Who
would have thought that the crowd, which welcomed Jesus with such enthusiasm
during his entry into Jerusalem, would turn against him so quickly within days
and demand his crucifixion? Their welcome and shouts for Jesus were
superficial. Their support for him was only skinning deep. It was easy to be
part of a crowd that welcomed Jesus and it was easy to be part of a crowd that
condemned him to death. It is easy to be part of the crowd that receives First
Holy Communion. It is easy to be part of the crowd that receives Confirmation.
It is easy to be part of the crowd that puts on an impressive display for a
funeral or wedding or a baptism. It is easy to be part of the crowd. But in the
account of the Passion the crowd was not there for Jesus when he needed them
most. The crowd did not go to the cross. The crowd abandoned Jesus. Only a few
women and John went to the cross. So much for the crowd! During the Last Supper
in Luke’s account that we heard today Peter said he would be willing to go to
prison with Jesus, even to death with him[1].
Yet a few hours later that same evening he denied Jesus[2].
How quickly he changed! We are the same: we make fine promises to Jesus here
and the crunch for us comes when temptation comes our way. How do react? When
we are hurt by things in our own life and hurt by what we see happening in the
world around us, and we need answers and healing and reassurance let us turn to
meditating on the Passion of Jesus and find the answer there, “through his
wounds we are healed.”[3]
In fact, in Luke’s account of the Passion which we heard today there were two
occurrences of healing that are recorded only by Luke: Jesus healed the ear of
the high priest’s servant which was wounded during the fray in Gethsemane[4],
and secondly the enmity between Herod and Pilate was healed[5].
During the week ahead let us stop for a moment and let us meditate on the Passion of the Lord, it could become a
source of healing! Also, let us attend the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday,
the celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday and Easter Vigil on Holy
Saturday night. The crowd that welcomed Jesus with palms turned against him
just as quickly and abandoned Jesus. Peter too turned from Jesus to save
himself. We have precious time ahead; a wonderful opportunity: time to celebrate in a liturgical way the miseries of the Lord's
Passion • AE
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