Today at Mass, we heard the lengthy and dramatic story of the arrest, trial, and death of Jesus Christ according to Mark’s Gospel. As one of the Deacons serving our Parish, I had the honor of being the voice of the people. Since COVID-19 regulations don’t allow us to pass out books, someone has to read those parts. That means I get to be Pontius Pilot, Peter, the crowd yelling crucify, and the people who recognize Peter in the courtyard.
It occurred to me as we were reading it that the same people who were just in the streets shouting Hosanna to the Highest, proclaiming Jesus the Christ, and waving Palm branches were now yelling crucify Him. Not only that, when given a choice between Jesus Christ, the man who had healed, fed, and freed them from their demons, and Barabbas, a murderer and revolutionary, they chose Barabbas.
More astounding to that choice is that Barabbas means “son of the father.” Pontius Pilot had asked them, who do you choose, the Son of God? Or the son of the father? That’s a choice we often face in our own lives, and I think someone could give an entire homily on just that thought.
I want to concentrate on Barabbas for a moment, though. Barabbas was a notorious prisoner (Matthew 27:16.) He was in prison “with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection” against the Roman forces. John describes him as a bandit. He was the bad guy. The one who was guilty of crimes. He had murdered, stolen, broken the law, and so forth. Some surmise he may have been a sort of guerrilla warrior or revolutionary leader.
We find here that we have a man called the son of the father and is guilty of crimes deserving death. He has broken the commandments and the civil laws as well, stealing and murdering on his way. Jesus told Pilot that he had no power over Him. That if He commanded legions of angels to free Him, it would happen. So while the crowd jeered and taunted, choosing the worldly man over God, Jesus chose to die in his place.
The simple truth is this: I am Barabbas. We are Barabbas. We are the children of the Father who were in chains, bound in prison. All of us who have ever sinned are guilty by our own choices and deserving of punishment. The wages of sin are death; they lead to everything that is not of God. Jesus chose to die in our place that He might free us from the shackles of sin. Then took our place, our punishment, dying the death of a common criminal. The death we deserve.
While it’s easy to point fingers at the crowds and the Pharisees, we must ask ourselves what part we play in this drama. Where are we on the stage? Are we running away with our freedom doing whatever we want? Do we look back at the man on the stage who has taken our place in thanksgiving and gratitude for our lives? Do we fall to our knees with tears in our eyes, understanding that Jesus has purchased our freedom and that Calvary was the cost?
Holy Week is upon us, and Easter is fast approaching. Palm Sunday is a reminder that we should be looking to receive Jesus with Hosanna’s of praise and not falling in with the crowd when they condemn. I’ve heard it said many times, and I’ve used this phrase myself, love the sinner but hate the sin. Today I challenge us to look at the sinner with eyes of mercy because we are Barabbas. Then lead them to Jesus, that together we might all be set free and Heaven the hope of our reward.
A Homily for Palm Sunday: March 28th, 2021