Twelve to tell them, "Jesus has been raised from the dead, and is going before you to Galilee." 

 

This Week in Jesuit History

 

• April 2, 1767. Charles III ordered the arrest of all the Jesuits in Spain and the confiscation of all their property. 
• April 3, 1583. The death of Jeronimo Nadal, one of the original companions of Ignatius who later entrusted him with publishing and distributing the Jesuit Constitutions to the various regions of the early Society. 
• April 4, 1534. Peter Faber (Pierre Favre) ordained a deacon in Paris. 
• April 5, 1635. The death of Louis Lallemant, writer and spiritual teacher. 
• April 6, 1850. The first edition of La Civilta Cattolica appeared. It was the first journal of the restored Society. 
• April 7, 1541. Ignatius was unanimously elected general, but he declined to accept the results. 
• April 8, 1762. The French Parliament issued a decree of expulsion of the Jesuits from all their colleges and houses.