PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD (YEAR B)

A. Gospel before Procession   

Mark 11: 1-10

B. Readings after Procession 

1st Reading         Isaiah 50:4-7

Psalm                    22. 8-9. 17-18a. 19-20. 23-24 (R. 2a)

2nd Reading       Philippians 2: 6-11

Gospel                  Mark 14: 1-15:47

FROM BETHPHAGE, BETHANY, MOUNT OF OLIVES TO DISCIPLESHIP

Dear friends, today is Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. With this celebration, we launch into the crucial moments of the Holy Week. Many activities pertaining to Jesus in the Scriptural passages are going to have Jerusalem in view. In fact, the Word of God for this Sunday (Gospel before procession) tells us this when it starts by saying,  "when they drew near to Jerusalem" (Mk. 11: 1-10). 

I would like us to focus on a few details from Mark 11: 1-10. Of course, this passage is Mark's account of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. 

The first thing we note is that there is a precise description of Jesus' geographical location by the author. Mark carefully describes the location with 3 significant landmarks — Bethphage (House of unripe figs), Bethany (House of dates), and Mount of Olives (Mk. 3: 1). The author could have simply described another part of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem with different landmarks. He could have also decided to simply not mention these landmarks and rather say, "He journeyed to Jerusalem." However, he chose to mention them. We can see verbatim parallels in Luke 18: 28-29 and Matthew 21: 1-11 (Bethany is missing).

Bethphage means "House of unripe figs." What about figs? Remember that Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover their nakedness in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:7). The mention of figs makes us remember our states of nakedness, of sinfulness. The second place is Bethany. One thing we know about Bethany is that Jesus' friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are there (Luke 10:38-42; John 12: 1-8). Also, it was in Bethany, precisely in the home of Simon the Leper, that Jesus was anointed (Matt. 26: 6-13; Mark 14: 3-9; Lk. 7: 36-50). It is characteristic of anyone embarking on a journey to bid farewell to some friends and family. He was travelling to Jerusalem, but the mere fact of the author mentioning Bethany hints on Jesus' friendship ties there. More than that, he brought Lazarus, a friend, back to life in Bethany. This points to the fact that the man who has the power to bring to life will himself rise again. 

The third place is the Mount of Olives. Bethphage and Bethany are located on the Mount of Olives. There is something interesting about the Mount of Olives. In Zechariah 14: 1-5, the author speaks of God as a great warrior who will lead Israel in the final battle against all the nations from the Mount of Olives. In fact, Zechariah 9:9 speaks of the triumphant, but "humble" king who "comes" riding on a young donkey (a colt). The passage today (Mark 11: 1-10) clearly shows how Zechariah's words are seen in Jesus. Therefore, we cannot but see Jesus as the Great Warrior who comes to lead us in battle against sin and death. In fact, an Olive Leaf was brought to Noah as a sign of hope and redemption (Gen. 3: 11). 

An area of the Mount of Olives was appropriately called Gethsemane (oil press). This is where oil is processed through a process of crushing. We could see the crushing as death. One use of the oil is anointing or sanctifying. Rightly so, we refer to Jesus as Messiah. Messiah is one who has been anointed. On another level, the Mount of Olives reveals to us that the man Jesus is the real Messiah, the anointed one. 

In the final analysis, Bethphage, Bethany, and the Mount of Olives lead us to remember our nature: that we are sinners in need of help, that Christ will gain us new life and restoration as he did for Lazarus and Christ will rise again, and that we are gaining redemption by the saving death of the true Messiah. These towns give us a bird's eye view of the events of Holy Week. 

Finally, we have the statement "a colt tied on which on which no one has ever sat" (Mk. 11: 2). We need to know that every event has its first moment of occurrence. A colt is a young donkey, and it is now growing. It is not really an issue to think about a colt on which no one has ever sat. The problem rather lied in what Zechariah said, thus "riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zech. 9:9). How can one ride on two animals at the same time? Let us have the idea that every animal has its younger one following it. If these two animals are put together, we can see the element of discipleship in it. A colt has to learn to follow the steps of a donkey.

In this Holy Week, what we can do is to learn from Christ. As he walks the way to his death in order to redeem man from sin and death, he teaches us that great will be our suffering if we are his followers. Let us learn from Jesus the way to grow in Christian virtues and how to bear our sufferings patiently. 

Remember that Holy Week is about our redemption from sin and possession of new life by Christ’s resurrection. Ultimately, it is the week of learning and discipleship. 

Pax et Bonum.