True Loyalty to Jesus Christ
March 16, 2008

Readings for Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

Reading 1: Is. 50:4–7

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 22:8–9, 17–18, 19–20, 23–24

Reading 2: Phil. 2:6–11

Gospel: Mt. 26:14–27:66

Link to Readings

By Father Ray Ryland, Ph.D., J.D.

Jesus made a triumphal entry. The crowds were wildly enthusiastic. They waved palm branches, which were symbols of royalty. Some even threw their coats on the ground for Jesus’ donkey to walk on, to declare their allegiance, their loyalty to Him.

One can still hear echoes of their loud cries. “Here is the Messiah! He will give us what we need! He will lead us on to victory over our enemies! He is invincible! He can multiply food! He can heal the sick! He can even raise the dead!”

And so they shouted and so they screamed, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Five days later, the crowds are the same. But what are they shouting now? “Kill him! Crucify him!”

And where are those palm branches they frantically waved a few days ago as they welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem? They’re being ground into the dust under the feet of the same people, who are now a murderous mob. Did anyone notice the remains of the palm branches on the streets of Jerusalem? What bitter thoughts must have passed through that person’s mind!

They Said, Jesus Said

What went wrong? Simply this: Jesus did not give the people what they wanted.

They had said, “We’re your friends—your loyal subjects. You can give us—you surely will give us—what we want.

Jesus said, ”You are my friends if you do what I command you.”

They had said, “Come to us and satisfy our yearnings for political and military might.”

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

They had said, “Take up your invincible power and destroy our enemies.”

Jesus said, “Take up your cross, and follow me to Calvary!”

“I Would Never . . .”

It’s hard not to condemn those fickle, selfish crowds of Jerusalem. But before we do, let’s ask ourselves a question. Why does the Church hold up this tragic story before us this day?

Is the Church offering us a window through which we can look at these tragic events and suffer with our divine Lord? Well, yes. But there’s more. The Church also holds up before us the inspired account of these tragic events as a kind of mirror. Yes, a mirror in which we can see something . . . something of ourselves.

We would never scream, “Crucify him!” But sometimes by our actions do we say, “Ignore him!”?

We would never spit on Jesus! But sometimes in what we say or do or even think, do we say, “I reject him!”?

We would never publicly deny Him, as Peter did! But do we sometimes act as though we thought Jesus does not even exist?

We would never taunt Him on the Cross with His own words. But do we always obey Him when He speaks to us through His Church?

Do we ever say, in effect, “I don’t care what the Church—that is, Jesus Himself—says; I’ll make my own decision in this matter”? Do we realize that attitude makes us enemies of Jesus? Do we realize that attitude puts us squarely among Jesus’ tormentors on Calvary?

**********

We can see the irony, the tragedy, of those palm branches trampled under foot in the streets of Jerusalem. But now, what about these palm branches we carry home today? What will these palm branches really mean for us? Will they be symbols of true loyalty to Jesus Christ? Or will they be faded symbols of neglect and even rebellion?

When we display these palm branches in our homes during the coming year, what will these palm branches look down on in our family life? Will they see contradictions between what we profess today and what we do and say in the months ahead? Or will they see us loving and living the life of Christ?

Make no mistake about it: Not just the branches will be there, but the King Himself will be there! He will always be there with us.

The eternally basic question is, “Will we be with Him?”

Father Ray Ryland is CUF's spiritual advisor.

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