Glorious Humility: A Reflection on Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

A Scriptural Reflection on the Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion | Carl E. Olson | March 28, 2010

Readings for Sunday, March 28, 2010:

• Isa. 50:4-7
• Psa. 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
• Phil. 2:6-11
• Lk. 22:14—23:56  or 23:1-49

Thirteen years ago today my wife and I were able to say to each other, “Soon!” Just seven more days, including the Triduum, before we would be able to receive the Eucharist—the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ—for the first time.

As Evangelical Protestants making our way into the Catholic Church—by God’s grace and with the supportive witness of many wonderful Catholics—we were often asked, “Why did you decide to become Catholic?” There were numerous reasons, of course, but at the core of our decision was the reality of the Eucharist. As Evangelicals we believed in Jesus Christ, His sacrificial death, and His glorious resurrection. But we had been taught and had long believed that Communion (when it was occasionally celebrated) was a metaphor—a mere symbolic reminder.

The Gospel reading on this Palm Sunday says much about the Eucharist and the sacrifice of Christ, while the other readings emphasize, among other truths, the divine humility that makes the Eucharist a reality. The great “Christ-Hymn” of Philippians 2 contemplates the mystery of the Incarnation, in which the Son willingly descended to the level of a creature: “Christ Jesus … emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Such is the divine response to everyone who asks, “Where is God? Why doesn’t He hear me?” He has heard, and He has answered by becoming a man and giving His life for the world.

Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on a young donkey displays the same humble love. He does not rebuke the acclamations of the crowds, for He does deserve their joyful reception. Solomon, an earlier son of David, also rode into Jerusalem on a mule and likewise received praise, along with causing a commotion (1 Kng. 1:32-45). But Solomon, contrary to the Law (cf. Deut. 17:14-20), began to breed and use horses. Jesus uses the donkey, a symbol of humility, and fulfills the words of the prophet Zechariah: “See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. He shall … banish the horse from Jerusalem” (Zech. 9:9-10).

It is upon the Mount of Olives, wrote Zechariah, that the Lord will stand when He delivers God’s people from their enemies (Zech. 14:1-9). “Jesus conquers the Daughter of Zion,” states the Catechism, “a figure of his Church, neither by ruse nor by violence, but by the humility that bears witness to the truth” The cry of the people, “Blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord”, is repeated each week at Mass in “the ‘Sanctus’ of the Eucharistic liturgy that introduces the memorial of the Lord's Passover” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 559).

The institution of the gift of the Eucharist at the Last Supper is described in Luke 22. In celebrating the Passover meal, Jesus offers bread and wine, but in a new and unique way. The Eucharist is sacrifice and meal—the two realities are intimately joined. The Second Vatican Council’s “Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy” explained that Jesus instituted the sacrament “in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved spouse, the Church, a memorial of His death and resurrection…” (par 47).

Hanging on the Cross, Jesus endured the taunts: “He saved others, let him save himself.” But the Son of God had no thought of saving Himself, only of saving us. His humility knew no bounds. He had descended from heaven, born in a cave, poor and obscure. Thirty-three years later He ascended the Cross, dying in poverty and obscurity. Or so it seemed. The new covenant had been given, offered in flesh and blood. And Easter? Soon!

(This "Opening the Word" column originally appeared in a slightly different form in the April 1, 2007, edition of Our Sunday Visitor newspaper.)

Related Ignatius Insight Articles and Book Excerpts:

• The Soil of Our Souls | A Scriptural Reflection on the Fifth Sunday of Lent | Carl E. Olson | March 21, 2010
• Hardships and Sonships: A Scriptural Reflection on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 14, 2010 | Carl E. Olson
• The Lessons of the Desert: A Scriptural Reflection on the Third Sunday of Lent, March 7, 2010 | Carl E. Olson
• The Cross, the Key to the Glory of Heaven: A Lenten Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent, Feb. 28, 2010 | Carl E. Olson
• Who Creates Anew? A Lenten Reflection for the First Sunday of Lent, Feb. 21, 2010 | Carl E. Olson
• Lent: Why the Christian Must Deny Himself | Brother Austin G. Murphy, O.S.B.
• Lord, Teach Us To Pray | Fr. Jerome Bertram
• The Question of Suffering, the Response of the Cross | Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
• The Cross--For Us | Hans Urs von Balthasar
• The Premises of Gospel Poverty | Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M.
• Lent and "Our Father": The Path of Prayer | Carl E. Olson
• Thirsting and Quenching | Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M.
• Seeking Deep Conversion | From Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer | Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M.
• "Lord, teach us to pray" | From Earthen Vessels | Gabriel Bunge, O.S.B.

Comments

[Manuel G. Daugherty Razetto]

Thanks Carl for such a meaningful Reflection on the Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion. Your paragraph starting with "Hanging on the Cross" reminds me the words said in the Holy Friday Tridentine celebration of the Holy Week; after the Lecture of the Passion come the Prayers which are followed by the Adoration:
Ecce Lignum Crucis
In quo salus mundi pependi.
Venite, Adoremus.