April 17: Palm Sunday

Scripture readings:

• Matthew 21:1-11 (before Mass)
• Isaiah 50:4-7
• Psalm 22:8, 9, 17-24
• Philippians 2:6-11
• Matthew 26:14 – 27:66

 

Synopsis:
With his triumphant entry into Jerusalem Jesus makes an unmistakable claim to Davidic royalty (see 1 Kings 1:33-40). Cheers of jubilation, however, quickly turn to jeers of derision as Jesus defied the traditional expectations of the Messiah as a national hero like David or Solomon. Instead, he is the Suffering Servant who has faithfully proclaimed God’s word in an attempt to rouse the people (first reading).

But the divine word was rejected because it revealed sin lurking deep in the human heart. As the Suffering Servant, Jesus offers himself as the new Passover Lamb who will deliver all people from the slavery of sin and death. The second reading sums up the entire Gospel in a few verses. T

he pre-existent word of God, Jesus Christ, who “did not count equality with God as something to be grasped” condescended to take on human flesh, suffer and die. “

Because of this,” Paul exclaims, “God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name … that Jesus Christ is Lord.” 

The four Gospels recall Jesus’ passion from slightly different perspectives. Matthew’s account accentuates Jesus’ royalty and his identity as the son of David, which is brought out in his triumphal entry, his trial before Pilate, the crown of thorns, the sign above his head and the mocking of the soldiers, priests and scribes. It is a paradoxical kingship for it is manifested in sarcasm, scorn and shame.

The climax of Jesus’ passion comes in his cry of desolation—“My God, my God why have you forsaken me?”  One with us in every way, he expresses mankind’s alienation from God due to sin. Jesus accepts it all, abandoning himself to the Father in complete love and trust.

Key verse:
“He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Phil 2:8)

Catechism of the Catholic Church:
“When the Church celebrates the Eucharist, she commemorates Christ’s Passover, and it is made present: the sacrifice Christ offered once for all on the cross remains ever present. As often as the sacrifice of the cross by which ‘Christ our Pasch has been sacrificed’ is celebrated on the altar, the work of our redemption is carried out’” (No. 1364).

Pope Benedict XVI:
“Jesus knew that he was about to die. He knew that he would not be able to eat the Passover again. Fully aware of this, he invited his disciples to a Last Supper of a very special kind, one that followed no specific Jewish ritual but, rather, constituted his farewell; during the meal he gave them something new: he gave them himself as the true Lamb and thereby instituted his Passover”  (“Jesus of Nazareth,” Vol. 2).

Life application: 
The physical agony of Christ on the cross was nothing compared to the spiritual separation from God that he suffered.  In his love for the human race, Jesus accepted mankind’s alienation from God brought about by Adam’s sin. Offering himself as the new Paschal Lamb, Christ suffered the pain of existential desolation so that man would never have to experience eternal separation from God again.

James Cavanagh is director of Evangelization and Catechesis for Metro-area Parishes of the Denver Archdiocese. Cavanagh’s column is distributed by the Denver Catholic Register.