Homily for Palm Sunday In Time of Pandemic
Christ’s Victory over Death and Corona Virus
Fr. Udoekpo, Michael Ufok
v Isa 50:4-7
v Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
v Phil 2: 6-11
v (A) Matt 26:14–27:66
v (B) Mark 14:1–15:47
v (C) Luke 22:14–23:56
Every year the church celebrates Palm Sunday, which ends
the Lenten season and marks the beginning of the most holy week in our Christian
liturgy. It is a week that change the world. Corona virus or no
Corona-virus, it is traditionally the week our Savior will be exalted on the cross.
It is the week of that hour of glory come to fulfillment. It is a teaching week
for all of us especially during this very difficult time of virus health pandemic. This week,
Christ, our Lord and Savior, will be betrayed, falsely accused, plotted against
(John 11:45-53), arrested (Matt 26:47-56), interrogated by Annas, Caiaphas, and
the Sanhedrin (Matt 26:57-58), tried by Pilate (Matt 27:1-14), denied by
Peter (Matt 26:59-66), mocked, and executed (Matt 27:15-56). It is the week that
Christ will draw all people to himself: Jews and Gentiles, Nicodemus and Joseph
of Arimathea (John 12:32), the poor and the rich from first, second, and third world nations. It is a holy and salvific week for us—a week of grace,
a week of victory over death and pandemic, a week of hope. It is a teaching week
for our religious communities, families, schools, businesses, government
institutions and homes in this horrible time of Covid-19 pandemic that only God
has the absolute control.
Liturgically, it may seems strange that most of us
will be learning to adjust, distance ourselves socially, attain Masses virtually on TV, internet, social network, and worship
spiritually from our homes and families, in line with the Vatican’s “Decree [on worship] in time of Covid-19”.
During this time we are instructed that “wherever the civil and ecclesiastical
authorities have put restrictions in place, the Sacred Triduum must be
celebrated in the following way: Bishops will give indications, which have been
agreed with the Episcopal Conference, so that in the Cathedral and parish
churches, through though physical participation of the faithful, the Bishop and
the parish priest(s) can celebrate the liturgical mysteries of the Paschal
Triduum. The faithful should be informed of the times of the celebration so
that they can prayerfully unite themselves in their homes. In this occasions,
the means of live (not recorded) televisual or internet broadcast are helpful.
The Episcopal Conference and individual dioceses will see to it that resources
are provided to support family and personal prayers.”
And this is where we are prayerfully, trusting God
in our respective dioceses knowing that God is present with us in our homes, families, and
respective living locations, and hospital- vicissitudes as we celebrate this
year’s Palm Sunday, usually/traditionally marked by Gospels readings (Matt
21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10 or Luke 19:28-49 respectively) and the blessing of our palms
and the solemn procession into the church with songs of “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
This indicates Jesus’ arrival to the city of Jerusalem, where he began his ministry.
The calls of the crowds in Jerusalem would quickly change from the joyful
“Hosanna!” of Palm Sunday to “Crucify him!” This is not a meaningless change.
It is a change for hope, endurance, and faith for us in this time of
Covid-19---- that leads to healing and life eternal on Easter Sunday.
The significance of this change is evident in today’s
readings, particularly the passion narrative we just read (this year from Matthew,
Mark, and Luke). Clearly, Jesus's teaching power of endurance is the focus of that long passion narrative. Under
the shadow of threat of this ongoing pandemic what have you learned from the
readings? What have you heard? What does the narrative say to you? Does it
evoke endurance, peace, hope, and forgiveness, healing, or does it emphasize
for you human brutality and a rush to judgment?
In it, Christ is betrayed, falsely accused, plotted against
(John 11:45-53), arrested (Matt 26:47-56), interrogated by Annas, Caiaphas, and
the Sanhedrin (Matt 26:57-58), tried by Pilate (Matt 27:1-14), denied by Peter (Matt
26:59-66), mocked, and executed (Matt 27:15-56). How do you feel when someone betrays
you or accuses you falsely? This is what Christ endured so that we could learn that
we can resist evil with hope, prayer, and dialogue rather than violence. We learn
this week of the danger of indifference, as displayed by Pilate, and of rushing
to condemn one another without facts and evidence. It is a teaching week and moment for global leaders who neglect provision of basic needs: water, electricity, food and nourishment, housings and hospitals to their citizens.
Many us of have been afflicted by corona virus today.
Many have lost their loved ones and jobs, anxieties and blood pressure raised,
not due to their own fault! How do we cope with the ongoing threats of pandemic?
Still, and under this pandemic situation, as a nation,
parish, faith community, and family, we can also learn from Jesus how to love,
how to be humble, how to suffer, and how to endure persecution, affliction,
danger, illnesses, pandemic, and all forms of injustices with hope of salvation.
Going by that first reading we can also
learn how to “sing” the song of the Suffering Servant of God. As a nation, city,
county, diocese, parish, and family, we can learn once again from Christ the power
of love, the spirit of forgiveness, and the place of suffering. We can learn the
role of the Suffering Servant and of the cross in our lives.
Notice again, in that first reading Deutero-Isaiah (Isa
50:4-7), the Lord gives the servant a well-trained tongue that he might know how
to speak to the weary, the weak, the poor, the afflicted, the oppressed, the
sick, and the powerless. The Suffering Servant is skillful and knows how to endure.
He is humble and gets up when he is down. He does not complain unnecessarily, and
he handles insults, beatings, mockery, and spitting with patience, wisdom, and grace,
and humility.
We too can handle the current challenges, with
patient, prayer and humility! This is why Saint Paul, in the second reading,
says that, “though he was in the form of God, [Jesus] did not regard equality
with God as something to be exploited . . . he humbled himself and became
obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross” (Phil 2:6-11).
As challenging and mysterious this may sound,
remember, with God, as our Mother Mary testified, everything is possible. The tomb
as some thought was never the end for Christ. As we encounter frustrations, brokenness,
injustice, persecution, bullying, racism, discrimination, nepotism, difficulties,
challenges, and set-backs, particularly during this time of Pandemic, I suggest
we turn to the nearest crucifix and realize that we are not alone in our sufferings.
The Christ of Palm Sunday is with us. The Christ of Good Friday is with us. The
Christ of Easter Sunday continues to be with those who hope and trust in him!
Reflection Questions:
1. How do you feel when you are falsely and unjustly accused,
afflicted or lost your loved ones, our health workers to this pandemic? How do you
handle it?
2. Under this ongoing corona virus threat, how do you relate
to the Suffering Servant of the second reading (Isa 50:4-7)? Who do you think is
the Suffering Servant?
3. What are the crosses in your life? How often do you
turn toward the nearest crucifix with your pain and suffering?
4. Have you ever been betrayed or felt betrayed? How
can today’s passion narrative and Bible readings help you understand that you are
not alone in this time of Covid-19? Do you believe that Christ is with you; he is
the way, the life, and the truth?
