Homily by Deacon Greg Kandra: Palm Sunday

One of the more remarkable aspects of the gospel we just heard is the WAY in which we heard it.

This week is the only time that the gospel is proclaimed by someone besides a priest or deacon - every individual in this church takes part.

It's a great privilege. And it - literally -- gives us a role in Christ's passion.

But what do we say? What lines are we given?

"Not this one! Barabbas!"
"Hail, King of the Jews!"
"Crucify him!"
"Take him away, crucify him!"

We cry out for vengeance, and we accuse his disciples, and we gamble to see which of us will get his cloak. We mock him.

We are the mob. And we cruelly assist in condemning Christ to death.

And the great irony, of course, is that we do it while clutching these palms.

They are a reminder - and an indictment. While we were standing here, crying out "Crucify him!," we were clutching the branches that we used to sing out "Hosanna." The palms reveal our very human duplicity. How easily we turn. How quickly we pivot from faithful, to faithless ... from belief to doubt ... from being disciples, to being betrayers.

We start out acting like angels, singing "Hosanna." And we end up just being the mob.

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