Fr. Rick’s Homily – Palm Sunday (Short Version)

Palm Sunday – Fr. Rick Sherman Homily

April 5, 2020

Gospel of Matthew 26:14-27:66   (MT 27:15-26)

 Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd
one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you want me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?”  For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed him over.  While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him.”
The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus.  The governor said to them in reply, “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!”
When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.  Look to it yourselves.”
And the whole people said in reply, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.”
Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.

Short Version of Homily

Please take the time to read through the whole gospel today giving close attention to what verses are speaking to you personally and perhaps to us as a Church and as a Nation and as a global community.

Consider:

Who was it that most wanted Jesus killed?  Why?

When have we ignored the good counsel of an otherwise trusted confidant in order to avoid possible conflict?

When have we ‘washed our hands’ of a difficult situation when justice needed to be done?  How might we have justified it?

The comment, “Let his blood be upon us and our children” seems rather curious.  What does it mean?

How has our unwillingness to act justly affected us and how might it affect our children / future generations?

Think as families, as a nation, as a Church, as a global community?

What’s the Good News?

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