We too have left the Lord (HOMILY FOR PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION YEAR A APRIL 2023

Homily for Palm Sunday of the passion narrative of the Lord, Year A

Isaiah 50:4-7; Ps.22; Phil.2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66

“ _My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Ps.22:2a)_ 

We too have left the Lord

With this celebration of Palm Sunday, we begin the imminent journey of the Lord to Calvary. Since the incarnation, Jesus had been journeying towards this purpose; but now, the hour had come. What is expected of us in this Holy Week is not a mere commemoration of the dead or a psychological remembrance of the events that led up to the cross. We are expected to concretely bring ourselves into every episode of the moment. We are expected to see ourselves as part of the characters of the events and as the reason for the events (Christ died for our sake). For us to participate well, we need the right mood. Journeying with the Lord in this Holy Week is not an excursion; it is a participation in passion.

The entrance into Jerusalem seemed joyful and glorious but short-lived. The glamour of the entrance soon disappeared. As he entered Jerusalem, the disciples were with him, a donkey was given to him, and the crowds cheered him up. They put down their clothes for him to ride on; others cut branches from the trees and laid them for him on the road. All of them sang “Hosanna in the highest! Evidently, Jesus was not lonely as he entered Jerusalem. But the passion narrative of Year A that we just took, started and continued with how Jesus became lonely as the passion drew nearer.

The first to leave was Judas. He left Jesus when he went to ask the Chief Priests for a price if he delivers Jesus to them. Immediately, he was paid; and so, he had a contract to execute. Although many more persons left Jesus (as we shall soon see), the leaving of Judas was unique. First, Judas leaving was necessitated by greed and disloyalty. Judas represents an opportunists who seeks personal gains in every situation. Life, for such a person, is all about being smart and not being right. It was obvious that without an insider, it would be difficult to get Jesus. Judas was not concerned about what will happen to Jesus after the betrayer but what he will do with thirty pieces of silver. Each time we collect bribes, sell our consciences, stand for injustice, just for immediate gain, we become another Judas. The recent elections in our country show that we have many Judas who do not care about what their acts of betrayer with cost the Country.

Second, Judas left and still came back; he did not remain outside. He returned and even dined with Jesus and the other disciples. It is never right to leave Jesus but it is worse to be sycophantic about it. Judas was seeking for an opportunity to deliver Jesus to the Chief Priests, but still claimed to be ignorant about what Jesus meant by “One of you will betray me”. In this case, Judas represents a dead conscience that is no longer pricked by the guilt of sin. Beloved, to whom have you become a Judas? Whom have you dined with but with a heart of hatred/malice? Whose trust have you betrayed for personal gains?

The next to leave Jesus were Peter, James and John who could not keep watch with the Lord at the Garden of Gethsemane. These three disciples have often time enjoined deeper company with the Lord than the others. Remember that they were with him at the transfiguration. This was the hour for them to reciprocate the kind gesture by a deeper love; but they chose to give in to the call of nature. They represent us for whom the Lord has done has done so much but continually betray his love just because we refuse to grow beyond our natural inclinations and passions. Because of sleep, many no longer pray or pray well at night; because of tiredness, many do not go to Church on Sundays; because “body no bi firewood” and “man must hustle to survive” many have given in to all forms of sexual sins and adultery; because we want to secure our jobs or grow our businesses, many have gone to “places” and have done the abominable. How many more misdeeds are we going to justify because we are “humans”? Do we not care that we are leaving the Lord?

When Jesus was finally arrested, all the disciples deserted him. They ran for fear of their lives. It has been wonderful associating with Jesus all these years. Though the road was not always rosy, it was not life threatening. When their lives were threatened by the strong storm in the boat, there was no reason to blame the situation on the presence of Jesus in the boat. But in this case, it was clear that association with Jesus will attract arrest and imminent persecution. Humanly speaking, disassociating from Jesus will mean saving one’s life; and that was what the disciples did. At this point, they were no longer proud to admit that they knew the Lord. They judged the Lord to be too weak to save himself and them. Unlike Judas, they did not leave maliciously but base on the instinct for self-preservation.

We too have left the Lord when the road was so so rough. We left the Lord when sickness or other calamity struck us or our loved ones and solution was pointed at in some places not befitting for a Christian to go. We left the Lord when out of fear of culture, we participated in some cultural practices that are irreconcilable with the tenets of our faith. Sadly, some left the Lord by visiting spiritualists in order to win/occupy some offices in the Church. You cannot leave the Lord in order to serve the Lord. Such service is empty. Some left the Lord by seeking powers to protect themselves after they were threatened by another. In all of these, we think that it was not our fault; we only acted out of duress.

Next was Peter who sworn three times that he had never been with the Lord. Before now, Jesus told Peter that he (Peter) will deny him three times. Peter vehemently opposed it; yet it truly happened. Peter never expected that he will fall so low; it was not a calculated betrayer like that of Judas. But Peter represents those Christians who pray but do not watch; those Christians who are not careful about occasions of sin; those Christians who feel so confident in their spiritual life and forget that they are humans who can be tempted and fall.

The crowd also left the Lord when they chose Barabbas to be released to them. Amongst this crowds were recipients of the different works of Jesus. They chose Barabbas not because they loved him more than Jesus but because that was what will please their leaders. They allowed themselves to be intimidated by the selfishness and cruelty of their leaders to the extent that they betrayed the quality experience they have had with the Lord. Sometimes, we are afraid to show that we are Christians if that position does not enjoy popularity. When we find ourselves in places where the tenets of our faith is being challenged, we become intimidated to identify with the faith.

Jesus was lonely in this agony and pain. The psalmist captured this loneliness as: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But he was not alone; God was with him. Beloved, God alone is enough. Focusing on who left you in your moment of pain, is huge distraction. Rather focus on who was with you. The way of the Cross is never popular. But then, this does not justify abandoning others in their moment of distress. In fact, we must ask ourselves today: in what way(s) am I leaving others when they need me most. Am I being selfish with my presence, consoling words, talents, resources and time? Am I revenging or punishing anyone by withdrawing the hands of fellowship I once extended to the person(s)? A Christian does not reciprocate evil, but turns it into good.