HOLIEST OF WEEKS - PALM SUNDAY (4/2/2023)

PALM SUNDAY
April 2, 2023

Blessing of Palms: Matthew 21:1-11
Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm 22
Philippians 2:6-11
Matthew 26:14-27:66

HOLIEST OF WEEKS

Palm Sunday ushers in Holy Week - a time of unique solemnity in the Church year. I remember that even as a young child, I knew there was something special and unusual about Palm Sunday - not the least of which was the very long reading of the Passion! We begin this week with acclamation and glory, betrayal and arrest, suffering and death - only to end it in victory and glory again one week later on Easter.

BLESSING OF PALMS AND PROCESSION

All four gospels relate the account of Jesus' triumphal procession into Jerusalem, which began on the slope of the Mount of Olives and continued into the holy city.

The Lord instructs his disciples to secure an ass and a colt by simply saying, "The Lord has need of them." Matthew then quotes Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9 as prophesying this event. There is also a quotation of Psalm 118:25-26 with an additional reference to King David.

ISAIAH

Our first reading is from Isaiah's third song of the Suffering Servant. It emphasizes the docility and obedience of Jesus, as well as his suffering and pain. It ends with a firm declaration of faith and trust: "The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame."

The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that, "Although he was a son, (Jesus) learned obedience through what he suffered, and being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him..." (Hebrews 5:8-9). May we learn obedience from Jesus and, obeying him, receive the salvation that he came to bring.

PHILIPPIANS

Our second reading is the well-known passage from Philippians 2. Christ Jesus - the Son of God - emptied himself, becoming a slave, obedient to death on a cross. The reading continues with God exalting him and giving him the name above every other name, to which every knee should bend and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The beautiful hymn At The Name Of Jesus is based on this passage:

At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow;
Every tongue confess him, king of glory now.
'Tis the Father's pleasure, we should call him Lord;
Who from the beginning, was the mighty Word.

PASSION

The Passion narrative is substantially the same in all four gospels regarding all the basic elements. However, each evangelist manages to include certain items not found in the other gospels. What are some unique elements that we find in the Passion according to St. Matthew?

--During the Eucharistic institution at the Last Supper, Jesus says that his blood is poured out "for the forgiveness of sins" - a phrase found only in Matthew.
--In Gethsemane, Jesus says that he could ask the Father and have more than twelve legions of angels dispatched to defend him.
--Matthew alone relates the account of Judas regretting his betrayal of Jesus, returning the thirty pieces of silver, and subsequently hanging himself.
--The incident of Pilate's wife attempting to intervene on behalf of Jesus is only found in Matthew.
--Only Matthew describes Pilate washing his hands in the sight of the crowd while saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood."
--Matthew alone relates that at Jesus' death there was an earthquake, rocks were split, tombs were opened and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised and appeared to many in Jerusalem.
--Only Matthew gives the account of the chief priests and Pharisees asking Pilate for soldiers to guard the tomb of Jesus.

An interesting note occurs when certain women are mentioned as witnessing the crucifixion "from a distance." Matthew names Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee (James and John).

At the crucifixion, the gospel of Mark mentions these names: "Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the younger (James the Less) and of Joses (Joseph), and Salome..." Traditionally, Salome has been identified as the mother of the sons of Zebedee. From this, it would appear that both the mother of James the Greater as well as the mother of James the Less were witnesses to the Lord's death on the cross.

Only St. John's gospel specifies that the mother of Jesus and the Beloved Disciple were standing nearby the cross of Jesus.

REMEMBER AND IMITATE

Today, we begin a special week, a solemn week - the "holiest of weeks." This week is filled with special liturgical ceremonies to help us remember and imitate.  Jesus told us at the Last Supper the night before he died: "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24). Also, "I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you...If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (John 13:15,17).

We will remember and imitate the Passover of the Lord until we experience our own passover into eternity.