Palm Sunday:[B]:[2012]:Is 50:4-7; Phil.2:6-11; Mk 14:1-15,47/15:1-39

Palm Sunday:[B]:[2012]:Is 50:4-7; Phil.2:6-11; Mk 14:1-15,47/15:1-39

A bishop reports that logos for McDonald's, Shell Oil, and the Olympics are better recognized throughout the world than the cross. The Olympic symbol of five linked rings was recognized by 92% of people asked. McDonald's and Shell Oil logos were recognized by 88%. But the cross was recognized by only 54%. The conclusion is that the Olympics, McDonald's, and Shell Oil are better missionaries than we.

The seventeenth century Dutch genius Rembrandt painted a crucifixion. His Christ is bathed in his signature white colors. At the foot of His cross are the usual suspects. However, off in a corner of the masterpiece is the face of an interloper. It is Rembrandt. He was reminding himself that he too because of his sins was responsible for the painful death of his Savior.

From the Gospels, we know only about the activities of 100 days from the 12,045 days of the life of Jesus. Yet, we know almost everything He did every hour of His last seven days.  He spent the night preceding Palm Sunday at Bethany, an affluent bedroom community outside Jerusalem. He rose early. One hopes He had the farmer's breakfast. He would need it. The last chapter of His earthly life was to be a showstopper. It would end not with a whimper but with a bang. He had the unenviable task of taking his many enemies on alone.

Every detail of the Palm Sunday procession had been worked out by Him weeks before. It was not just a question of kidnapping a donkey and hopping on for the ride. The Master had long ago contacted the donkey's owners and arranged for the animal. The owners were disciples unknown even to the apostles. Even a password had been worked out between the Christ and the secret disciples: "The Master has need of it." When the owners were told the password by the unsuspecting apostles, they released the ass. There is a nice touch here. Jesus promised the owners the ass would be returned to them after the parade. He knew they would need it for work next day. So, even as His murder nears, He was thinking not of Himself but of others.

Joke:  A priest was preaching in an unfamiliar church on Palm Sunday. The temporary arrangements were done outside the church. As he stood in the pulpit to begin the service, he tapped the microphone to make sure that it was on. He heard nothing, even though the microphone was working fine. So he leaned closer to the microphone and said to himself; "There is something wrong with this thing." The congregation, being well trained church people immediately responded, "And also with you.”

The parade begins. This would be the only demonstration where Jesus would positively encourage people to salute Him as King. All other times He would not hear of it. He would flee into the mountains alone at the sight of the first monarchists. The hapless apostles would be left behind to placate the royalists.
This entrance into Jerusalem was an act of superb bravado.  He was coming onto center stage.

We should borrow a brush from Rembrandt. Then dipping it into his lush palette, we should paint our faces into the passion picture. We had much more to do with it than we care to admit.

The cross, the savant (a learned person) tells us, reveals people's hatred for God and God's love for people. Also he says that believing Christ died is history and believing He died for me is salvation.  Finally it reminds us, the savant says, that while many people may be worthy of admiration, only Jesus is worthy of adoration.

A man with leprosy comes before Jesus and is healed.  Jesus tells him "See that you say nothing to anyone about this."

A deaf man comes to the Lord.  Jesus says "Ephphathat, Be Opened" and the man hears.  Then Jesus tells him to say nothing to anyone.

A blind man has his sight returned, and, similarly, Jesus says to him, "Keep this quiet--don't even enter the villages."

Jesus dies on the Cross, a pagan, a Roman centurion now makes the announcement: "Surely this is the Son of God."

To understand who Jesus is, we have to stand under the Cross.  To recognize how much God loves us, we have to realize the extent of his suffering for us.  To realize that we are his followers, we have to join Him on the Cross.

Love gives joy, but this joy can result in pain. Love means giving, but this gift can result in suffering as we say no to our own desires for the sake of the one whom we love. Love gives life. The Lord loves us so much that we receive his life.  As we begin this Holy Week we pray that we might have the courage to follow Christ in embracing our own crosses.  May we make real the cross of Christ in the world by giving ourselves to others in love.