St. Paul of
the Cross Monastery
Palm Sunday Sermon - A Passion
Meditation
Homilist: Fr. Don Ware, C.P.
Updated April
2004
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Mel Gibson’s film Passion of the Christ, while controversial,
certainly has highlighted Jesus’ sufferings that he freely accepted in
confronting sin and the Powers of Death for our sake. Let’s take a prayerful
look at those Powers of Death which Jesus confronted in order to free us
from their bondage.
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Let’s look at some of the heartbreaks that Jesus
suffered even while going thru the painful and brutal physical torture
he endured.
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I - The Last Supper
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In the Gospel for today we see Jesus sharing
a meal with his disciples, wanting for one last time to be with them and
enjoy breading bread together and to continue to teach them what
it means to walk in his footsteps. We read: Then an argument broke
out among them about which of them should be regarded as the greatest.
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This had to be frustrating to Jesus – hadn’t
they paid attention to his teaching in the past? It’s so hard for
us disciples of Jesus to understand and put into practice the way of life
he would have us live. And so he patiently said to them: The kings
of the Gentiles lord it over them… but among you it shall not be
so… rather, let the leader be as the servant… I am among you as one who
serves.
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This is a difficult teaching for the Apostles
to put into practice but Jesus is so patient with them, even if probably
frustrated at times by their slowness to understand.
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II - Judas’ Kiss
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There is a story told of a son’s returning home
to his Father. His Father greets him at the door and they enter the
home. The Father asks, “How did it go?” The son replies, “It
was hard, as hard as wood, as hard as nails.” The Father asks, “What
was the hardest?” The son replies, “The kiss, the kiss was the hardest.”
To be betrayed by one of his friends – one who kept company with
Jesus over the last three years; one who witnessed the miracles; one who
heard the teaching; one who saw his obvious love for others; one who shared
so many intimate meals and warm friendship.This one’s kiss broke Jesus’
heart.
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III - Peter’s Denial
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Where were his disciples after the Garden arrest
of Jesus, all these brave men who promised to defend Jesus, all of them
gone, last seen running away from the Garden – except Judas who betrayed
him. But Peter follows the arresting party dragging Jesus away.
Peter enters the courtyard of the high priest and watches. After
all, hadn’t he just said at the meal a few hours before. I am prepared
to go to prison and to die with you. Now in the courtyard of the
high priest Peter is pressed and confronted by the crowd which is turning
ugly… you were with him… you are one of his followers. Peter answers,
my friend, I do not know what you are talking about. The Gospel says
at this point, the Lord turned and looked at Peter. What did Peter
see in that look? Jesus, again heartbroken at the cowardice of a
friend, one of his intimates – the so called leader of the Apostles. Peter
went out and wept bitterly for he had denied a friend.
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IV - Jesus Is Mocked
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Repeatedly during his Passion Jesus is mocked.
The priests of the Temple mock him and spit on him – for he is their enemy.
Herod mocks him as a freak – a side show. The Roman soldiers mock
Jesus as a common petty criminal. And the cruelest of all, the crowd
mocks and jeers at him. Some in that very crowd had joyfully welcomed
him into Jerusalem the previous week, singing: Blessed is the king who
comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
Now they mock him and call for his death. Were these not the very
people he preached to and invited into his Father’s kingdom? Did
he not perform miracles among them? These were the people he came
to serve and to heal. And now they called for his death. What
was Jesus’ response to this? Did he rant in anger and rage against
the Temple priests, or Herod, or Pilate, or the Roman soldiers? Did
he turn inward in self pity and despair at the rejection of the crowd?
Did he condemn his friends who betrayed him, denied him, and abandoned
him? No, rather he prayed from the throne of his cross: Father,
forgive them for they know not what they do.
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And to the good thief who asked forgiveness he
promises: This day you will be with me in Paradise.
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Well did the first reading today describe Jesus’
response during his Passion: I gave my back to those who beat me, my face
I did not shield from buffets and spitting.
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And the second reading today says: Christ did
not deep his equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he
emptied himself, taking the form of a servant. He humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a Cross.
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Let us pray…
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Loving Jesus,
For how many ages have you hung upon your Cross,
And still men pass you by and regard you not,
Except to pierce anew your Sacred Heart.
How often have I passed you by,
Heedless of your great sorrow, your many wounds,
Your infinite love.
How often have I stood before you,
Not to comfort and console you,
But to add to your sorrow, to deepen your wounds,
To scorn your love.
You have stretched forth your hands
To comfort and console me,
And I have taken those hands
That might have struck me into hell,
And bent them back on the cross
And nailed them there, rigid and helpless.
Yet I have but succeeded in engraving my name
On your palms forever.
You have loved me with an infinite love
And I have taken advantage of that love,
To sin the more against you.
Yet my ingratitude has but pierced your Sacred
Heart
And forth upon me has flowed your Precious Blood.
Loving Jesus, let your blood be upon me
Not for curse, but for a blessing.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on me… Amen
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