Year C

PALM SUNDAY

► Text of Sunday Reflection

“How do we know what love is?”
by Fr Val Collier SDB

To day we begin Holy Week. It is the week in which we commemorate the death of Christ. It is a sacred week when we hear again in our liturgy the story of the dreadful suffering Christ endured  from his agony in the garden to his death on a cross. Jesus’s entire life from his birth to the empty tomb was focussed on the cross. The cross is forever  the sign of God’s love and a symbol of his mercy.

How do we know what love is? How do we know what mercy is? John in his Gospel, 1 Jn 3.16 answers this question; “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us”. “Greater love no man has than to lay down his life for his friends”. We may ask, How can the brutal death of Jesus of Nazareth 2000 years ago be the greatest sign of God’s love and mercy?  In laying down his life for us Jesus reconciled us to the Father, and restored us to our rightful place as beloved children of God, sons and daughters of the Father. He conquered sin and death. No human death, no matter how holy could bear the sin of us all and bring about this outcome. His death then is the most important death in human history. It was not a defeat or a disastrous failure, but a triumph of good over evil, of love over hate, of light over darkness and life over death.  Holy week then should be a source of great joy to all believers.

In his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (Joy  of the Gospel). Pope Francis invites all Christians  everywhere to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, to open their hearts to him so they can experience at a personal level the joy he wants to bring to them.  This day, this week when we hear again of the extraordinary abundance of love which he has poured out for us, is a good time for us to open ourselves up  to him and let him touch our hearts and our lives.  He wants to do something wonderful and  powerful in our lives. He wants us to hear his voice, not a voice of judgement and condemnation, but a voice of love, a love that is unfailing, a voice that is life giving. “He never tires of forgiving us. And time and again he bears us on his shoulders.”

Pope Francis, again in the Joy of the Gospel, says,” There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter”. “Because when all is said and done, we are infinitely loved”. What we celebrate this week is proof of that.

Conclusion; This week then, let us gladly give time to reflect and think on the extraordinary love God has shown each one of us in the suffering and death of his son, Jesus.

In this year of mercy, let us give praise and thanks to the Father of mercy, as we behold his son, the Man of mercy.

► Readings, Reflections & Prayers

Scripture readings: Association for Catholic Priests
– www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie
Reflections and Prayers by Fr Jack Finnegan SDB

1st Reading – Isaiah 50:4-7

The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens – wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.

2nd Reading: Philippians 2:6-11

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel Reading: Luke 22:14-23:56

When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!”

Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. “You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.”

He said to them, “When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “No, not a thing.” He said to them, “But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawless’; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.” They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied, “It is enough. He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!”

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” They kept heaping many other insults on him. When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”

Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.” When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer.

The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies. Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.” Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed.

So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished. As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.-

A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the ays are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

► Lectio Divina

It is a pity that we are so familiar with the account of the passion that it no longer evokes surprise or compunction. The death of Jesus on the cross is the tangible proof of the love God has for us. We should remember, however, that it was also a test of the fidelity of the first disciples, and they failed that test. They faced the challenge, for they could not avoid it. But they were unable to stay with Jesus to the end. We, on the other hand, read the passion account as the story of something that happened long ago. We fail to see that we are participants in the drama, and that we are the people who benefit from it. It is easy for us to think that we have no part to play in it.  We meditate on it as something remote that does not touch our lives. If that is how we see the passion, we will not feel that we are saved by it.

Read: understand what the text is saying, focussing on how it says it

Luke follows an earlier account of the passion and death of Jesus (Mk 14, 1-15, 47), but adds a little bit of his own (Lk 22,28-30) and some new details  (Lk 22,35-38; 23,6-12). In Luke’s account, Jesus seems to have less control over the course of events, but displays precise awareness of what was happening to him, and a greater measure of self-control. He undertook his journey to Jerusalem with great anticipation and used the time to instruct his followers. Jesus knew from the beginning that this was his “exodus” (Lk 9, 31). It was an authentic “Via Crucis”, but it would turn out in reality to be a “Via Lucis”, a path to glory (Lk 24, 26), the fulfilment of God’s plan foretold by the prophets.

Jerusalem is the place of the drama of the passion and of the Jewish feast of Passover, during which it unfolds. Satan appears at the beginning of the account (Lk 22, 1-6), entering into Judas, the one who was to betray Jesus. This transforms the narrative into one of dramatic combat, the definitive battle between God and his adversaries (Lk 4, 13) to decide the salvation of humankind. As soon as the authorities took the decision to kill him, Jesus gave orders for the celebration of the paschal meal. During this farewell meal, Jesus speaks to his disciples about his personal offering (Lk 22,14-23) and teaches them how they are to live later as servants of one another (Lk 22,14-30). The supper finishes with Jesus’ foretelling his betrayal that was soon to happen (Lk 22, 31-38) and with his refusal to defend himself (Lk 22, 35-38).

From the intimate setting of the super room with his disciples, Jesus passes to the struggle, face to face, with his God in the garden of Gethsemane (Lk 22, 39-46). His way of acting, surrendering to the will of God in his moment of supreme weakness, is an example for his followers. Anyone who wants to overcome temptation must pray as he did (Lk 22, 40.46). After the temptation comes the perfect offering: Jesus, betrayed by his friend, offers himself freely to his enemies, and even takes time to heal one of them (Lk 22, 51).

Jesus undergoes trial at the hands of his enemies. Luke begins with the repeated denial by Peter, the only disciple who was still following him, and ends with Peter’s act of repentance (Lk 22, 54-62). The interrogation of Jesus takes place first before the Sanhedrin (Lk 22, 66-71), and then before Pilate (Lk 23, 1-7) and Herod (Lk 23,8-12). Jesus shows personal strength and fidelity to his mission. He is the Messiah (Lk 22, 67), the Son of God (Lk 22, 70), and King of the Jews (Lk 23,3). Only before Herod, the one who wanted to know Jesus (Lk 9, 7-9), did he keep silent and suffer ill-treatment (Lk 24, 9-11). His innocence and his dignity, both human and divine, are seen very clearly.

Luke tries to exonerate Pilate, insisting on the obstinacy of the Jewish authorities who asked him repeatedly to crucify Jesus (Lk 23, 13-25). Along the way of the cross, Jesus receives the help of a man from Cyrene and he speaks to the women he meets along the way about his forthcoming ordeal (Lk 23, 36-42). The torture of crucifixion is described and none of the dramatic details are spared (Lk 23, 33-43). It is seen as the fulfilment of the Scriptures (Lk 23, 33-43). Before he dies, Jesus forgives his executioners (Lk 23, 34) and saves a criminal (Lk 23, 43). In this way, Luke shows the efficacy of Jesus’ sacrifice, and his Christian readers learn to live and die like Christ. Jesus dies trusting in God (Lk 23, 46) and is acknowledged as a just man by his executioners (Lk 23, 47). Some women standing “at a distance” are the only witnesses from among his followers (Lk 23, 49). The hurried burial, before the Sabbath began, serves as proof of the death of Jesus (Lk 23, 44-56).

In his account of the Passion, Luke gives the impression of trying to achieve historical accuracy and to avoid over-dramatic descriptions. This was in order to adapt to the sensitivities of his readers. His “more objective” account is dominated by three key ideas: Jesus is presented as an innocent martyr, whose supreme obedience to God reveals the merciful love God has for mankind. He did not die because of what he did during his ministry, but rather he had to die because it was the will of God. His faithful servant suffers because God loves so much. His personal sacrifice on the cross is the definitive proof of the supreme mercy of God. A God who loves so much has need of servants who suffer. The disciple becomes a suffering servant by following the way of his Lord. His following of the Lord is tested and proved by his willingness to stay with the Lord, in time of temptation and on the way of the cross, and, if he does not succeed, by his repentance. Only in this way can the disciple make the sacrifice of Jesus efficacious and the love of God evident. Anyone who does not embrace the cross, will not know that he is loved by God, and will not experience the saving value of the cross of Christ.

Meditate: apply what the text says to life

If we forget the tragedy that Jesus suffered by his death on the cross, we lose the sense of knowing that we are loved by God to the very end. His death was the hardest proof of his love that he could undergo. It is highly likely that Jesus knew that his public ministry would lead to a bloody and cruel end.  He must have foreseen that he would be abandoned by the majority of his followers, and even, in the end, by his disciples. He knew beforehand that Jerusalem would be his place of burial. However, what he did not imagine was that even God would have left him alone in those terrible moments. Few scenes could express, so soberly and yet so dramatically, the loneliness of Jesus in the face of death, as his cry from the cross to the God who had abandoned him. And yet, few of the episodes related in the gospel can claim the same historical certainty. Jesus died on the cross, crying out in loneliness to the God who seemed to have abandoned him. For one who, like Jesus of Nazareth, had had such trust in God, above all and against all, the silence of God must have been the most painful test, and the hardest to understand, of all the horrors that led to his death.

The loneliness of Jesus, abandoned by his followers and by his God, should come as a surprise to us. The cruel mockery of his enemies or the unpardonable betrayal by his disciples cannot be compared to the sense of extreme frustration and even the sense of having been deceived, that led him to cry out from the cross.  When friends and enemies talked among themselves, plotting his downfall, and his followers abandoned him, nothing remained to Jesus but his God. And yet, he had to die, crying out to the God who had abandoned him. The scandal this way of dying constituted for his disciples can be sensed from the efforts they made to play down the obvious meaning of his cry of protest, changing the words and the meaning. From a tortured, almost blasphemous, prayer it came to be interpreted as an expression of acceptance of God’s will. Luke tries to present this moment as an act of supreme fidelity on the part of Jesus. Although he shouted out, Jesus did not offer any resistance to doing what God wanted of him. Even though his obedience to God cost him his life, he faced death without denying his God.

With far less reason, we have abandoned God many times. Luke’s account makes us realize that we can be faithful to the God who seems to have abandoned us, that God is worth dying for, and that it only seems that he has abandoned us. The journey Christ made is the journey of all Christians. We may count on God’s presence today and count on his absence tomorrow. Maybe we have spoken to him often, but the time may come when he is silent. We may offer our lives to bring the good news to others, and it may mean living a life that is neither good nor new. We may follow the Lord day and night and still find ourselves without a friend, and disenchanted with God. We know well that God does not delay long in coming to the help of his people. With a delay of three days at most, God will appear alive in a spectacular way we had not even hoped for. Our God, the God of Our Lord Jesus Christ, does not allow himself to be outdone in fidelity. Death can be faced without fear of being lost, by those who give up their lives rather than abandon God. This was the test that Jesus passed, and it is the test that we must pass as Christians.

Celebrating the memory of Christ, and him crucified, could and should ­lead us to remember our long history of repeated betrayal and denial, the frequent covering up of our faith and our many failures of fraternal love. We should realize that our many infidelities as disciples, today as in gospel times, contribute to the death of Jesus much more than the cruelty and the conspiracy of his enemies. However, it would be wrong to satisfy ourselves with acknowledging past faults, if we fail to do what we still have to do. For Peter to regain the Lord’s friendship and trust, it was not enough to weep bitterly when the cock crew. He still had to obey the command of the Risen Lord to go to Galilee and see there, alive among the pagans, the one he had denied. Until we recover our mission in life, and transform our whole life into mission, we will not be free of remorse for our acts of betrayal.

The fact that we are still prey to the same weaknesses is not an obstacle. All our dreams and all our disappointments will not free us from the obligation to return to our origins, there where the Lord called us, and where he wants us to be. The capacity of God’s heart to trust us is far greater than the evil that takes root in our hearts. And as long as he wants us to be with him, we must continue to let our lives be converted.  We should never cease to marvel that we have such a Lord. It should amaze us that he continues to think of us, friends who betrayed him, in order to bring to a good end what began with our running away and our subsequent negotiations.

We should not forget that the accounts we have of the passion and death of Jesus, were handed on to us by disciples who betrayed him. Their sins were forgiven because they told the story of the Lord’s death, and their betrayal. We can have no better assurance that God will pardon our infidelities, than by proclaiming that God is present on the cross of Christ, God and God alone, true and entire. We will be healed of our sufferings, and recover from our acts of betrayal, insofar as we bear witness that the cross is our salvation. It would be a mistake to pretend that we can build a new relationship with the Master we have denied, by further denying our responsibility for the spread of his gospel. If we fail to make known that God’s love is revealed in the passion and death of Christ, just because it involves revealing our own acts of weakness, it would be an unpardonable act of betrayal. Anyone who has ever contributed by his betrayal to the death of Jesus, will regain his lost dignity only by proclaiming that the Crucified One has returned to life, and that he has accepted the task of bearing witness to him for the whole of his life.

Too often, we have adopted a pious sentimental vision of the passion of Jesus in order to escape from our responsibility to bear witness to the gospel with our lives. Christ did not hold anything against the people who one day abandoned him. Instead, he entrusted to them the task of proclaiming his resurrection. Today it is no different. He counts on us, no matter how much we may have betrayed him. This is our chance – by proclaiming once again the story of the passion of Jesus, we will know that we are still loved and will be loved to the end.