The emphasis of this day is on the passion of Jesus, with the triumphal entry into Jerusalem seen as its prelude. Putting the two together in such close connection creates an intentionally jarring effect: the shouts of acclaim give way immediately to the clamor for crucifixion. This should give us pause — our own high-spirited devotion of one moment does not in itself guarantee fidelity. Pilgrim Jews spoke of coming to Jerusalem for the feast as an "ascent." This entry was, for Jesus, his ascent to the sacrifice. For us, the procession with palms is our ascent as a pilgrim people with Christ to the summit of the cross.

The Passion according to Luke. Luke’s account of the passion and death of Jesus brings to a climax the major themes of his Gospel. In particular he emphasizes love and forgiveness in the details peculiar to Luke. He is the only evangelist who notes the healing of the high priest’s servants ear (22:51); he alone records Jesus’ words of forgiveness on the cross (23:34) and the promise of paradise to the repentant thief (23:39-43). The source of this love and pardon is the union of Jesus with the Father, which Luke always portrays in a most intimate way. He alone records the Father’s sign of comfort in the presence of an angel at the agony in the garden (22:43) as well as Jesus’ final word of self-commendation in 23:46.

The cross is seen as the link between Jesus and his followers with Christians down through the ages. The various persons who figure in the story are presented as models of our own relationship with Christ. Peter is an example of repentance in response to the healing glance of Christ (note especially 22:61). Luke is the only one who records this encounter. Simon of Cyrene (23:26) and the women along the way (23:27-31) are people whose lives are changed by their meeting with Christ. Even the Roman soldier does not merely exclaim that Jesus was the Son of God, as in Mt 27:54 and Mk 15:39, but shows his change of heart by praising God as well (23:47). Even the crowd experiences a change (23:48). Through these persons, Luke personally invites us also to become one with the Event taking place.

As with the other Gospels’ passion accounts, the story line maybe divided into four basic sections:

(1) the Lord’s supper and prayer in the garden (22:14-46); (2) the arrest, the religious trial, and Peter’s denial (22:47-71); (3) the civil trial and sentencing (23:1-25);

(4) the cross and death (23:26-56).

See Year A for the first and second readings.