His blood be upon us and upon our children

Greetings on this the Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
Procession: Matthew 21:1-11
Readings: Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14—27:66

Summary

Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.
(Philippians 2:8-9)

Reflection

• Our Palm Sunday Mass begins with the Triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
• The Mass ends with the realization: we have placed Him in the tomb.

The first reading reveals the confidence of the Christ in the face of overwhelming opposition:

The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
(Isa 50:7)

The Responsorial Psalm recounts the evidence of the depths of our disobedience:

Indeed, many dogs surround me,
a pack of evildoers closes in upon me;
They have pierced my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
(Psalm 22:17-18)

The second reading describes the humility of Christ:

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
(Philippians 2:7-8)

Then the reading of the Passion of the Lord. Divided into four parts (Narrator, Voice, Choir, Jesus).
The people take the part of the Choir (the People).

It is here we come to the vocalization of the resistance to Jesus as a verbal part of our own personal history.
The point is not to read this narrative as simply the story of ‘the sins of others’. But rather the story of our own lives and the occasional or habitual resistance to the divine will. Not to deepen our guilt but to enliven our hope in him.

• They said in reply, “He deserves to die!”
• Some slapped him, saying,”Prophesy for us, Christ: who is it that struck you?”
• “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They answered, “Barabbas!”
• Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!”
• But he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Let him be crucified!”
• And the whole people said in reply, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.”

The Lord did not obey the crowd — He obeyed the Father, even as He allowed Himself to be handed over by His children. This is not the guilt of a people, but the condition of all humanity. We all stand in that crowd.

While evil sought guilt, the Father willed reconciliation. “His blood be upon us and upon our children”—indeed, this becomes the very blessing the Lord had in mind.

Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the LORD has said, we will hear and do.” Then he took the blood and splashed it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words.” (Ex 24:7-8)

Personal Reflection

I pray you have a Holy Week. May the contradiction of Palm Sunday not drive us to resignation but to hope. The Lord knows and will turn our stones into living bread.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032926.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry