What are the most important palms of Palm Sunday? – The ones the crowd hold? The ones the disciples hold? The ones Jesus holds? Or something else?
Triumphal entry Homily
Though it is a small detail in the scope of the huge story that we tell today, it begins with one of the more important palms of the entire story. Not THESE kind of palms – [gesture to the palms people hold in their hands] but THESE kind of PALMS! [– gesture to my own palms] Specifically, those of the man who owned the donkey. It was those palms that let go of the reigns to the donkey and let our savior make use of that gift. It was his willingness to open his hands to let loose of control of his beast of burden, so that our Lord would fulfill the prophecy of Ezekiel. I wonder if those are the most important palms of this feast day? Because if so, it tells us that God uses very ‘ordinary gifts’ to bring his salvation to all of us…
In a few moments, we will proclaim anew the story of our Lord’s Passion and death. As we do so, I invited you to be attentive to the palms/hands of the various characters in the story. Who walks through the passion with open palms/hands? Who has them shut? Who finds a way to help the Lord? Who does not?
And we, we have our choice now, our turn, to ‘go up to our temple – to our altar’ with our palms, both the ones we carry, and hopefully, the ones that are open in love and service to our Lord.
AFTER the Proclamation of the Passion of Mark:
I counted 10 – ten people who managed to walk their portion of the road to Calvary with open palms. The Man with the donkey began it. A day later, it was Simon the Leper, at whose house Jesus stays. Then the woman with alabaster jar of perfume. Then the man who offered the use of his upper room for a last meal with the disciples. Simone of Cyrene, fresh from the hillsides is next. There were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome, ‘watching from a distance.’ (and the unnamed number of women with them.) Joseph of Arimathea who took the body from the cross and laid it in the tomb. And Jesus himself, whose palms were nailed forever open to us on the cross.
Contrast those palms with the chief priests and scribes – planning the arrest of Jesus. Next were the disciples who were pointing fingers at the woman who anointed Jesus with the perfumed oil about her extravagant waste. And yet, the fragrance of that oil was perhaps the only thing that Jesus had left on him as he was dying on the cross. And Judas Iscariot whose palms were closed around the coins of blood money, and whose palms embraced Jesus in that kiss of betrayal. The crowds with swords and clubs coming to arrest Jesus – palms wrapped around their weapons. The bystander who severs the ear of the high priest – palms around the hilt of the sword. The servant girl (pointing finger) trying to implicate Peter in the courtyard. And Peter (palms as a kind of wall) when he denies knowing the Lord. The members of the Sanhedrin and those bringing false witness. Pilate who tries to wash his hands of his guilt. And all those who taunted Jesus as he was dying.
A striking contrast, isn’t it – in the hands of those who either welcome love or chase it away – those who embrace love or who caste it off. The kingdom of God often rides on the backs and palms of unsung and anonymous heroes, who at crucial moments, open their hearts and palms, in trusting obedience to the whispered voice of God. Some palms were open willingly; others, like Simon the Cyrene, not so willingly. Yet God uses them all, uses their gift.
Could it be that the best reason to call this Palm Sunday is not because the people were waving palm branches, but because of that nameless owner of the donkey who released his grip on the reigns of the colt, and so opened all our palms the possibility of what God could do with our generosity?
And you, how will you travel through Holy Week? Will you travel with palms open or closed? With hearts that are open or closed?
You see, it all comes back to that simple gospel question: “What are the most important palms of this week?” (show hands)– These are. These always are…