Gospel: Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

 Today marks of the beginning of the Holy Week and the Gospel readings will be lifted from the report of St Luke (click here for the Mass readings from USCCB).

This Sunday is also called Passion Sunday. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Black Saturday are called the Paschal Triduum, three days that are the highlight of the Church year. There are two Gospels proclaimed at today's Mass. The first Gospel, proclaimed before the procession of palms, tells of Jesus' triumphant entrance to Jerusalem. Riding on q borrowed colt, Jesus was hailed by the crowds as they shouted blessings and praise to God. This event is reported in each of the four Gospels.

St Luke's Gospel is the only one to report the exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees as Jesus enters Jerusalem. Jesus' response shows that this event, and those yet to come, are part of a divine plan. We hear this echoed again in St Luke's description of the Last Supper when Jesus speaks of the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, saying that the Son of Man "goas as has been determined."

At the Liturgy of the Word this Sunday, the events of Jesus' passion are proclaimed in its entirety. In Lectionary Cycle C, we read the passion of Jesus as foubd in the Gospel of St Luke. We will hear these events proclaimed again during the Triduum when we read the passion narrative from the Gospel of St John.

Throughout St Luke's Gospel we see that Jesus' words and actions proclaim the Kingdom of God. This motif continues throughout St Luke's report on the passion. Jesus appears to be in total command of events at the Passover meal as he hands over the Kingdom to his disciples. He welcomes them to the Passover meal announcing that this will be his last until the Kingdom of God is fulfilled.

As throughout St Luke's Gospel, however, the discioles show little understanding of this kingdom that Jesus often announces. Following the meal, the disciples argue about who is the greatest. Jesus takes the opportunity to distinguish the meaning of leadership in the Kingdom of God from the forms of leadership as seen in the world.

Jesus initiates a conversation with Simon and predicts his denial. Jesus then instructs his disciples to prepare themselves for the events to follow. His words reveal an awareness of the challenges that all of them will face in the days ahead. As the disciples and Jesus enter the Mount of Olives, Jesus indicates the importance of the disciples' time in prayers, telling them that through prayer they will be able to face the challenges ahead.

As he prays, Jesus is tested. In the garden, an angel is sent to strengthen him and to prepare him for the days ahead. After this moment, Jesus is again in charge of the events and circumstances. 

In St Luke's Gospel, Jesus is portrayed as active and vocal throughout his passion. When one of the disciples strikes one of the servants of the high priest, Jesus heals the man, an event only reported by St Luke. Jesus stops the discipkes' protests agaibst his arrest that this is the "time for the power of darkness." Jesus engages and responds when brought to the Sanhedrin; his words speak about the "power of God" that will bring about the reign of the Son of Man. When questioned by Pilate, Jesus responds with just one phrase; yet, before Herod, Jesus refuse to speak.

When St Luke describes the Way of the Cross qnd Jesus' crucifixion, he calls to our attention to the many events that are not reported in the other Gospels. Throughout his narrative, St Luke has paid heed to the women who accompanied Jesus. Now, on the road to Calvary, Jesus speaks to the women who walk with him. Only St Luke reports Jesus' words of forgiveness spoken from the cross. And only St Luke narrates the diqlogue between Jesus and the good thief. Finally, in contrast with the Gosoels of St Matthew and St Mark, St Luke reports no words of abandonment spoken on the cross. Instead, Jesus, in full command until his death, commends his spirit to his Father, and takes his final breath.

During the Holy Week, we will continue to reflect on the events of Jesus' passion and death. As we meditate on the cross, we ask again and again what it means to make the statement of faith that Jesus, in his obedient suffering and dying, revealed himself to us as God's son and brought to the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God.

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Picture from Pixabay.