Thoughts from the Second Floor Front Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
April 2, 2023
Our Lenten journey is almost complete and we are once again privileged to greet our Lord as he enters in triumph to Jerusalem, the Holy City. It is not a time to look back on Lent with the regret that often accompanies failed Lenten intentions or an evaluation of how weakly we responded to the call we heard on that Ash Wednesday to turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel. Our life as a disciple is a journey and this week we go to Jerusalem and rejoice with the crowds at His presence and welcome him. As we journey through the week, we are graced to be with Him at that sacred meal when we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday evening. In sadness we stand by in horror as He is brutally beaten and then slain; giving up His life on our behalf; emptying Himself fully for us on Good Friday. Then we wait in holy fear, joining with Mary and the disciples gathered in the upper room. We know how the story ends. But to fully understand the depth of meaning contained in these sacred of days this Holy Week, we need to embrace and live the events one at a time.
At this Palm Sunday Mass we all hear the proclamation of the Passion Narrative in Matthew’s Gospel. Curiously the liturgist has chosen to begin with the figure of Judas Iscariot, the traitor. Judas has been portrayed in a variety of different manners by others interpreting the gospel. Franco Zeffirelli, in his production of Jesus of Nazareth depicts Judas as a well intentioned dupe who is manipulated by the leaders of the Sanhedrin to hand over the man whom they perceive as a troublesome upstart. In Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock musical, Judas is shown as a sincere disciple who is only trying to help bring the message that the Master was delivering to a wider audience and to explain what Jesus really meant. At the end of the day, whether he was misguided, ambitious, money hungry or even sincere Judas recognizes the mistake he made, but too late.
Within the Passion Narrative Judas is juxtaposed to St. Peter who also chooses wrongly; not betraying Jesus but denying him. Yet Peter, impetuous, enthusiastic, uncomprehending Peter, seeks forgiveness. We are to do that as well. Seek forgiveness for those times when we have chosen wrongly, harmed another or spoken uncharitably. We are not called to despair but rather to hope in the Victorious Jesus whom we greet, not on the streets of Jerusalem, but on the streets of our neighborhoods, in our offices and classrooms and most importantly in our homes.
Entering into this most sacred of times requires discipline; a word that I believe, with profound meaning, shares its root and origin with the word disciple. Use these sacred days to draw closer to the Lord through the Liturgies of Holy Week as the mystery of our faith once again unfolds before us. Come to Church on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Can you give up a few hours for him who gave up so much more for you? Faithfully, Msgr. Diamond