Triumph over tragedy

Homily for Palm Sunday Lent Year C 2016

Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23:56

Introduction

New Orleans is known for its parades: the Mardi Gras parades, the Irish-Italian parades around the feasts of St. Joseph and St. Patrick as well as the Jazz funerals and second line parades. Is  Palm Sunday, the celebration of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem just another parade?

Scripture and Tradition

Of course the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem has similarities with the parades of New Orleans.  Like them, the entry of Jesus was accompanied by joy, victory, triumph, celebration.

·        That is why, like the King of Rex or Zulu rides a float, Jesus rode on a donkey which the people had adorned with their clothes.

·        That is why, like we decorate the parade routs with all kinds of things, a very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road for Jesus.

·        That is why, like we usually shout out: “throw me something mister,”  the crowds preceding and following Jesus also shouted out something, “Hosanna to the Son of David" a word which means "Lord, save us."

But there are some differences too.

·        Jesus rode a humble donkey, not an expensive float that the King of Endymion rides.  The victory which Jesus represents is a humble victory, as represented by the humble donkey, rather than the horse.

·        But the greater difference is that the victory, triumph and joy that the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem represents is not simply fun and pleasure, but is a victory over sin and death, the victory of salvation, life with God.

·        The greatest difference is the means of achieving this victory.  The joy we celebrate during the parades costs no more than a couple of beads, coconuts and other trinkets.  The victory of Jesus comes at great cost.  That is why as we celebrate Palm Sunday with palms to represent celebration, but also with the long gospel passage of the Passion, which tells us about the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps the closest example of a parade with the same meaning as Palm Sunday is the parade you sometimes see in small towns or in movies, held for soldiers coming back home.  Their family, friends and fellow citizens celebrate the return home from war for one of their sons or daughters.  The mood is often joyous, but also sombre, recognizing that this victory has come at great cost, especially when the returning soldier has been injured in a serious way.

Similarly, Palm Sunday joins together, what we will celebrate separately on Good Friday and Easter.  Palm Sunday joins the pain of the cross and the victory of the resurrection.  We are reminded that the two go together, because without the Cross the victory is hollow, like some of our parades.  But without Victory our crosses have no hope, like some the despair felt by many today who do not know Jesus Christ.

Christian Application

As we begin Holy Week, which is really one continuous celebration of God’s love for us, let us not lose sight of what it is all about.

Let us take advantage of the special services of this week, which in a very dramatic way remind us of the central mysteries of our faith: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil.

Let us go to confession, to prepare our souls for Easter.

Conclusion

Let us allow God, through this Holy Week, to make us holy too, to bring us closer to him and to each other.