PALM SUNDAY [C] Is 50:4-7; Phil 2:6-11; Lk 22:14-23 -- 23: 56 

 Constantine the Great was the first Christian Roman emperor. His father Constantius I who succeeded Diocletian as emperor in 305 A.D. was a pagan with a soft heart for Christians. When he ascended the throne, he discovered that many Christians held important jobs in the government and in the court.  So he issued an executive order to all those Christians: “Either give up Christ or give up your jobs.” The great majority of Christians gave up their jobs rather than disowning Christ. Only a few cowards gave up their religion rather than lose their jobs. The emperor was pleased with the majority who showed the courage of their convictions and gave their jobs back to them saying: "If you will not be true to your God you will not be true to me either.” Today we join the Palm Sunday crowd in spirit to declare our loyalty to Christ and fidelity to his teachings by actively participating in the Palm Sunday liturgy.

The Church celebrates today as both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday.  Palm Sunday is a celebration of joy and Passion Sunday is of sorrow. How can a day of triumph be filled with both joy and sorrow? Because what seems to be Christ's defeat is actually his victory, the victory of everlasting love. Just like Good Friday is a day of sorrow for the suffering of Christ on the Cross as well as joy for the good that came out of it, our freedom from sin due to Jesus’ death on the cross. We just heard the narrative of the Passion and Death of Jesus. The word passion comes from the Latin word patior, which means to suffer. We also say we have a passion for something when we really love it. So suffering and love are somehow connected. Jesus had a great passion, desire to reach this day and drink the cup of passion. So, the palm Sunday, which is the beginning day of the Holy week is also passion Sunday.

Jesus entered the Holy City as a King of peace, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah.  The Gospel specifically mentions that the colt Jesus selected for the procession was one that   had not been ridden before, reminding us of a stipulation given in I Samuel 6:7 concerning the animal that was to carry the Ark of the Covenant, the visible presence of God in Israel. Jesus the incarnation of God used a virgin animal to ride on and he used a virgin’s womb to be born as human being and a virgin tomb to be buried in. God should have the prime place in our life. 

Nearly 25,000 lambs were sacrificed during the feast of the "Pass Over," but the lamb which was sacrificed by the High Priest was taken to the Temple in procession four days before the main feast day.  On Palm Sunday, Jesus, the true Paschal Lamb, was also taken in procession to the temple.

Today, we receive palm branches at the Divine Liturgy.  The palms are meant to remind us that Christ is the King of our families, that Christ is the King of our hearts and that Christ is the only true answer to our quest for happiness and meaning in our lives.  Like the donkey that carried Jesus through the town of Jerusalem, let us carry Jesus to all the places he is needed. And let’s prioritize and place Christ the King as the primary concern in our lives.  It is only when we have done so, that we will find true peace and happiness in our confused and complex world.