Palm Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima
Theme:
A call to be messengers of peace, hope, and victory in Christ
Readings:
Is 50:4–7; Phil 2:6–11;
Dearest
brothers and sisters, Palm Sunday is a special day in the liturgical year. It
opens the door to a great week for us — Holy Week. It ushers us into days rich
with the remembrance of the events that saved us from sin, restored us to God’s
friendship, and brought us back to life.
Today,
carrying branches of palm or olive, we follow Jesus into our churches — our New
Jerusalem — just as the people of Jerusalem cut branches and spread them along
the road when Jesus triumphantly entered the city. These blessed branches have
become sacramentals. Next year, they will be burned on Ash Wednesday, and their
ashes will mark the beginning of another Lenten journey.
Palm
and olive branches hold deep meaning in many cultures. They signify peace,
victory, and hope. Their symbolism has roots in the ancient Mediterranean world
— especially in Egypt and Greece — where olive branches represented peace or
victory, particularly in acts of supplication to the gods or to people in
authority.
Therefore,
dearest friends, today we hold in our hands a symbol of peace. Our world needs
peace more than ever because it is battered by problems and wars on every side.
We see the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, America and
Israel and Iran, among others. Acts of terrorism and banditry ravage many
African nations. Many other regions suffer from unreported crises and unrest.
It is clear that peace is the greatest gift we, as Christians, can offer our
families, friends, and the world.
With
these branches of palm and olive, let us become true messengers of peace — in
our world, in our families, and among our friends. It would be a contradiction
for the bearer of these branches not to be a promoter of peace in his or her
own neighbourhood.
The
olive or palm branch also signifies victory. Today we recalled Christ’s
triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where He showed Himself victorious over the
forces of darkness and death. We also listened to the Passion, which reveals
His journey toward that victory. We are witnesses to Christ’s power over evil
and death. Therefore, as we carry these palm or olive branches — signs of
victory — let us remind the world that our Saviour is a victorious King. Let us
bear witness to His triumph over sin and death in our society.
Friends,
we are children of victory. If anyone asks why you carry these branches today,
tell them that our victorious King is passing by, entering our neighbourhood to
fight our battles and to give us victory. Hence, it would be a contradiction if
the children of victory were afraid to proclaim Christ to their friends.
The
olive or palm branch also signifies hope. In the book of Genesis, the dove sent
out by Noah returned with an olive branch — a sign of the hope of a new
beginning. The difficulties in our world have caused many to lose hope in life
and even in God. Many are searching for something solid on which to anchor
their hope.
Dear
friends, today we hold in our hands the sign of a new beginning — the branches
of olive or palm. Let us go out and spread this message of hope. Let us tell
the world that in Jesus there is the hope of a new beginning. The resurrection
of Christ guarantees this new beginning; it is the fullness of hope. Let us be
torchbearers of hope wherever we go, starting today.
Friends,
we have the vocation to spread the message of peace, hope, and Christ’s victory
in our world. As we do this, it is important to remember that Christ calls us
to be true witnesses — people who remain with Him in good times and in
difficult times, in moments of joy and in moments of sorrow. Our witness should
not resemble that of the crowd who shouted Hosanna during Jesus’ entry into
Jerusalem but failed to defend Him when He was unjustly tried and condemned.
Many denied Him and chose Barabbas instead, as we heard in today’s Passion
narrative. With the same intensity with which they cried “Hosanna, Son of David”,
they later shouted, “Crucify Him.”
Dear
friends, many concrete situations in our lives demand that we witness to the
truth of the Gospel. We all see how our world has been penetrated by doctrines,
ideologies, and lifestyles contrary to the Gospel. These harmful ideologies are
promoted as fashionable by governments, celebrities, and culture industries.
Some even attempt to impose their ungodly views on others.
We
act like the crowd in the Passion narrative when we remain silent while our
world is being battered by these forces. We deny Christ whenever we keep quiet
in the face of such teachings and lifestyles. We deny Him whenever we choose
indifference in the presence of evil. We choose Barabbas whenever we swim
against the truth of the Gospel. May we not remain indifferent or unconcerned
in the face of anti-life ideologies in our society. May we stop hiding behind
political correctness when confronted with evil. Let us speak out for Christ.
Finally,
today ushers us into Holy Week. The desire of Christ and His Church is that all
who participate in the liturgies of this week may also strive to be holy. Let
us set aside sin and focus on the Paschal Mysteries. Jesus invites us to open
our hearts and be washed clean by His Precious Blood through the sacrament of
Reconciliation. Let us carry our cross and walk with Christ to Calvary, so that
we may rise with Him in glory.
Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima
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