Sunday of the Passion/ Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023. The Liturgy of the Palms: Matthew 21:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; The Liturgy of the Word: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 27:11-54; Psalm 31:9-16
Today takes us from the highs of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (but on a donkey, so don’t get too excited) to the lows of his trial and execution by the Roman authorities. Even before we hear the story of the trial and crucifixion, Matthew’s gospel tells us that the city of Jerusalem was in turmoil with his entrance, a sign that people did not know exactly what to make of his arrival.
Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion contains both the entry into Jerusalem and, in the reading of the Passion narrative, a trailer for Holy Week. We know what comes next. In doing so, the service provides an exaggerated version of our lives. Most of us have moments of great joy in life, but few of us have not also suffered loss and grief. So this is not just a preview of Holy Week and Easter, it is a reflection on our lives.
The narrative energy of both the stories we read is driven by crowds. Oh, wow! Someone is coming into Jerusalem and my friends are cheering! Let’s cheer! We’re standing outside Pilate’s palace and when he asks what he should do, a crowd roars. There were probably a few people who were in both crowds. Crowds have an energy of their own: when you are in one, it is easy to get carried away and do things you might not otherwise do. This is as true now as it was then. After all, there are concerts where crowdsurfing, or throwing clothing on the stage, is expected; that is not everyday behavior! So an enthusiastic crowd cheers Jesus on his entry, but a crowd also cries for him to be crucified. They eagerly join the soldiers and chief priests in taunting Jesus on the cross. A crowd can encourage you to love; it can also encourage you to hate.
The week ahead is the center of the church year. There is no Christian faith without Good Friday and Easter. We would all like to think we would have been faithful, but Jesus’ closest friends struggled to do so: they fell asleep in the Garden, and Peter denied his connection to Jesus. In a moment of crisis, Jesus was alone. The cheering crowd abandoned him.
We live in a country that is, we are frequently reminded, deeply divided. We are frequently reminded that we increasingly live in isolation from those who think differently from us. These different communities are, at times, like the crowds we read about today. As we enter Holy Week, it is worth considering the crowds we are part of. How can we make sure we are following Jesus, and not just following the crowd?