The Son of God is revealed for all

April 9, 2006 -- Palm Sunday

By Fr. Michael Stubbs

	Fr. Mike Stubbs

Go ahead, complain about how the Passion reading on Palm Sunday takes too long. I remember the days when we got a double whammy. The priest would read it first in Latin, then in English. Not only that, but every year it was the Passion according to St. Matthew, the longest of all the four gospels.

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Since the Second Vatican Council we rotate the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke for the Passion reading on Palm Sunday on a three-year cycle. This Sunday we will hear the Passion according to St. Mark, the shortest of all four. It represents the core of the gospel. In fact, the biblical scholar Martin Kahler described Mark's gospel as "a Passion narrative with an extended introduction." Everything in Mark's gospel points towards Jesus' death and resurrection.

Most scripture scholars believe that Mark's gospel was the first gospel to be written. They also think that Matthew and Luke based their gospel upon Mark's. Matthew and Luke added materials from other sources, as well as their own theological viewpoints, to compose their gospels. That explains the brevity of Mark's gospel. Except for a couple of details, the Passion narratives of Matthew and Luke repeat almost word for word the Passion narrative of Mark.

The section which we now know as the passion narrative of Mark's gospel probably was originally composed as a self-contained unit and circulated as such in early Christian communities. Eventually other stories about Jesus' life, parables that he told, and teachings that he gave, were later added. The gospel was not intended for the private edification of the reader, but was meant to be proclaimed in a liturgical setting, for the whole community to hear. Our reading of the Passion during the Mass then continues a tradition which dates back to the gospel's origins.

The gospel of Mark starts in the following way: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." These words establish one of the purposes of the gospel; to demonstrate Jesus' identity as the Son of God.

Throughout the gospel, demons and individuals possessed by demons acclaim Jesus as the Son of God. "In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, 'What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are- the Holy One of God!'" (Mark 1:23, 24) At the same time, the people around Jesus, even his disciples, appear oblivious to his true identity. They have difficulty in penetrating the mystery which surrounds him.

It is not until Jesus' death on the cross that someone recognizes his true identity. The Roman centurion who sees him die proclaims, "Truly this man was the Son of God." (Mark 15:39) This moment provides the climax for the entire gospel. Jesus' life culminates in the saving event of his death. That is its crowning point. And the centurion's confession fulfills the promise implied by the gospel's beginning words. What was concealed throughout Jesus' life is now revealed for all to see: "Truly this man was the Son of God."

(Fr. Stubbs, a priest of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, has a master's degree in theology from Harvard.)