Sunday, April 10. 2022

 PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION

(Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23:56)

Sixty years ago, a university researcher published a study that astonished the world. Dr. Stanley Milgram tested people from various backgrounds for their willingness to carry out orders contrary to their consciences. Test takers were instructed to give "learners" electric shocks when they made mistakes. In reality, the "trainees" were actors, and the shocks were faked. But still the results were worrying. The vast majority of those tested would shock the "learners" enough to kill them. in other words, they would sin rather than disobey authority. We see something similar in the reading from the passion of Christ today.

At Jesus' trial before Pilate, the Jewish leaders insist that Jesus is guilty of a capital crime. Soon all the Jews present demand his death. Although both Pilate and Herod find no offense, the mob calls for Jesus' execution. Under the authority of the high priests and the scribes the people are willing to ignore their own reasoning. These people are not evil by nature but easily led to do evil. We are inclined to make the same mistake.

We are influenced by cultural leaders to sin. These leaders can be politicians, athletes, actors, priests or others. Our sins can be lies or theft, sexual offenses or blasphemy. We see people whom in one way or another we admire and imitate their vices. As a grace, the voice of God calls us in our conscience to repent. The appeal to conscience takes places in the gospel but in a different way. After seeing Jesus die on the cross the people return beating their chests in contrition. They acknowledge that they have shared in the death of an innocent man.

What exactly did they see? They saw Jesus showing God's mercy at every turn. On the way to Calvary he comforts the women of Jerusalem. He tells them that it is not necessary to cry for him but to cry for their own children. When he is nailed to the cross, he asks God to forgive the executioners of him. Finally, he promises the criminal who recognizes his crime a place in paradise. We too can count on Jesus to show us mercy. Jesus shows himself as the true Son of God. He will get us the Father's forgiveness when we acknowledge our sins.

We sin by insisting on putting our will before the will of God. We seek first of all pleasure, power, prestige, and money. Although God has always been good to us, we still want more to satisfy our every desire. However, the passion of Christ shows that God's mercy is greater than our sins. We just have to acknowledge them – whether they are deadly like abortion or small like “white lies.” God will forgive them because of Christ.