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The Sunday of the
Lord's Passion of
the Palms
Readings: Isaiah 50:4-7 -- Philippians
2:6-11 -- Luke 22:14 - 23:56
Paul today quotes a hymn that recalls the divinity and the humanity of Jesus. Three different words are used to emphasize Christ's humanity and thus his solidarity with the entire human race. He speaks of Christ's humility, of his emptying of his self, a voluntary oblation of love.
Luke's Passion narrative is some of the most epic prose in the
Christian scriptures. Here we see the unjust exercise of
authority, the condemnation of the innocent, the open face of
evil, the betrayal of friends and the conspiracies of ruling
political and economic elites organizing mob violence against
an innocent man. We see a cowardly politician, so
unconcerned for truth and justice that against his better
judgment, he condemns an innocent man -- and Pilate knows
Jesus is innocent -- because of the taunts of the crowd.
Life was cheap in the old
Roman Empire. We haven't learned much in the intervening 2000 years.
As we read of the passion and death of Jesus of Nazareth, we
are reminded that the works of justice and peace are hard
works. They are human actions that are rooted in the
incarnation and voluntary self-giving of Jesus. While Pilate
models the unjust exercise of authority, Christ models the
just servant leadership that is a model for all who would do
the works of justice and peace.
Today the final days of this journey begin. Events start
moving in close succession. The Church calls us together in
the time and place of Holy Week to celebrate these deep
mysteries, to receive our God in the Holy Eucharist, to welcome new pilgrims to
join our journey. At the end we will find joy and peace, but the road that goes
there passes first through the valley of the shadow of death. We will fear no evil,
because God is with us.
+ For all the people of God, that we will find in the example of Christ's voluntary
self-offering of his entire life, strength and inspiration for the journeys God is
calling us to, we pray to the Lord.
+ Bring your Rice Bowl offering to the church and present it to help feed the hungry.
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