Palm Sunday - CONFLICT

The central theme of Luke’s account of Jesus is about conflict. From Simeon prophesying over the baby Jesus at the beginning of the Gospel: ‘this child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed’. The Gospel is a sword that divides – it creates friends and enemies.

 The passion begins at the Last Supper, the celebration of the Passover – the formational festival of Israel and a time when the Jews are gathered in Jerusalem. But we see a series of alliances made and unmade, betrayals and denials. On Palm Sunday they celebrate Jesus’ entry. Days later they cry for his death. The disciples jostle for position, but Peter will deny him, Judas betray him. One thief on the cross will mock him, the other bears witness to him. Jesus is the force of division that reveals the true hearts of men and women. All believe they are serving God, but those of whom most is expected, fail most spectacularly. 

 And, typically of Luke’s Gospel the true disciples surprise us: Simon of Cyrene becomes a surrogate disciple. Women from the city mourn his suffering. A condemned, dying thief bears witness. A Gentile Centurion is led by the cross to worship. The previously unknown Joseph of Arimathea steps apart from the Jewish leadership to care for Jesus in death. 

We all have a different idea of God and who God’s people are. The passion answers these questions for Christians: God is love, and his people are not whom you expect. As we follow the Passion today, its story reads us as we read it. It is the judge of our hearts, but most especially a judgement on violence and the failure to love in our world today.