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.
