Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025

Today the Church celebrates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem acclaimed as the one sent by God to save and lead the Jewish people in fulfillment of their scripture.

Each of the four Gospels contains an almost identical account of Jesus entering into Jerusalem surrounded by an adoring crowd because each evangelist felt that it was essential to connect Jesus to the promises of salvation found in Hebrew Scripture. Often this entry is claimed to be “triumphal” but, in reality, Jesus is seated on a donkey in peasant clothing and with an extremely humble posture. Despite His humble appearance, the crowd repeatedly shouts: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Sadly, today’s Gospel also reminds us that the crowd’s adoration for Jesus is short-lived. His passion and death are near. The shouts of “Blessed is he who comes” become the shouts of “Crucify Him!” When I was about 10 years old, my aunt taught me to make crosses out of palm branches. It takes about 4 minutes to convert a simple palm branch into a fancy cross. It took about 4 days to convert the praise and joy of His entrance into an arrest and crucifixion.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is recognized by the humble and rejected by the arrogant. If we are humble enough to accept our King, we reflect to the world the good news of the true King living and reigning within us in triumph. Yet, it is difficult to maintain our humble, faithful hearts. In fact, even Christ’s disciples could not remain faithful and gave into fear and temptation. One betrayed Jesus; others fell asleep while the Lord was praying and suffering; one tried to settle matters with a sword; Peter, the “rock,” who loudly promised never to betray Jesus, denied Him three times; and, finally, all of the other disciples fled the scene.

This Holy Week, let’s reflect on whether we run away when events become challenging, whether our faith is a matter of convenience more than conviction, whether we have truly allowed Christ in our hearts, whether our pride prevents us from recognizing our humble King, and whether we accept the steadfast love which drove Christ from honor to humiliation and from death to eternal life. Blessed is He who comes!

Fr. Mike