The shepherd will be struck down.

Homily for Palm Sunday

2nd April 2023

In the two Gospels today, we see a contrast between Jesus being welcomed into Jerusalem and six days later nearly everyone abandoning him, and not wanting to be associated with him due to their fears. At the Last Supper, Jesus knows he is betrayed and will be taken captive. He initiates the Eucharistic sacrament and shares this with his disciples. Psalms are sung and they leave for the Mount of Olives, where Jesus says the shepherd will be struck down and his flock scattered. Still, no one believes it. Yet only a short time later his words came true. Peter follows the guards taking Jesus at a distance. When others shout Peter is a follower of Jesus, he flatly denies this three times before the cock crows, only realising he had done what Jesus said he would do. Not long after, Judas full of remorse for his actions, cannot forgive himself and destroys another temple.  

Isaiah’s experience of following the Lord meant he was persecuted, beaten to being unrecognisable, yet offered no resistance. Echoed by Jesus’s journey towards dying on the cross. He becomes the Sacrificial Lamb, the only acceptable offering God will receive for our sins. An offering made once, for all time.

In our world, this week, many leaders in new technology, have themselves worried about advances in Artificial Intelligence and the potential to cause humanity harm. They urge research and development to be halted, so governments can determine how serious the damage could be to society, jobs and our way of life. Such leaders are becoming aware of their own poor judgments.

Many of us see ourselves as ‘good people’, yet we struggle to recognise where we go wrong, and what harm we cause others. It takes great courage to admit our faults, our weaknesses, and our frailties. Yet, God knows all our faults, all our sins. What he asks us to do is to confront them and be honest, especially to ourselves, and to accept that we, left to our own devices, will continue to get things wrong.

If we can be honest, and not let pride enter our hearts, not accept the influential whispers of Satan taint our thoughts, and turn back to God, to accept Jesus as our Saviour, he will take hold of our burdens and lighten our loads.

We have the gift of speech. We can turn our thoughts into words and express ourselves to others. There is a saying, “A problem shared is a problem halved”. In Galatians, Paul says: “God calls on Christians to disclose their problems to one another”. He also suggests each of us examine our own conduct and reminds us that we all have our own burdens to bear.

As I train to become a counsellor, I see the effects of clients talking about their burdens can have a positive effect physical.

This week, we come to the end of Lent. There is still time to share what burdens us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus is waiting for us all to return to him, especially if we can come to terms with our own failings and can be honest in admitting to ourselves what they are.

“Behold, your king is coming to you. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Amen.