The Purpose of the Palm
Palm Sunday of The Passion of The Lord
Isaiah 50:4–7 / Psalm 22:2a / Philippians 2:6–11 / Mark 14:1 — 15:47 or 15:1–39
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Reflecting on the Word
By Rev. James A. Wallace, C.Ss.R.
Someone once told me that people come to church on Palm Sunday because they get something. But I like to think that palm says something they recognize as true.
“He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness,” writes Paul, quoting the words of an early Christian hymn. “He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,” follow soon after (Philippians 2:7, 8). Emptying and humbling are the two key words embracing the trajectory of the life of Jesus Christ, the Son of God: from incarnation to passion and death.
He poured himself out for us and for our salvation, certainly suffering physically—from the beating, the scourging, the crowning with thorns, being struck with a reed, spat upon, prodded, pushed, and stumbling up the hill to Golgotha. Then he was stretched out on a crossbeam, nailed to it, and lifted up, his body suspended between heaven and earth. Finally, he suffocated, unable to raise himself to take in more air.
There was also the inner suffering of abandonment, of seeing his disciples run off, of realizing that all those who had cried “Hosanna” a few days ago had either been silent or had cried out, “Crucify him.” Only the women had remained with him.
Today, when we take home a piece of palm, it invites us to prepare to renew our baptismal promises on Easter. Then we can add our voices to that solitary voice almost two millennia ago, saying, “Truly, this is the Son of God!”
Consider/Discuss
- Do you have a special place for the blessed palm so it can call you to remember?
- What does Mark’s Passion say to you?
Responding to the Word
Loving God, lift up our hearts to give you thanks and praise for all you have done for us through the saving death of your Son. We sing out in our day, “Blessed is he who continues to come in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.”