Additional Homily for Palm Sunday
Homily delivered by Fr Nicholas King SJ
Scripture readings: Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23:56
The last thing you want today, after all those readings and that lengthy dramatisation of Jesus’ passion, is a long homily (Do I hear you breathe a sigh of relief?). On the other hand (do I hear you groan?) It seems important to use today's readings to say something about the Holy Week on which we have now embarked. I hope that you will not find it too long.
The first reading came from the third of the Songs of the Suffering Servant; we do not know who this character was, but very soon Christians came to realise that the words fitted Jesus like a glove, that he “made no resistance nor turned away”. And why? Because in the words of the prophet, he knew that “the Lord comes to my help”. That is a phrase that we shall do well to have on our lips, especially through the week that is starting today when God is at work.
The psalm was what Jesus quoted on the cross, though not in the gospel of Luke that we have just heard: “My God, My God why have you abandoned me?”. The only answer we get is what happens at the end of the psalm: “I shall tell of your name to my brethren”. The song of gloom and despair has turned into a triumphant assertion that God is at work here. Once again we should keep this psalm ready to hand during Holy Week.
In the second reading, Paul is quoting from an earlier hymn to Jesus, recognising at one and the same time that Jesus “took on the form of a slave”, even though he was equal to God. And that leads to the triumphant assertion that God “super-exalted him and gave him the Name that is above all other names”. Once more, you see, God is in the story.
Then we heard that spectacular gospel, Luke's account of Jesus’ passion and death. Let me single out three moments of the story which are only to be found in Luke.
The first is what happens when Peter denies for the third time that he has ever heard of Jesus: “while he was still speaking the cock crowed the Lord turned and looked hard at Peter. and Peter remembered the word of the Lord: ‘Before the cock crows today you are going to deny me three times’. And he went out outside. And wept bitterly.” This is a privileged moment on which we are invited to eavesdrop.
The second is what Jesus says to the women who are brave enough to express their sadness at his fate: “daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep over me; rather weep over yourselves and over your children.” We are in awe at his unselfish courage as he faces an appalling death.
And the final one is the remarkable interchange between Jesus and one of the two who are crucified with him. One of these malefactors joins the rest and jeering at him; but the other one, and this is only in Luke, rebukes him: “do you have no reverence for God?”, and turns to Jesus and says with astonishing perceptiveness, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Then we are bowled over by Jesus’ magisterial response: “Amen I'm telling you, today you are going to be with me in Paradise.”
We gaze and listen in admiration. This is an extraordinary story; it touches us very closely indeed. And God is in the story.