Palm Sunday of the Lord's
Passion, C
March 24, 2013
Procession with Palms: Luke
19:28-38
Proclamation of the Passion:
Luke 23:32-43
Introduction
Today we celebrate Palm
Sunday of the Lord's Passion. Today we had not one, but two Gospel readings:
one at the procession with palms and the other at the proclamation of the
Passion. In the former Gospel, we read of the triumphal entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem; in the latter, we read the reason for his triumphal entry: to die on
the cross for our sins. Thus, we do not celebrate any part of Holy Week in
isolation: We cannot separate the triumphal entry from the Passion; just as we
can never separate the Crucifixion from the Resurrection.
I. Jesus came to enter into our lives (Luke 19:28-38)
A. In the first part of the Gospel, Jesus sends two of
his disciples to "Go...into the village over against you" where they
shall find "a colt tied, whereon never man yet sat"; they shall
"loose him and bring him hither" (v. 30). If anyone asks them, their
only response was to be, "The Lord hath need of him" (v. 31).
"In humility, Jesus shows He has not come to
reestablish the earthly kingdom of David. He does not ride in a chariot but
upon a donkey, an animal of peace" (The Orthodox Study Bible, p. 57).
B. In Luke, "the whole multitude of the
disciples" praised Jesus by saying, " Blessed be the king that cometh
in the name of the Lord: Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest"! (v.
38).
1. First, they call him "king". But Jesus
did not come as a conquering king. In fact, just about he was to enter Jerusalem,
he wept over it and foretold of the destruction of the city by the Roman legions (vv. 41-44).
2. Second, they echo the song that was sung by the
angels at his birth: "Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest" (v.
38): The angels sang: "Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace;
goodwill toward men" (Luke2:13-14).
II. Jesus came into our lives to give us forgiveness (Luke 19:33-34)
And
when they were come to the place, called the place of a scull, there they
crucified him, and the two malefactors, one on the right-hand, and one on the
left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
And they parted his raiment and cast lots. (v. 33-34)
—How striking is this passage! While they are actually
nailing him to the cross, he seems to feel the injury they did to their own
souls more than the wounds they gave him; and as it were to forget his own
anguish out of a concern for their own salvation. And how eminently was his
prayer heard! It procured forgiveness for all that were penitent, and a
suspension of vengeance even for the impenitent. (Notes Upon the New Testament)
A. "Father, forgive them..." Jesus was
wrongfully punished with two "malefactors" (Greek, κακουργος, kakourgos, 'evil-doers'),
criminals, and yet the first thing he did was to pray for those who did evil to
him.
B. "...for they know not what they do." They
(both the Jewish religious leaders and the Roman authorities, and by extension,
everyone) did so in ignorance. In the Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter said,
"And now, brethren, I know that thro' ignorance ye did it, as did also
your rulers" (Acts 3:17). Meanwhile, St. Paul writes, "But we speak
the hidden wisdom of God in a mystery... Which none of the rulers of this world
knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory"
(I Corinthians 2:6, 8).
But
this does not mean automatic forgiveness. Once Peter has exposed the full
gravity of what the people did to Jesus, he said, "Repent ye therefore and
be converted, that your sins may be blotted out..." (Acts 3:19)
III. Jesus came to bring us to Paradise (Luke 19:39-42)
And
he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me, when thou comest in thy kingdom. And Jesus
said to him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
(vv. 41-42)
What
a surprising degree was here of repentance, faith, and other graces! And what
abundance of good works, in his public confession of his sin, reproof of his
fellow criminal, his honourable testimony to Christ, and profession of faith in
him, while he was in so disgraceful circumstances as were stumbling even to his
disciples! This shows the power of Divine grace. But it encourages none to put
off their repentance to the last hour; since, as far as appears, this was the
first time this criminal had an opportunity of knowing anything of Christ, and
his conversion was designed to put a peculiar glory on our saviour in his
lowest state, while his enemies derided him, and his own disciples either
denied or forsook him. (Notes Upon the
New Testament).
