O LORD, DO NOT LEAVE ME ALONE

PALM SUNDAY - Luke 22:14-23:56

With his disciples, Jesus was pressing on ahead to Jerusalem. He had to in time for the great feast of Passover. From all over Palestine and beyond, there were many people walking towards Jerusalem who formed crowds, as they approached the holy city. Recognising Jesus, who had become famous as a healer, a miracle worker and a prophet, many joined in, acclaiming him as the Messiah, ”the King who comes in the name of the Lord” and who will bring peace and give glory to God. The Pharisees, who heard the cry of the crowds, got alarmed because the Romans could understand those words as treacherous and the exact punishment on everybody. In order to prevent such reaction from the Roman authorities, they asked Jesus to rebuke his disciples. Jesus refused to do so because he should be recognised as the Messiah (Christ) and glory should be given to God. However, he did not enter Jerusalem as a powerful king, mounted on his horse and surrounded by his armies. He went in like a humble servant, riding a young donkey, which would not signal danger to anyone. In spite of that, Jesus would be arrested in Jerusalem, accused of proclaiming himself as king of the Jews, thus preparing a revolt in order to get independence.

With Palm Sunday, we initiate the Holy Week, a week set apart for the remembrance of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. After the solemn entrance with the palms, we read the passion according to the Gospel of Luke (since we are in year C). The events narrated in the Passion took place in less than twenty-four hours, and all of them on Friday, following the Jewish calendar, in which the day began at sunset. Late in the evening, when it was already dark, Jesus had the Last Supper with the Apostles. Then, they went to Mount of Olives to pass the night. While the apostles went to sleep, Jesus went to pray and during his prayer, he felt enormous anguish and fear, because he was aware that the tragic moment of his passion and death was close. And in the dark of the night, a group of men, guided by Judas, the traitor, fell upon him and arrested him “and they took him to the high priest’s house”. Most of the Apostles run away. Peter followed behind, but confronted by some servants, he denied to be a companion of Jesus or even to know him. Jesus was alone, without anybody to stand by him or to speak in his favour. There, he was abused and insulted. Then, early in the morning, the religious trial took place before the council of the elders of the people, presided by the high priest and he was found guilty of blasphemy, which carried with it the death penalty. Without wasting time, they took him to Pilate, the Roman governor, so that they could have him crucified. However, to the governor, they presented a political accusation, an accusation of high treason against the emperor and the Roman state. Pilate appears to doubt about the truth of the accusation, but, in the end, he passed judgement and condemned Jesus to death on the cross. And they took him to the cavalry, carrying his cross (or the beam of the cross). Exhausted and weakened by the flogging that usually took place before a crucifixion, Jesus could not walk under the weight of the cross; so the soldiers grabbed Simon of Cyrene, a foreigner who was coming from the fields and forced him to carry the cross for Jesus. By middle morning, he was crucified and the first words that he pronounced on the cross were a plea for all those who were involved in his death: “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.” One of the criminals asked for forgiveness and Jesus told him: “Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus’ final words were: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” By fifteen hours, he was dead.

On the cross, Jesus prayed Psalm 22:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

All who see me deride me.

  They curl their lips, they toss their heads.

‘He trusted in the Lord, let him save him;

  let him release him if this is his friend.’

Many dogs have surrounded me,

  a band of the wicked beset me.

They tear holes in my hands and my feet

  I can count every one of my bones.

They divide my clothing among them.

  They cast lots for my robe.

O Lord, do not leave me alone,

  my strength, make haste to help me!

I will tell of your name to my brethren

  and praise you where they are assembled.

You who fear the Lord give him praise;

  all sons of Jacob, give him glory.

  Revere him, Israel’s sons.