Homily for Palm Sunday, Year A

Who is this?

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for Palm Sunday, Year A

Holy Names Church

April 17, 2011

Matthew 21:10 says, “And when Jesus entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?”

Mark 4: 14 says, “The disciples were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? That even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Today we celebrate the Palm Sunday. Today we gather together to celebrate Christ’s entry into the city of Jerusalem. Today we celebrate Jesus as the king who enters our own personal Jerusalem- our hearts. Today’s celebration is a momentary celebration of joy and triumph, because few days from now, the joyful mood will be turned into sorrow. Today we join the crowd to shout “Hosanna!” But few days from today, we will decide whether we are going to join the same crowd to shout, “Crucify him!” “Crucify him!” Today we are cheering him asking him to “Save us” for that is the meaning of Hosanna. On Friday, we will decide whether to join in jeering him. The same crowd that cheered “Hosanna” which means “Save us” on Friday jeered “Crucify him!”

It was the Passover time, and Jerusalem and its environs was crowded with pilgrims. The Passover law stipulated that each family must slaughter a lamb and throw a party. There was also a law that mandated every adult male Jew who lived within 20 miles of Jerusalem to come to Jerusalem for the Passover; but it was not only Jews who lived within 20 miles of Jerusalem that came to Jerusalem for Passover. Jews from every corner of the world also came to Jerusalem to celebrate their greatest national festival. There were more than two million people who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. It was this spectacular moment that Jesus chose to make a bold statement about himself and his mission.

Today’s gospel from Matthew 21:1-11 begins with “When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem….Jesus sent two disciples saying to them, ‘Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me.” With the donkey and the colt Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The crowd received him like a King. They spread their clothes in front of him. They cut down palms and waved their branches, and greeted him as they would greet pilgrims as they came to the Feast: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Then they shouted “Hosanna” which means “Save us.” Hosanna was the cry for help that a suffering and distressed people addressed to their king or their god. When we sing or recite “Hosanna in the highest” we mean, “Let the angels in the highest heights of heaven (help us to) to cry unto God, ‘Save us.”

With the singing and chanting of “Hosanna” the entire city of Jerusalem was shaken to its foundation, prompting onlookers to ask, “Who is this?” With the drumming and the dancing for the arrival of “he who comes in the name in the Lord”, onlookers asked, “Who is this?” The cutting down of palm trees and the waving of their branches prompted people to ask “Who is this?” The spreading of clothes on the ground for Jesus to match on prompted observers to ask “Who is this?” The noise that followed the arrival of Jesus made people to ask, “Who is this?” The city was already crowded. People were eating and drinking. They were in a jubilant mood. But here comes Jesus with his teeming fans, disrupting the enjoyment, disrupting the flow of fun. This led people to ask, “Who is this?”

“Who is this?” “Who is Jesus?” This question helps us understand the fickle reactions of people who were present at the first Palm Sunday. Every one of them was looking for something different in Jesus, and Jesus disappointed most of them.

Who was Jesus for the crowd? They wanted a miracle Jesus. They were attracted to him because he was a vigorous and a dynamic leader. They liked him for putting the Pharisees in their place. But of all the qualities that the crowd loved about Jesus, the most loved is his ability to perform miracles. The multitude followed him when they saw the lame walk, the blind saw, the sick healed, the dead raised, the lepers cleansed. They yearned for more miracles. They cheered him. In one occasion Jesus resisted their quest for more miracles and said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign. Truly I say to you, no sign shall be given to them, and he left them” (Matthew 8:11-12). The crowds wanted miracles. But Jesus sometimes refused to heed to their clamor.

Who was Jesus for the Pharisees? They wanted a Ritual Messiah. They believed that what constitute a true religion is how the adherents dressed, washed and ate, and not how they believed or prayed. But Jesus through his preaching said that the true way to God was by having faith in God and living a morally upright life. To demonstrate his rejection of the Pharisees’ lifestyle, Jesus willfully broke the rules set up by the Pharisees. He broke the Sabbath, had a chat with a Gentile woman, went to a Gentile neighborhood, ate their food, drank their water, slept in the homes, offered them salvation which Jews claimed to be exclusively theirs. Jesus also defied the laws of purification. The Pharisees wanted a Messiah who will keep their ritual laws and other laws, but Jesus disappointed them.

Who was Jesus for the Zealots? They wanted a military leader, a military Jesus. The Zealots were the radical nationalists who were ready to use force, even terrorism to overthrow oppressive Roman government. These wanted Jesus to call for a confrontational revolution. They wanted Jesus to take up arms and swords and declare war against the Roman government. They wanted a Messiah who would head their resistance movement. When Jesus entered the Temple in Jerusalem and forcefully cleansed the Temple, these Zealots were so impressed. But Jesus disappointed them when he said “Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” in Matthew 22:21. Jesus disappointed them when again he said, “…those who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).

Who was Jesus for the disciples? They wanted a victorious Jesus. They wanted a triumphant leader. They were elated to see Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. They relished being around him. Each of them wanted to sit beside him when he enters into his kingdom. Even James and his brother John in Mark 10: 37 asked Jesus, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” The disciples wanted a triumphant and victorious Messiah, but Jesus spoke of himself as the Suffering Servant. The disciples wanted earthly glory, human praise, but Jesus promised them persecution here on earth. The Lord made it clear that following him means taking up a cross. Jesus disappointed his disciples. They wanted a victorious Messiah but Jesus showed himself a humble servant of the Lord.

All these people were present at the first Palm Sunday, each with their own personal view of Jesus. As they waved the palm and shouted “Hosanna”, they happily thought that the revolution has finally started. The crowd assumed he would perform more miracles in Jerusalem. The Zealots were excited that Jesus has finally started the revolution that would unseat the Roman government. They were thrilled that he had come to Jerusalem, which is the seat of the Roman government. The disciples of Jesus expected this week to be their greatest week of popularity and glory. They expected this week to be the beginning of their reign when they would begin to associate with the elites and the most powerful in the city. But Jesus disappointed them all.

Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem was not the beginning of a revolution that the people expected. In fact, it was a funeral procession. The people thought that the Palm Sunday was the beginning of a revolution that will overthrow the Roman government. But Jesus knew it was a funeral procession; only him knew that it was the beginning of the end. On that day they were cheering him with the shout of “Hosanna.” But he knew that in few days the cheering would stop.

So the real meaning of Palm Sunday can be found in the question “Who is this?” “Who is Jesus?” Who is Jesus to you? In John 18:7, Jesus asks, “Who is it you want?’ A celebrity Jesus? A Ritual Jesus? A Military Jesus? If you are looking for any of those, you may be disappointed because you are looking for the wrong kind of Jesus. Jesus had already played the identity game with the Disciples at Caesarea Philippi when he asked, “Who do people say that I am?” They responded that some think he is John the Baptist. Others say Elijah the prophet. Some say Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Then Jesus asks the most pertinent question, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter declared “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.”

Whatever view you hold about Jesus, do not forget that he was a man who lived and associated himself with the common people of the society. He did not limit his compassion to people he knew. He associated with everyone regardless of their class and status. His caring for others was not limited to family and friends. He was not bound by pride or obsessed with success and riches. He was all things to all people. The people wanted a hero, a military leader, but he chose to be a humble suffering servant. While kings sit on the table and wait to be served, Jesus was on the floor washing the feet of his disciples. Though he was in the form of God, he did not count himself equal with God. He became a humble servant, emptied himself for others. While some of us want to be served, Jesus says that “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). And he truly served! While the preachers of today look for fame, while they are driven by self aggrandizement, Jesus begged people not to tell about the miracles he had done. While preachers of today are obsessed by sensationalism and human applause, Jesus was running away from being made a king. While some of us yearn to sit and hang out with the topnotch people, Jesus was avoiding being made a king. His friends were the no-bodies in the society.

The Palm Sunday event is a lesson in humility. After his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, guess what happened? There was no party, no coronation banquet, no awards ceremony, no prize, and no photo op. Jesus and his disciples quietly went away, and went to Bethany and rested for the night. The crowd who thronged during the day wanted to make him their king, but he slipped away. He did not come for earthly glory. He did not come for fame but to be shamed.

Following Jesus is not always glamorous. It’s not just about preaching to a huge crowd of people and telling them what they should do and shouldn’t do. Following Jesus requires a great deal of humility. Humility marks a Christian. Humility distinguishes a Christian. Humility keeps a Christian in check. Humility tells a Christian she is not better than any one else. Pride says you are better and above every one else. Humility seeks for no recognition, pride longs for human applause. Remember the story of the Poet and the Monk.

“Who is this?” It’s Jesus! Though he was the humble servant, but he is the bright morning star. “Who is this?” It’s Jesus! Though he was the suffering servant, but in him we have found the light that lightens our darkness. “Who is this?” It’s Jesus! Though he emptied himself totally and became a slave, but he is the way that leads us from death to life. “Who is this?’ It’s Jesus! Though he fasted for forty days and forty nights, but he is the bread of life that nourishes us. “Who is this?” It’s Jesus! Though he was the humble servant, but he is the Word and the Wisdom of God. “Who is this?” It’s Jesus! Though he was the suffering servant, but he is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, the one who weeps when we weep.

What kind of Jesus are you looking for? An elite Jesus? A top-notched Jesus? The Jesus who lives, eats and dines in the White House? Or the Jesus who paraded himself with the poor, with the no-bodies? Palm Sunday tells us to be humble! Be humble if you are not. Remain humble if you are. Jesus did not say, “I am the good celebrity.” He says, “I am the good shepherd.” The shepherd is usually a poor servant who watches over the sheep. That’s who Jesus was! That’s the Jesus I serve! Jesus did not say, “I am the glorious King, the best there is.” He says, “I am the suffering servant.” He did not come to be served, he came to serve. That’s who Jesus was and is. “Who is this?” It’s Jesus!