THE PAINS OF BETRAYAL, DENIAL AND ABANDONMENT

 

Homily for Palm Sunday, Year B

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Readings: Isaiah 50:4-7, Philippians 2:6-11, Mark 14:1-15,47

 

The celebration of Palm Sunday begins the activities of the Holy Week; the most important week in the life of the Church. Today’s celebration brings to mind, Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem to accomplish the work of our redemption.

Today’s liturgy is so vast. The readings present us with different themes to reflect on though at the center remains the person of Jesus Christ and what he underwent in order to save us. In the midst of the variety of themes which the celebration of today offers us, I have chosen to reflect on the joint theme of betrayal, denial and abandonment.

Betrayal, denial and abandonment are human realities. In the day to day events of our lives, we encounter these realities. If we have not been betrayed, denied or abandoned by others, then, we must have in one way or the other betrayed, denied or abandoned others. Denying not to have been caught up in one way or the other in one of these realities even makes us guilty as charged.

Naturally, abandonment, betrayal and denial are in themselves painful realities but what makes them more painful is the fact that they rarely come from strangers. Those who betray, deny and abandon us are usually those close to us: our friends, partners, relatives, co-workers, family members, and so on.

Such was the case in the life of Jesus as seen in the liturgy of today. The first betrayal he experienced was from the crowds that led him into Jerusalem with shouts of praise. These people decorated the pathways with palm branches and many others even went to the extent of removing their shirts and placing them on the pathways that Jesus rode on. However, within a short while, the same lips that sang the praise of Jesus turned against him and demanded for his crucifixion. The second betrayal was a kiss from one of his associates, Judas. Here, Jesus felt betrayed for two reasons: it came from someone close to him and secondly, the way and manner in which he went about it- through a kiss (Mark 14:44-45).

Jesus also felt abandoned by the rest of the disciples. When he was arrested by the soldiers, all the disciples took flight for safety (mark 14:50). St. Mark records that a young man followed Jesus, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body; and when they seized him, he left the linen cloth and ran away naked (Mark 14:51-52). The worst of all came from the apostle he trusted so much, Peter. Peter denied Jesus not just once but three times (Mark 14:66-72). The responsorial psalm indicates that at some point in Jesus’ passion, he even felt abandoned and forsaken by his own Father (Psalm 22). But Jesus endured all this and went ahead to die for us all including those who denied, deserted and betrayed him.

Today, Jesus is still being betrayed, denied and abandoned but no more by the crowds, Peter, Judas or the rest of the disciples but by us. We betray, deny and abandon Jesus in several ways. But we are urged not to end up like Judas. God loves to forgive us. He always offers us his forgiveness and we are meant to accept it. Also, we ourselves cannot avoid been betrayed, forsaken or abandoned by others. That is why Jesus urges us today to be courageous and also invites us to always open our hearts to his love and healing mercy.