Homily for Palm Sunday, 2008

Palm Sunday
March 16, 2008

Lent is a journey of conversion. This Lent we have journeyed with Jesus into his desert retreat. We followed him to the top of a mountain where we watched him become transfigured in glory. We walked with him to the well where he met the woman, and then to the city where he cured a blind man. Last week we watched while Jesus called the dead Lazarus to come forth from his tomb.

Today in the company of Jesus we finally reach the gates of the city of Jerusalem. Here there is none of the glory of the mountaintop. Here there is no recognition of his dazzling power to heal a blind man and to give life back to a dead man.

Jesus, our Lord and Messiah, has a humble procession into the city on a donkey while his friends wave palm branches in salutes of loyalty. The Roman officials rode on horses, the poor used donkeys. As the events of his final week unfold, we see that Jesus is a humble Messiah who becomes an accused criminal and is executed.

But that is not the end of his story. He will rise from the dead. Jesus, our humble Lord, our crucified Messiah, is also our risen Saviour. He has made his journey through suffering, death and resurrection for our sake. His resurrection is his promise of our own resurrection. His story is also our story.