topleft05.jpg (18208 bytes)HOMILY
Passion of the Lord (Palm) Sunday (A)
24 March 02


 

The celebration of the Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the reading of the Passion narrative portray the oftentimes fickle and changing tides characterizing our daily existence.

The rising part of those fickle and changing tides represents all of the good that comes from hard work. That can include, among other things, doing as well as one can in school, working at one’s personal growth to nurture a marriage, engaging in activities that interest other family members in order to sustain and enhance family life, or toiling away to make a decent living. In Jesus’ life, the rising part of those tides represents all of the good he accomplished for others and, especially, for sinners.

The cresting part of those fickle and changing tides represents the recognition people receive from others. It may include recognition from one’s parents, a respected teacher, one’s spouse, kids, and friends, or even, one’s boss. In Jesus’ life, the tides' crest came that first Palm Sunday in Jerusalem as the community of the Jewish people honored Jesus. They threw a parade and cheered him with "Hosannas." They called him "Son of David" and "King of Israel."

The ebbing part of those fickle and changing tides represents the other side of the cresting part, the painful fallout that oftentimes results as one’s accomplishments are all but forgotten. While people dream about being able to sit back and to bask in the glory of all they’ve accomplished, the reality which the Passion narrative portrays is that other people quickly forget all of the good that one has done on their behalf. In Jesus’ life, the ebbing of these changing tides begins on Holy Thursday evening, grows on Good Friday, and is given its fullest expression in his last gasp, "My God, why have you forsaken me?"

Today’s commemoration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the reading of his passion at the start of Holy Week alert us to these fickle and changing tides. Yes: people work hard and do accomplish much. Yes: people enjoy being recognized by others. And, yes: many people dream of basking in the glory. But, the harsh reality communicated by the Passion narrative is that, as the memory of one’s accomplishments ebb, people are abandoned and are tempted to wonder why even God has abandoned them.

As Christians, we need to be alert to these fickle and changing tides because they represent the negative side of human motivation. That negative motive involves making our decisions to do something---even good things---because we desire the praise of others, even God. Rather than making decisions based solely upon what is good, right, proper, and just, we allow praise to motivate us. For Jesus' disciples, that is deleterious.

Lest we forget, the second commandment states explicitly, "Thou shall not have strange gods before me." In light of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the narrative of his Passion, another way to state the idea communicated in the second commandment is: "In the decisions you make, don’t ever choose to do anything that closes your heart to the love of God." As God’s creatures, what the second commandment requires is that we base our decisions not upon a rational calculation about how to maximize the amount of praise we will receive, irregardless of whether that praise comes from friends or associates, from family members or one’s spouse, or even, from God. Instead, we should base our decisions solely upon the spiritual calculation that tells us to do that which opens our hearts wide to the overflowing abundance of God’s freely given love.

No doubt about it, this is a very tough standard. But, as disciples, we have Jesus as our model. It is Jesus who points us in the direction that allows God’s freely given love to grow in our hearts as we imitate the example of His only-begotten Son.

Throughout his life, Jesus sought praise neither from others (including his family and friends) nor from God. Instead, Jesus modeled how prayer enables us to remain focused intently upon allowing nothing to impede God's love from growing in our hearts. For example, Jesus prayed for forty days in the desert and experienced multiple temptations. Yet, persisting in prayer, Jesus decided not to allow temptation to keep God's love from growing in his heart. And today we heard how, following what would prove to be his final Passover meal, Jesus spent several hours praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Once again, Jesus is tempted. Yet, Jesus prays, "Not my will but your will be done," having made the decision to allow God's love to grow in his heart. Through prayer---whether in the desert or in the garden---Jesus' motive was love of God not praise.

As disciples, this represents our challenge.

As the fickle and changing tides rise and crest in our lives, we must make decisions. There’s no getting away from this fact. As we pray about what God asks of us, we will be tempted---just as Jesus was---to focus upon concerns other than that which should be of utmost concern for Jesus’ disciples, namely, allowing God’s love to grow in our hearts.

When the fickle and changing tides ebb in our lives, as both today’s commemoration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the narrative of his Passion remind us, we will experience rejection just as Jesus did. The greatest temptation will come, however, not as the crowds---including acquaintances, friends and family members---mock and jeer, saying "If you could save others, why don’t you save yourself?" No, our greatest temptation will come when we must decide if God has abandoned us.

For people who believe that God has abandoned them, the joy of the miracle of Easter is very far off. Why? Because these people close their hearts to the freely-given gift of God’s abundant love.

This Holy Week, let’s be steadfast in prayer, as Jesus was in his hour of temptation. Let’s do so by turning away from the idolatry of seeking praise.  Let us open our hearts so that God will fill them with His love. Then, we will experience the miracle of God's life that is Easter.

 

 

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