Palm Sunday - Hosanna or Crucify Him?

 

Homily for Palm Sunday

April 2, 2023

The King Crucified

 

            As the crowds declared Jesus to be “Son of David,” they were expressing their belief that Jesus was fulfilling a prophesy. David was the greatest of the kings of Israel – it was under him that Israel finally became a kingdom: peaceful, mighty, with no more poverty or oppression. After David, though, successive empires conquered the Holy Land, and Israel was oppressed for centuries.

            And yet they held out hope that a Messiah would come who would conquer the Romans and restore the rightful kingdom to Israel. This Jesus – this miracle worker, wise teacher, leader – certainly appeared to be that Messiah, who would come conquering with mighty victory in his hand. Hosanna to the Son of David!

            But a mere five days later, the crowds were stunned to see this Messiah standing before them, wearing not a crown of gold but a crown of thorns. He wore no royal robes but was stripped and beaten. Instead of being praised, he was spat upon. He sat on no throne but carried a beam of wood on which he would die.

            Those exclamations of praise which they so readily shouted on Palm Sunday would turn into cries to “Crucify Him!” It was easy enough to follow a Messiah who promised that there would be glory and happiness – but one who embraced the Cross and told us to do the same?

            It is my hope that all of us want to get to Heaven, where there will be joy without end. But are we willing to do what it takes to follow Christ there? For His teachings are nothing less than the Cross. He says “Love your enemies…do not exalt yourself but humble yourself instead…live a life of purity, integrity, holiness…embrace your sufferings and offer them to Him…make the sacrifices necessary to come to Mass and have a daily life of prayer…stay faithful to your marriage vows…live counter-culturally, not compromising with the “spirit of the age”…stand up for Christ no matter what, even to the point of laying down your life for Him. We all want the joys of Heaven…but will we embrace the Cross which is necessary to obtain such joy?

            Or are we ready to cry “Hosanna to Jesus” when it’s convenient for us, but “Crucify Him” when it costs us something?