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Institute for Homiletics

A Collaboration of The Catholic Foundation and the University of Dallas

Palm Sunday of The Passion of The Lord

Scritpture Study for

The dynamics of hearing and speaking are featured prominently in the first  reading’s passage from Isaiah. God has appointed the speaker to a particular  ministry and has provided him ears to hear God’s word and a well-trained tongue  to speak that word to others. This word is alive and fresh each day, for God opens  the speaker’s ears morning after morning. This means that the speaker must be  always attentive to hear the word that comes from God. A heavy price is exacted  of the speaker. He suffers both physical attack and personal insult. Despite this,  he does not recoil from his call.  

The reading from Paul is one of the New Testament’s most important  Christological statements. The first verse sets the tone for the actions of Christ  Jesus. He did not cling to the dignity that was rightfully his, but he emptied himself of all privilege. Though in the form of God, he chose the form of a servant or  slave. Without losing his Godlike being, he took on the likeness of human beings.  Having taken on the form of a slave, he became obedient like a slave. The exaltation of Christ is as glorious as his humiliation was debasing. All will praise Christ,  whose exaltation gives glory to God. 

The Passion account from Matthew’s Gospel is a collection of episodes that tell  the story of Jesus’ last days. Though in several episodes Jesus appears to be the  passive object of the brutality of others, it is quite clear that he is really in charge  of his destiny. He makes many of the major decisions. Then he hands himself  over to others, allowing them to decide his fate in those cases. Jesus declares  that the time of his death and resurrection is the kairós time, that decisive moment  when the promises of God are brought to fulfillment. The reading closes at the  sealed tomb. Neither Pilate nor the Jewish leaders realize that everything is now  in place for the eschatological event of the Resurrection. 

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Hearing the Story Again—for the First Time

One thing that I love about working with the Rite of Christian  Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is how new the Gospel is for those who have never heard it before. A few years ago on Palm Sunday, we headed downstairs from the sanctuary to break open the Word. We  were not even to the basement door, when Roy, a man in his fifties,  touched my arm and said, with tears in his eyes, “I never heard that  story before!” The day before I wrote this, because it was a snow day from RCIA, one of our catechumens and her eleven-year-old son read Luke’s account of the death and resurrection by candlelight at home for their homework. The mom texted me afterward. “What an amazing story!” she said. 

For a heart of innocence, what could be so breathtaking about the death of Jesus? When I read it afresh, what flabbergasts me is what also impressed St. Paul—the degree of self-emptying, self-giving,  self-sacrifice that Jesus was willing to undergo in obedience and for our sakes. Where did he get the strength to do that? “I gave my  back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my  beard.” Isaiah says, “The Lord God is my help . . . He who declares  my innocence is near.” Our God is Deliverer. God lifts us up. God is faithful. God is for us.

For someone who has never heard this story, to have the Lord of the universe care, to take our side, to be willing to die to lift us up from the muck of life—that is not something to be taken lightly.  For those who are used to feeling adrift and alone, this is fresh and life-giving! After being baptized at the Easter Vigil, Roy broke into a smile and his whole body radiated happiness. New life! Not just a theological idea, but a gift from the One who cares. 

Consider/Discuss 

  • How often might we listen to scriptures and think, “Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that time and time again”? How could we get back to a heart of innocence about the story of Jesus? In this time before Easter, read through one whole  Gospel narrative about the Passion and Resurrection. Try to read it as though you had never heard it before. What resonates within you? 
  • Many of us already live self-sacrificing and self-emptying lives, and those  around us are grateful. Where do we get the strength to see each day  through? When we are weary, even beaten, Who and what sustains us? If  you know someone who lives a self-sacrificing and self-emptying life, thank  him/her this week. 

Living and Praying with the Word 

Lord, as we enter into this most sacred of weeks, give us new  eyes to see the beauty of what you have done for us. Bless those  who minister—the preachers and lectors, the musicians and artists,  and all who serve liturgically. Help us to create liturgies that move  and inspire our people and show forth your presence. Please bring  back those who are far from faith and enlighten those who do not  yet know you. Thank you, most of all, for giving yourself to us so  completely.

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Scripture Study for

One thing that I love about working with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is how new the Gospel is for those who have never heard it before. A few years ago on Palm Sunday, we headed downstairs from the sanctuary to break open the Word. We  were not even to the basement door, when Roy, a man in his fifties,  touched my arm and said, with tears in his eyes, “I never heard that  story before!” The day before I wrote this, because it was a snow day from RCIA, one of our catechumens and her eleven-year-old son read Luke’s account of the death and resurrection by candlelight at home for their homework. The mom texted me afterward. “What an amazing story!” she said. 

For a heart of innocence, what could be so breathtaking about the death of Jesus? When I read it afresh, what flabbergasts me is what also impressed St. Paul—the degree of self-emptying, self-giving,  self-sacrifice that Jesus was willing to undergo in obedience and for our sakes. Where did he get the strength to do that? “I gave my  back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my  beard.” Isaiah says, “The Lord God is my help . . . He who declares  my innocence is near.” Our God is Deliverer. God lifts us up. God is faithful. God is for us.

For someone who has never heard this story, to have the Lord of the universe care, to take our side, to be willing to die to lift us up from the muck of life—that is not something to be taken lightly.  For those who are used to feeling adrift and alone, this is fresh and life-giving! After being baptized at the Easter Vigil, Roy broke into a smile and his whole body radiated happiness. New life! Not just a theological idea, but a gift from the One who cares.

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Serving Till His Last Breath

That last night could not have been easy. At supper, Jesus knows his end is approaching, with much suffering, after being betrayed by someone he has loved,  now sitting at the table. He knows Simon will deny him three times. And he has to face an argument that breaks out among the disciples—again!—over who is the greatest. But Jesus patiently reminds them that service will win them a place in the kingdom. It will take a visit from the Spirit for this message to sink in. 

From the cross we see how faithful Jesus himself is to this call to serve all. Only in Luke’s Passion does Jesus speak these words we hear this Palm Sunday. His first word is a prayer of forgiveness. Looking around at those mocking him and jeering at him, he prays: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” His  second word comforts, responding to the request of the thief on his right: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” And his final word, addressed to God, serves us: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,” teaching us how to die trusting God. 

Three times Pilate declares Jesus innocent. This judgment is further reinforced by the Roman centurion saying: “This man was innocent beyond doubt.” The word innocent literally means one who does no harm. More than that, until his  last breath, Jesus is the savior who does only good, who serves, bringing forgiveness, replacing fear with the promise of paradise, and showing all that God can truly be trusted. 

Consider/Discuss

  • Which of the three “words” that Jesus speaks from the cross serve you most? 
  • Does the Passion of Luke call you to serve in any way? 

Responding to the Word

Lord, even in your last hours, you teach us to serve those whom God brings into our lives, even those who do not treat us well. May we be quick to forgive,  quick to respond to those in great need, and quick to entrust our lives to the  Father. May your prayers be ours.

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Scripture Study for

A heavy price is exacted of the servant spoken of by Isaiah. He suffers both personal insult and physical attack. In the face of his affliction, he maintains that  God is his strength. Such maltreatment was usually interpreted as punishment.  However, that is not the case here. This is an innocent victim. Much of the content of this passage resonates with that found in many of the laments. However,  there is really no complaint here, just a description of the sufferings that accrue from faithfully carrying out the mission assigned by God. If anything, this passage resembles a declaration of confidence in God’s sustaining presence. 

Being in the form of God, Christ enjoys a Godlike manner of being. Nonetheless,  he did not cling to this or use his exalted status for his own ends. Furthermore,  though in the form of God, he chose the form of a servant or slave. This does not mean that he only resembled a human being; he really was one. Having taken on the form of a slave, he made himself obedient. Finally, the exaltation of Christ is as glorious as his humiliation was debasing. Consequently, every knee shall do him homage and every tongue shall proclaim his sovereignty. 

The narrative of the Lord’s Supper is a classic farewell scene. Its connection with the Passover underscores the supper’s end-time significance; mention of  “covenant in blood” points to its sacrificial character. The events that take place on the Mount of Olives are the prelude to the rejection and the agony in store for Jesus. Faced with the terrors, he accepts them as the will of God. Throughout this narrative, Jesus is portrayed as the non-violent, innocent victim of the unwarranted hatred and bloodthirsty desires of major sections of both the Jewish and the Roman populations. The execution is reported in a matter-of-fact manner. The culminating event of the redemption of the world is accomplished with dispatch.

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