Palm Sunday

[BoSoxGal]

Pope Leo’s first Palm Sunday homily:


Dear brothers and sisters,

As Jesus walks the Way of the Cross, we place ourselves behind him, following in his footsteps. As we walk with him, we contemplate his passion for the sake of humanity, his broken heart, and his life as a gift of love.

We turn our gaze to Jesus, who reveals himself as King of Peace, even as war looms around him. He remains steadfast in meekness, while others are stirring up violence. He offers himself to embrace humanity, even as others raise swords and clubs. He is the light of the world, though darkness is about to engulf the earth. He came to bring life, even as plans unfold to condemn him to death.

King of Peace. Jesus' desire is to bring the world into the Father's arms, tearing down every barrier that separates us from God and from our neighbor, for "He is our peace" (Eph 2:14).

Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: "Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood" (Is 1:15).

King of Peace. Jesus enters into Jerusalem not upon a horse, but upon a donkey, fulfilling the ancient prophecy that calls for rejoicing at the arrival of the Messiah: "Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations" (Zech 9:9–10).

King of Peace. When one of his disciples drew his sword to defend him and struck the high priest's servant, Jesus immediately stopped him, saying: "Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Mt 26:52).

King of Peace. While he was burdened with our sufferings and pierced for our sins, Jesus "did not open his mouth, like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent" (Is 53:7). He did not arm himself, or defend himself, or fight any war. He revealed the gentle face of God, who always rejects violence. Rather than saving himself, he allowed himself to be nailed to the cross, embracing every cross borne in every time and place throughout human history.

Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: "Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood" (Is 1:15).

As we set our gaze upon him who was crucified for us, we can see a crucified humanity. In his wounds, we see the hurts of so many women and men today. In his last cry to the Father, we hear the weeping of those who are crushed, who have no hope, who are sick and who are alone. Above all, we hear the painful groans of all those who are oppressed by violence and are victims of war.

Christ, King of Peace, cries out again from his cross: God is love! Have mercy! Lay down your weapons! Remember that you are brothers and sisters!

In the words of the Servant of God, Bishop Tonino Bello, I would like to entrust this cry to Mary Most Holy, who stands beneath the cross of her Son and weeps also at the feet of those who are crucified today:

"Holy Mary, woman of the third day, grant us the certainty that, in spite of all, death will no longer hold sway over us; that the injustices of peoples are numbered; that the flashes of war are fading into the twilight; that the sufferings of the poor are breathing their last. And grant, finally, that the tears of all the victims of violence and pain will soon be dried up like frost beneath the spring sun" (Maria, donna dei nostri giorni).


For those who would enjoy it in Italian:

[BoSoxGal]

By the way, the psychopath mass murderer Bibi Satanyahu barred the Catholic patriarch from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to celebrate Palm Sunday mass in Jerusalem today. The first time in centuries.

https://thehill.com/policy/internationa ... unday/amp/

[Burning Petard]

According to all the information that has ben presented to me, there is valid historical proof (valid according to today's standards) that the Jesus described in the first three gospels, did exist. Also, that he was an observant Jew, consistent with the practices typical in his day.

snailgate. But I could be wrong. I welcome any refutation,

[Big RR]

I have often thought of Palm Sunday being the saddest day in the christian calendar; a day when jesus road into the city and was halied by the people (as a king or celebrity or something worth celebrating); and yet those same people were screaming for him to be put to death aa few days later. It show us how easily people can be swayed by rhetoric, and how many people have no real core beliefs of their own and rely on others to make their decisions. And yet every year many christian churches had out palms and walk around the church shouting "hosanna", as if this was some sort of tribute to jesus instead of a mockery--palm Sunday doesn't make jesus a king anymore that good friday makes him a criminal guilty of a capital crime.

And I think this is the lesson the scripture teaches, even though many churches ignore it and try to make it into a happy celebration. And wars by manipulated popular acclamation continue the cycle of lies and death. We just refuse to learn. AndIi guess we get the world we deserve.

[MajGenl.Meade]

I prefer Mark's gospel, the first written, over the others. Matthew clearly makes up a lot of stuff to portray Jesus as Moses Redux. Luke admits to gathering any old stories all over the place (seeming to claim he has 'em all but then leaving many out) and John was written by a committee after every witness was safely dead - although it does have the best writing.

Mark's telling of the entry into Jerusalem indicates that the donkey business was pre-arranged (to evoke the OT passage) and the 'crowd' that laid palms on the road and shouted Hosannah was composed of "those sent ahead" and "those following him". It was purposeful and I believe it.

Subsequent church messages about the people praising him and then turning round calling for crucifixion is (to me) an interpretation that does not stand though some individuals may have done so. But it does make for a solemn and teary-eyed sermon when no other idea occurs.

[Big RR]

Perhaps Meade, but from what i have seen of human nature the turn of emotion would not surprise me in the least.