Breaking Open the Word

We essentially have two gospels today.  The first is Luke’s description of Jesus entering Jerusalem, the second is the Passion of our Lord.  There are books written about these gospel verses but let’s focus on a few.  Our gospel passages contain fulfillment of several prophesies.

The initial verse of our passage of the procession gospel notes Jesus first visits Bethpage, a town just to the east of Jerusalem and near the Mount of Olives which is spoken of in the book of Zechariah 14:4 “On that day God’s feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is opposite Jerusalem to the east. The Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west by a very deep valley, and half of the mountain will move to the north and half of it to the south.” The process of the crucifixion and salvation is now underway, and the division of believers and nonbelievers.

Luke notes that Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem, another fulfillment of prophesy, and He will be arriving on a colt.  In the book of Zechariah 9:9 we see the prophesy: “Exult greatly, O daughter Zion!  Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold: your king is coming to you, a just savior is he, Humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  Riding on a donkey or colt...various gospel narratives differ on the animal but is of no consequence, it is a sign of humility and peace, and likely reflects Luke desire to show the fulfillment of prophesy.

Unique to Luke’s version is Luke’s reference to Jesus as king: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.”  There is great significance in those words as they directly attack the authority of Herod, and give those who want to have Jesus killed the ammunition they need for the Romans to arrest Jesus.  Those who opposed Jesus after hearing those words ask Jesus to have His disciples stop; to which Jesus replies “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out.” In other words, there is simply no way of stopping the Truth.

In the gospel passage surrounding the Last Supper and Christ’s Passion, Luke notes Jesus saying the meal He is sharing with His Apostles is a Passover meal, commemorating the sacrifice of the lamb as reflected in the blood on the doorposts and deliverance of the Jews from Egypt.  Jesus refers to it as preceding the kingdom of God.  The lamb was slaughtered for the Passover meal, as Jesus will shed His blood for the deliverance of all souls.

Jesus then installs Himself in the Eucharist and Precious Blood with the words we use at consecration during Mass :  ”This is my body…this is the cup of the new covenant in my blood…”  The words in Luke 22:20 are the words that direct us to celebrate that moment, that covenant, as often as possible “do this in memory of me”.

There is of course a great deal more on this gospel passage.  I encourage you to read it this week again…very, very slowly.