Readings
for Palm Sunday Year C:
Luke 22:39-23:56
April 4, 2004
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
Today we experience a complex liturgy. We began the service with the remembrance of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We blessed palms and sang songs of praise and glory. But the tone is about to change as we read the Passion Narrative according to the gospel of St. Luke. The Passion Narrative includes the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus. It can elicit strong emotions in those who take it seriously. Reading the Passion Narrative is like watching film footage of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Those fateful moments of planes crashing into the towers are seared into our memories. Yet, even though we know what is coming, suspense, dread, and awe build as we rehearse the events we have no power to undo.
Recently, Mel Gibson created a movie on the Passion Narrative. Perhaps those images of his interpretation of the crucifixion, are seared into your memory. For those who haven't seen it yet, Gibson's movie is a conglomeration of the material from all four gospels as well as additional, non-biblical sources and artistic hype. For those of you who have seen the movie, I want you to notice that the gospels have only a very brief description of Jesus' crucifixion. The bible does not describe many details such as the size and shape of the cross or how Jesus was affixed to the cross.
We are spared the graphic accounts of Jesus' agony and the details of his appearance. Instead, the Passion Narratives make the point that the death of Jesus has "saving" importance for us, not because of how much Jesus suffered. Rather, it has saving importance for us because of who Jesus was and how his death was connected to his holy life and the redemptive acts of God in the history of Israel.
There are certain themes that are prominent in Luke's gospel. These include: prayer, forgiveness, healing, and ministering to those in need. Women play a prominent role in this gospel. The importance of prayer is certainly significant in the Passion narrative. Jesus prays throughout his trial, not as an insurance policy, but for strength to remain faithful in a time of crisis. Note that Jesus' prayer did not ultimately save him from great suffering. But his prayer did fortify him for the suffering that he did endure.
There are certain events (reported by Luke) that are not in any of the other gospel accounts of the Passion. These themes are reflected throughout Luke's description of the Passion and include the following:
- In Luke's gospel, Jesus heals the ear of the slave of the high priest. While other gospels report the cutting off of the slave's ear by one of Jesus' followers, only Luke shows Jesus having the where-with-all to reach out to someone in pain with a healing touch. In spite of his own trial and tribulation, Jesus exclaims: "No more of this!" No more retaliation, no more bloodshed, no more rule by might, no more victimization of others. Herein lies the core of Jesus' teaching: Apart from repentance and commitment to the Kingdom of God, there is no hope for an end to violence and suffering.
- Unique to Luke's gospel is the report of the interaction between Herod and Pilate. After finding out that Jesus is a Galilean, Pilate sends him to Herod to evaluate the situation. This act of consideration reconciled the broken relationship between Herod and Pilate. Notice however, this interaction did not reconcile Herod or Pilate to God.
- The women beating their breasts and wailing and Jesus' subsequent response to these "daughters of Jerusalem", are also unique to Luke. Inclusivity and compassion for women and those on the margins are prominent in Jesus' ministry.
- Finally, only Luke reports the detailed dialogue between the two criminals and Jesus who have all been crucified. A dying Jesus extends mercy to one of the wretched. Like the poor, crippled, blind, and lame in Jesus' parable of the great banquet, the criminal would feast, that day, in eternal glory.
"Both Roman law and Jewish religion conspired at some level to deliver Jesus to the cross. Until that time, the Roman legal code was the best the world had ever seen and Judaism was highly respected (even by pagans) as the finest religious faith there was. Jesus was put to death not by the worst that humanity had to offer, but by the best." [Rev. Donald Sensing] This is an enormous disappointment.
It is easy to shout hosannas when things are going great. But when we are experiencing fear, disappointment, or deprivation, it is very hard to take a risk, to rise up above the crowd, and to stand up for justice and righteousness. Those who shouted hosannas during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, may have also shouted crucify him at the end. Let us pray that we may not enter into such temptation.
| Updated 04/03 /04 |
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