Homily for the Passion (Palm) Sunday of Lent
Based on the Mk 14:1-15:47(Gospel);
Is 50:4-7 (1st Reading); Phil. 2:6-11 (2nd Reading)
From the Series of “Reflections and Teachings of the Desert”
The Passion of Christ
1. Gospel
Jesus Anointed
at Bethany (Mk. 14:1-11=Mt 26:2-16=Lk. 22:16=Jn 12:1-8)
1 Now the
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the
chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to
arrest Jesus and kill him. 2 "But not during the Feast," they said,
"or the people may riot." 3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the
table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an
alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and
poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly
to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for
more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they
rebuked her harshly. 6 "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are
you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will
always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not
always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand
to prepare for my burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is
preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory
of her." 10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief
priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and
promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
The Lord's
Supper (14:12-26pp = Mt 26:17-30; Lk 22:7-23 14:22-25pp -- 1Co 11:23-25)
12 On the
first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice
the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go
and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" 13 So he sent two of
his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of
water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters,
'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my
disciples?' 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make
preparations for us there." 16 The disciples left, went into the city and
found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 17
When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining
at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will
betray me--one who is eating with me." 19 They were saddened, and one by
one they said to him, "Surely not I?" 20 "It is one of the
Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The
Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who
betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been
born." 22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke
it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."
23 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank
from it. 24 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for
many," he said to them. 25 "I tell you the truth, I will not drink
again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the
kingdom of God." 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount
of Olives.
Jesus Predicts
Peter's Denial (Mk. 14:27-31pp = Mt 26:31-35)
27 "You
will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: " 'I
will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' 28 But after I have
risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." 29 Peter declared, "Even
if all fall away, I will not." 30 "I tell you the truth," Jesus
answered, "today--yes, tonight--before the rooster crows twice you
yourself will disown me three times." 31 But Peter insisted emphatically,
"Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all
the others said the same.
Gethsemane
(Mk. 14:32-42pp = Mt 26:36-46; Lk 22:40-46)
32 They went
to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here
while I pray." 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he
began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 "My soul is overwhelmed
with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and
keep watch." 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed
that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 "Abba",
Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from
me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." 37 Then he returned to his
disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter,
"are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray
so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body
is weak." 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he
came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They
did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them,
"Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the
Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here
comes my betrayer!"
Jesus Arrested
(Mk. 14:43-50pp = Mt 26:47-56; Lk 22:47-50; Jn 18:3-11)
43 Just as he
was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed
with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law,
and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The
one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." 45 Going
at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. 46 The men
seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his
sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 48
"Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out
with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in
the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be
fulfilled." 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled. 51 A young man,
wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him,
52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
Before the
Sanhedrin (Mk. 14:53-65pp = Mt 26:57-68; Jn 18:12,13,19-24 14:61-63pp -- Lk
22:67-71)
53 They took
Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the
law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the
courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself
at the fire. 55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for
evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not
find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not
agree. 57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58
"We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days
will build another, not made by man.' " 59 Yet even then their testimony
did not agree. 60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are
you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing
against you?" 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the
high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed
One?" 62 "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of
Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of
heaven." 63 The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any
more witnesses?" he asked. 64 "You have heard the blasphemy. What do
you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began
to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said,
"Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.
Peter Disowns
Jesus (Mk. 14:66-72pp = Mt 26:69-75; Lk
22:56-62; Jn 18:16-18,25-27)
66 While Peter
was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came
by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. "You
also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said. 68 But he denied it.
"I don't know or understand what you're talking about," he said, and
went out into the entryway. 69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said
again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." 70
Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter,
"Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." 71 He began to
call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man
you're talking about." 72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.
Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the
rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and
wept.
Jesus Before
Pilate (Mk. 15:1-15pp = Mt 27:11-26; Lk 23:2,3,18-25; Jn 18:29-19:16)
1 Very early
in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and
the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and
handed him over to Pilate. 2 "Are you the king of the Jews?" asked
Pilate. "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. 3 The chief priests
accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going
to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of." 5 But Jesus
still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. 6 Now it was the custom at the
Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas
was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the
uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually
did. 9 "Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked
Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus
over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate
release Barabbas instead. 12 "What shall I do, then, with the one you call
the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them. 13 "Crucify him!" they
shouted. 14 "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But
they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" 15 Wanting to satisfy the
crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him
over to be crucified.
The Soldiers
Mock Jesus (Mk. 15:16-20pp = Mt 27:27-31)
16 The
soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called
together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then
twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call
out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" 19 Again and again they struck
him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid
homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe
and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
The
Crucifixion (Mk. 15:22-32pp = Mt 27:33-44; Lk 23:33-43; Jn 19:17-24)
21 A certain
man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on
his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They
brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the
Skull). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.
24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what
each would get. 25 It was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 The
written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews. 27 They
crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. 29 Those
who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So!
You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come
down from the cross and save yourself !" 31 In the same way the chief
priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved
others," they said, "but he can't save himself ! 32 Let this Christ,
this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and
believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The Death of
Jesus (Mk. 15:33-41pp =Mt 27:45-56; Lk 23:44-49; Jn 19:29-30)
33 At the
sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at
the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ""Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani? ""--which means, "My God, my God, why have you
forsaken me?" 35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said,
"Listen, he's calling Elijah." 36 One man ran, filled a sponge with
wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now
leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said. 37
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 The curtain of the temple was torn
in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front
of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was
the Son of God!" 40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them
were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and
Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs.
Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.
The Burial of
Jesus (Mk. 15:42-47pp = Mt 27:57-61; Lk 23:50-56; Jn 19:38-42)
42 It was
Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening
approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was
himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for
Jesus' body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead.
Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he
learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So
Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen,
and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the
entrance of the tomb.
2. First Reading: Is.
50:4-7
(Third Song of the servant of Yahweh)
The Lord
Yahweh has given me a disciple’s tongue. So that I may know how to reply toc
the wearied he provides me with speech. Each morning he wakes me to hear, to
listen like a disciple. (v. 4) The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear.d
For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away. (v. 5) I offered my
back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore my beard: I did not
cover my face against insult and spittle.e (v. 6) The Lord Yahweh
comes to my help, so that I( am untouched by the insults. So, too, I set my
face like flint; I know I shall not be shamed. (v. 7).
Footnote to
Is. 50:4-7:
c -
‘reply to’ following Greek; ‘sustain’ Hebr.; ‘feed’ Targ.
d -
The servant, cf. 42:1+, is here not so much a prophet as a sage inspired by
Yahweh.
e -
This description of the servant’s sufferings recurs in the fourth song,
52:15-53:12.
3. Second
Reading: Phil. 2:6-11
His state was divine,e yet
he did not cling to his equality with God.f but emptied himselfg
to assume the condition of a slave,h and became as men are;i
and being as all men are,j he was humbler yet, even to accepting
death, death on a cross. But God raised him highk and gave him the
namel which is above all other namesm so that all beings
in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld,n should bend the knee
at the name of Jesus, and that every tongue should acclaimo Jesus
Christ as Lord, p to the glory of God the Father.q
Footnotes to Ph. 2:6-11:
e -
Lit. ‘Who subsisting in the form of God’; here ‘form’ means all the attributes
that express and reveal the essential nature of God: Christ, being God, had all
the divine prerogatives by right.
f -
Lit. ‘did not deem being on an equality with God as something to grasp’ or
‘hold on to’. This refers not to his equality by nature ‘subsisting in the form
of God’, and which Christ could not have surrendered, but to his being publicly
treated and honored as equal to God which was a thing that Jesus (unlike Adam,
Gn 3:5,22, who wanted to be seen to be like God) could and did not give up in
his human life.
g -
‘He emptied himself’: this is not so much a reference to the fact of the
incarnation, as to the way it took place. What Jesus freely gave up was not his
divine nature, but the glory to which his divine nature entitled him, and which
had been his before the incarnation, Jn 17:5; and which ‘normally’ speaking
would have been observable in his human body (cf. the transfiguration, Mt.
17:1-8). He voluntarily deprived himself of this so that it could be returned
to him by the Father, cf. Jn 8:50,54, after his sacrifice vv 9-11.
h -
‘slave’ as opposed to ‘Kyrios’ v. 11, cf. Ga. 4:1; Col. 3:22f. Christ as man
led a life of submission and humble obedience, v. 8. This is probably a
reference to the ‘servant’ of Is. 52:13-53:12, cf. Is. 42:1+.
i -
Not just ‘a human being’ but a human being ‘like others’, sharing all the
weaknesses of the human condition apart from sin.
j -Lit.
‘And in fashion found as a man’.
k-Lit.
‘super-raised him’: by the resurrection and ascension.
l -Named
him ‘Lord’, v. 11; or, at a deeper level, gave him the ineffable and divine name
which, through the triumph of the risen Christ, can now be expressed by the title Kyrios, Lord: cf. Ac 2:21+; 3:16+.
m -Greater
even than the angels, cf. Ep 1:21; Heb 1:4; 1 p 3:22.
n -The
three cosmic division that cover the entire creation, cf. Rv 5:3,13.s
o
– Var. ‘and every tongue shall acclaim’.
p –
Om. ‘Christ’. This proclamation is the essence of the Christian creed, Rm.
10:9, 1 Co. 12:3, cf. Col. 2:6. The use of Is. 45:23 (in which this homage is
addressed to Yahweh himself) is a clear indication of the divine character that
is meant to be understood by the title Kyrios,
cf. Jn. 20:28, Ac. 2:36.
q - Vulg. Interpretation is ‘proclaim that Jesus
Christ is in the glory of God the Father’.
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