NOTE: Today’s Gospel Meditation is on both the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and on the Passion (Lk 19:28-40 and on the Passion Lk 22:14 – 23:56)

This Sunday we begin our meditation on the events which culminated with the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord.

Today Palm Sunday we remember and re-enact Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem but we also remember, through the Passion narrative which we read during the Mass after having read the account of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, that this triumphal entry changed to an exodus in abject failure. (Jesus was executed on a hill outside the city)

This could not have happened without the complicity of the Jewish leaders and the acquiescence of the very same people who had acclaimed Jesus as King, just one week before.

We must ask ourselves, what brought about that change. The answer seems to be that most people like a winner and when Jesus was arrested and paraded about like a common criminal, he was no longer a winner.

He had disappointed the people who were looking for a leader who could chase the hated Romans from their land. Now handcuffed and scourged, he was no longer the person capable of freeing them from the yoke of the hated Romans.

They turned to Barabbas, who would have appeared to be a stronger leader and they called for the crucifixion of the man who had healed all their infirmities. Their goals and expectations were all earthly; they were not interested in a message of love, especially a message which spoke of love of the enemy who had kept them in oppression.

What is even more stunning is that they listened to the very people, the Scribes and Pharisees who kept them marginalised, who told them that they were poor because they were sinners and who imposed all sorts of burdens upon them.

It was easy to influence them because they had followed Jesus not out of conviction but because he had done so many things for them. He had given them bread to eat.

When we follow, not out of conviction but because of what we can get, it is easy for opinion makers to shape our way of thinking on specific issues, and the shaping of opinion is a science which all leaders use to their advantage. We follow what we think will give us more or what we hold more dear.

As we meditate on all that happened two thousand years ago, we must come to understand how that same story is being played out today. Unless we do that the Passion, Death and Resurrection will have little real impact in our lives and on our society.

The question for each one of us today then is; Why do we say that we are followers of Jesus?

Is it because of what we perceive that we will get by following Jesus, even if this is our eternal salvation, or is it because we believe in the programme of life which Jesus outlines for us, a programme which looks towards a world living in harmony, justice and peace.

The Jewish leaders triumphed because they were able to refocus the attention of the people on short-term goals based on ethnicity – “We found this man perverting our nation” Another gospel account tells us that the chief priests said “it is better that one man die for the people”.

Today we run the same risks. National leaders try to make us focus on short-term goals based on ethnicity or religion or financial gain and we forget like the Jews, the true message of Jesus, i.e., the Father’s will that we dedicate our lives to the building of a world of justice, harmony and peace

In essence the events that we are about to commemorate show us that the true allegiance of the people was not to Jesus, in spite of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This realisation must force us to ask ourselves where our true allegiance lies.

 Is it with Jesus and the message he brings from the Father or is it with those who present short-term goals to us based on ethnicity, religion or financial gain?

Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, we thank you for these readings which allow us the opportunity to question ourselves on the fundamental issue of our life allegiance. We know that we have committed ourselves to following you but we also know that it is very easy to lose focus and to adopt attitudes and postures which are contrary to the message your Son Jesus brought to us.
Help us as we meditate during these feasts to refocus so that at the Eater celebrations we may recommit ourselves to you with true sincerity. We ask this through the intercession of Mary our mother, who remained focused, and your Son Jesus. Amen

Gospel Meditations for April are by Fr Joseph Harris, CSSp, a former rector of the Regional Seminary and parish priest of St Ann’s. Fr Harris the Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain.