CHRIST JESUS DID NOT CLING TO HIS EQUALITY WITH GOD

PALM SUNDAY - Luke 22:14-23:56

The Lenten season has ended, and we begin the Holy Week with Palm Sunday. We celebrate the solemn entrance in Jerusalem when a big crowd of disciples proclaimed him the Messiah-King, “who comes in the name of the Lord”. Some Pharisees who accompanied him considered those words provocative and asked Jesus to rebuke his disciples, but Jesus answered them: ”I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.’

In a few days, the people of Jerusalem would accuse him of treason and ask for his death. During the Holy Week, we remember Jesus’ passion, which ended in his death on the cross. On this Palm Sunday, we read the Passion according to Luke. During the Last Supper, Jesus gave the meaning of his death as the sacrifice of the New Covenant, in which his blood is poured out for us. Then Jesus announced his betrayal by one of them. For a while, they questioned themselves who would do such a thing, but they did not seem too concerned with such matters. They had more pressing problems, disputing among them who would be the greatest. Jesus had to scold them, presenting himself as the “one who serves”. After the Last Supper, he went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives. There, while in prayer, he went through terrible moments of anguish but accepted the Father’s will, being ready to drink the cup of suffering to the full. Betrayed by Judas, who knew where Jesus was passing the night, he was arrested and treated like a brigand. In Jesus’ arrest, we can see the “reign of darkness” showing its power and dominion. Taken to the high priest’s house,  he was insulted, mocked and beaten. While there, Simon Peter denied Jesus and then repented, weeping bitterly. Early in the morning, he was presented to the assembly of the elders of the people, the chief priests and the scribes for a summary trial in which he was found guilty of blasphemy. He was taken immediately to Pilate, the Roman governor, and accused of treason. Despite not being convinced of his guilt, Pilate sentenced him to death on the cross.

Luke’s gospel is considered the gospel of God’s mercy, and that mercy is shown in Jesus’ attitudes and words. Jesus addressed a group of women weeping for him and consoled them. Then, crucified on the cross, Jesus asked forgiveness for all those who were involved in his killing: “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.” One of the criminals crucified with him recognised his sin and asked Jesus to remember him. And Jesus assured him of salvation: “Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Then, in a last effort, he “cried out in a loud voice”, saying: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Jesus remained faithful to the end, thus overcoming the power of darkness and evil. 

As we follow Jesus’ steps to the Calvary, we are made to realise his great love. 

Being divine, 

“Christ Jesus did not cling

to his equality with God

but emptied himself

to assume the condition of a slave

and became as men are;

and being as all men are,

he was humbler yet,

even to accepting death,

death on a cross.”

Before such a mystery, we remain silent, short of words,

contemplating the tortured face of Christ, who died for us to set us free, reconciling us with God and restoring in us his divine image.