Introduction to the Liturgy of the Day

Introduction to the Liturgy of the Word

Reflections

• It is ironic that the crowd throws cloaks and branches on the road before Jesus as he rides into Jerusalem. This was the custom when a conquering hero returned from victory in battle. But in his battle against sin and death, Jesus has not yet achieved his victory. Only after a similar crowd (possibly made up of some of the same people) insists that he be put to death does Jesus accomplish his victory. The crowd had expected a Messiah who would be the conquering hero here on earth for their people. It is their disappointment and outrage that Jesus did not lead this kind of revolution that causes them to turn on him, which ironically then leads to his ultimate victory.


• Throughout his Gospel, Matthew portrays Jesus as the new Moses. Matthew alone begins his Gospel with Jesus’ genealogy, linking him to the entire Jewish lineage back to Abraham. He also is the only evangelist to report that Herod ordered the murder of all the male infants, as Pharoah had in Moses’ time. Jesus’ teachings are arranged in five lengthy discourses, a kind of new Torah, traditionally thought to be authored by Moses. In Matthew, Jesus is steeped in the tradition, the writings, and the laws of the Hebrew people. Now, through his ultimate sacrifice, he leads his people from the slavery of sin to the promised land of eternal life with the Lord. This new covenant, bound by Jesus’ own blood instead of the blood of animals, is established by his death on the cross.

• People’s behavior changes when they’re a part of a crowd. The anonymity of a crowd makes it dangerous, for it gives its members license to do things they know they wouldn’t otherwise get away with. Also, it is much easier to do something or shout something when you have immediate support from like-minded people around you. Witness Judas. When he arrives to betray Jesus, he is accompanied by a large crowd, making it easier for him to go through with his plan. But later, when he is alone, he regrets what he has done and returns the thirty pieces of silver. Later, it is not a single witness who comes forward to condemn Jesus, but a crowd that cries out as one. Would any member of that crowd stand up alone to call for his death? Perhaps not. But together, they do exactly that. We can see that kind of mob mentality play out today as well. Something that one single person wouldn’t dare do alone becomes a natural course of action when a mob is whipped into a frenzy. It behooves us to be aware of this dynamic and how it can affect our own behavior. Going along with a crowd does not absolve us of individual responsibility.
• When Jesus first told his disciples what would happen to him in Jerusalem and they reacted with shock and horror, he told them that everyone who wished to follow him must also carry their own crosses. As Jesus was willing to carry his cross, shameful and horrible and lethal as it was, he calls upon us to carry our own painful and difficult crosses. Remember, the cross he carried was not for himself. He carried his cross for everyone else—for Peter and Judas; for the woman at the well and the man born blind; for Pilate, Barabbas, and the revolutionaries crucified with him; for you and for me. We are called to carry crosses for others as well, to ease the burdens on our neighbor. As Jesus gave of himself for our benefit, we are called to give of ourselves for the benefit of those in need. We are challenged to see Jesus in our neighbor in need, for that makes clear to us that we are returning in some small way the debt we owe to him who gave his life for us.

Question of the Week

In whom am I challenged to see Jesus? How can I help carry Christ’s cross by carrying my neighbor’s cross?

-from Pastoral Patterns

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