PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY
In the 1970 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, Simon Zealotes exhorts Jesus Christ to grasp the moment afforded by the huge, enthusiastic crowd of 50,000 people that has cheered him on his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Simon’s hope is that Jesus will lead the people to revolt against the Romans who control Israel, promising that the Messiah will achieve “power and glory, forever and ever and ever.”
But Jesus has other plans, as he sings softly and sadly in reply:
Neither you, Simon, nor the 50,000
Nor the Romans, nor the Jews
Nor Judas, nor the twelve
Nor the priests, nor the scribes
Nor doomed Jerusalem itself
Understand what power is,
Understand what glory is,
Understand at all.
On this Passion Sunday in 2026, it appears that some things never change. We are still misunderstanding why Jesus became flesh and lived among us. His name is still regularly invoked by those who make war, dropping bombs indiscriminately on combatants and innocent civilians alike. We would rather dress Jesus in our team colours and make him head cheerleader than follow him. But that is not the real Jesus of the Bible.
In the Beatitudes, it is the peacemakers who are blessed, those who suffer persecution for justice’ sake who enter the kingdom of heaven, those who are merciful who obtain mercy and those who are meek who inherit the earth. Not the warmongers, or the rich and powerful.
Paul tells us that Jesus, rather than reaching for earthly power and glory, “emptied himself, taking the form of the slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).
What does it mean, then, to follow Jesus on Palm Sunday? Be joyful in the knowledge of his never-ceasing presence, reliving the jubilation of the crowds in Jerusalem? Of course, but it also means being present for and accompanying today’s meek and those who suffer persecution. We see them in the immigrants seeking to find survival and a better life in a strange land, in prisoners unjustly incarcerated for having dark skin, in those who battle addictions and live in poverty, in those whose lives are uprooted by war, in those who desperately seek medical treatment from overburdened health systems, in the young despairing of ever finding meaningful work.
This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the holiest period in the Christian calendar, drawing to a close with the death of Jesus of Nazareth and then his miraculous resurrection. Let us use this week wisely, in prayer and contemplation, in an examination of conscience and in a rededication of our lives to truly understand what Jesus asks of us.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
(Peace Prayer attributed to St. Francis)
Joseph Sinasac is a retired Publishing Director of Novalis Publishing. He has been involved with religious communications for almost 45 years as an author, journalist, editor and TV and radio commentator on all things Catholic.
