Passion (Palm) Sunday Year A
Matthew 21:1–11
Isaiah 50:4–7
Psalm 22:8–9, 17–18, 19–20, 23–24
Philippians 2:6–11
Matthew 26:14–27:66
The Passion of the Lord according to Matthew opens the celebration of Holy Week this year. We hear first about preparations for the Palm Sunday procession.
Jesus’ disciples arrange for the entrance to the holy city of Jerusalem by procuring a donkey for Him to ride on. Matthew reminds us that these actions are in fulfillment of the prophets of old. In this moment, they highlight the humble kingship of the Lord.
Matthew offers a unique perspective with details a bit different from the other Gospels. It is helpful to attend to these to enter the mind and heart of the community for which Matthew wrote his Gospel.
As the crowds sing Hosanna, Matthew tells us that they hail Jesus as “Son of David.” (Mark’s “many” cry out a blessing on “the Kingdom of our father David” and Luke’s “multitude” adds the title “King” to the first expression of blessing the one “who comes in the name of the Lord.”)
As we begin the Liturgy of Holy Week, we are with the crowd acknowledging fulfillment of prophecies and promises made by the God of Israel to His people. The proclamation of the Passion and our communal participation in it as most parishes celebrate Palm Sunday Mass, assigning the congregation the role of the crowd, draw us into the text.
Episode by episode, Matthew presents the unfolding of Jesus’ final days with an eye to fulfillment of Scripture and a clear announcement of Who Jesus is. Judas takes counsel with the chief priests and is paid 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave, for his betrayal.
At the Passover meal, Jesus predicts the betrayal. One by one, the disciples ask, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” Judas says: “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” “The Master” is acknowledged, but Judas does not submit to His Lordship.
After the meal, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Matthew records Jesus’ prayer, calling God “My Father” (Mark uses “Abba” and “Abba, Father”; Luke has only “Father.”) As Judas approaches Jesus for the kiss, he addresses Him: “Hail, Rabbi!” Jesus speaks to Judas: “Friend, do what you have come for.” The Master remains faithful, calling Judas the betrayer “Friend.”
One of the disciples cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant (only John tells us that this was Peter and that the servant’s name was Malchus; only Luke tells us that Jesus healed him, restoring the right ear to its place).
Matthew highlights the fact that the whole betrayal is a matter of accomplishing things according to God’s will, as expressed in the Scriptures. “Put your sword back into its sheath. … Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled which say that it must come to pass in this way?”
Addressing the crowd, again, Jesus points to the fittingness of all that is happening: “But all this has come to pass that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled.” When the assembly of priests condemns and mocks Jesus, they address Him with the title that they are rejecting, “Prophesy for us, Christ: who is it that struck you?”
Matthew alone recounts the fate of Judas and the use of his 30 pieces of silver, paying for the potter’s field know as the Field of Blood. It is all to fulfill what the prophets said and did.
Pilate’s wife sends a message to her husband even as he sits in judgment: “Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him.” Pilate again names Jesus with the rejected title: “Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?” (This is a change from Mark’s “King of the Jews.”) Pilate’s washing of hands to distance himself from the judgment is reported only in Matthew.
On the cross, the charge states clearly: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” The two crucified with Him and many others mock Jesus, giving Him other titles: “Son of God,” “the King of Israel.” Matthew’s penchant for putting the truth on the lips of mockers affirms once more Jesus’ identity: “He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
Following the death of Jesus, Matthew alone speaks of a series of signs that point to Easter: “The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.”
In Matthew’s view, these signs served to draw out the affirmation of incipient faith from the bystanders: “The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, ‘Truly, this was the Son of God!’”
Having walked through the Passion with Matthew, we are ready to be plunged into the Easter Triduum. May our participation serve to renew our faith in the Son of God, the King of Israel, the Christ Who offers us the fulfillment of all we have hoped for from God our Father.