Palm Sunday Reflection
Reflection for Palm Sunday – Mark 11:1-11 March 28, 2021
Sr. Ruth Ksycki, O.S.B.
The liturgy for Palm Sunday begins with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. This story is included in all four Gospels even though some details vary among them. It is also a story that is so familiar to us that we may miss the message that Jesus was trying to give to his apostles and other followers as well as the Temple dignitaries and government officials.
As Marie Noonan Sabin states in her commentary: “Mark shows Jesus acting out the new understandings of power he has been trying to teach his disciples.” I wondered if this was Jesus’ one last chance to show them that his kingdom on earth was to be humble, peaceful, compassionate and inclusive.
His dramatic entry into Jerusalem was certainly the exact opposite of the triumphal processions they had seen. Those elaborate processions celebrated military victories or glorified the ruling King in some way. To understand the message Jesus was trying to convey, we need to unpack the symbols Jesus used.
The key symbol was the donkey or more specifically the foal of the donkey that had never been ridden. All the evangelists agree on a foal, though Luke has both the donkey and its foal and says that he mounted both – a bit puzzling to be sure. The foal that had never been ridden symbolizes that this is a new way to look at power. The donkey suggests peace-making. It may be stubborn, but it is certainly not aggressive or ready to ride into battle. For triumphal processions, the best steeds were chosen to pull the chariots and charge into battle. They were the symbol of pride and power over the enemy. The donkey was a beast the poor used for work, for carrying burdens and for travel. The Gentiles often mocked the Jews when they saw them using donkeys.
The other symbol which is equally important is the procession itself. The cry “Hosanna” actually means “Save Now” or “Please Save” which hardly resembles the cry of those celebrating a war victory or honoring the King. The people who participated in the procession were Jesus’ followers, the common ordinary people. They participated by laying down their cloaks on the road. The cloaks were no doubt worn, maybe even tattered, certainly not as good at the ones warriors or the rich had. They shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David” and “blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” while waving branches they had cut from their fields. Only John mentions that they were palm branches.
What about the bystanders? As the temple officials heard the noise, they must have come out to see what was going on. Government leaders were always alert to any crowd gathering. Imagine their shock! Who is this? Some said, “The prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Some may have said, “What in the world is he doing?” Others may have laughed and considered him a fool. The Pharisees asked Jesus to rebuke his disciples, but he said, “If they keep silence, the stones will cry out”. Then they became alarmed. Matthew wrote that “the whole town is shaken”.
What then, might Jesus be teaching us today by this type of procession? Could it be that we need to re-assess our understanding and use of power as disciples of Jesus Christ? Is it humble, peaceful, compassionate, and inclusive?
If we look back through the gospels, we see that Jesus taught and showed us that power as members of God’s kingdom is not based on wealth, position, might, privilege or pride. Rather, the source of our power is the grace of God’s unconditional love in Christ through the Spirit. And the amazing gift that flows from that power is the freedom to choose. Recall Jesus curing the leper, eating with tax collectors, the woman at the well, the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son, and his passion and death to name a few. In each case Jesus had to decide how his teaching and/or action would reveal the awesome power of God’s love.
It is truly a mystery why God gifted us with freedom of choice, knowing that we are imperfect human beings. Each day we face choices, many minor, some major. So, what might help us make choices that reveal the awesome power of God’s love? Victor Frankl gave a simple suggestion. He says that when we sense something, there is a natural pause, then we respond. In the pause we become aware of what we sense and make a choice and then act. The pause is the most important part in our choosing.
As we journey with Jesus this week through his passion, death, and resurrection, may we reflect on the decisions he had to make. May Jesus’ example help us to be mindful of “the pause” so that our choices of words and actions may be humble, peaceful, compassionate, and inclusive.