PALM SUNDAY

The Passion According to Luke 

The gospel of Luke announces a new world.  Maps give us a clear world where there are clear boundaries.  In this gospel Jesus redraws the human map.  He draws up a new map – a new world – where there are no boundaries – and so, a world where there can be no outsiders.

Jesus overturns our old world – creates a new world – through compassion.  He is the living compassion of God.  He gives flesh and blood shape to God’s own compassion – knowing no boundaries or pre-conditions.  And so – Jesus confounds and confuses us – as he witnesses to a love truly at home with all people – at home with people of every virtue and likewise at home with people of every vice.  Jesus embodies God’s scandalous, outrageous hospitality. 

In the Passion Jesus lives out of God’s compassion to the very end.  In the garden on the Mount of Olives he greets his betrayer by name.  As he had from the beginning of his ministry, Jesus continues to heal – even in the midst of his own danger.  He heals the high priest’s slave whose ear was cut off.  In the courtyard that night Jesus looks intently, caringly at Peter after his three-time denial.  Arriving at the place of execution, his first words are: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”  And finally, his love makes a home with death:  “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” 

We will know we are beginning to understand the new world Jesus wants for us when we feel our own world being upset by a world where there are no outsiders – no strangers – a world where there’s just us – just us all.  Jesus’ Passion wants to free us for that world.  It works our liberation when – as we reflect on the Passion – it exposes to honest light our fear – our fear of selfless love.  We fear the call to a love that forgives the betrayal of friends and blesses enemies.  We fear the call to a love that lets itself be struck, stripped and nailed.  We fear – even dread – the call to a love that entrusts itself over to death. 

This story of Jesus’ Passion and Death must become “gospel” – must become “good news” for us.  And for that good news to reach into our hearts we must become quietly reverent before the mystery of God already present and at work within us.  We must let God work deep changes in us.  There is no alternative.  Only God’s Spirit can make us feel at home with selfless love.  Only God’s Spirit can turn our fear into gratitude.  Only God’s Spirit can make the cross of Jesus Christ something in which we glory.

Let this week become holy time for us.  Let us open ourselves in quiet, reverent prayer to God’s transforming Spirit.  Let us learn to honestly pray: “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”