In Christ's Passion, who am I like? Pope asks in Palm Sunday homily

April 14, 2014

In his homily at Palm Sunday Mass, Pope Francis told those assembled in St. Peter's Square that “we might well ask ourselves just one question: Who am I? Who am I, before my Lord?”

“We have just heard many, many names,” Pope Francis said. “The group of leaders, some priests, the Pharisees, the teachers of the law, who had decided to kill Jesus. They were waiting for the chance to arrest him. Am I like one of them?”

The Pope continued:

We have also heard another name: Judas. Thirty pieces of silver. Am I like Judas? We have heard other names too: the disciples who understand nothing, who fell asleep while the Lord was suffering. Has my life fallen asleep? Or am I like the disciples, who did not realize what it was to betray Jesus? Or like that other disciple, who wanted to settle everything with a sword? Am I like them? Am I like Judas, who feigns loved and then kisses the Master in order to hand him over, to betray him? Am I a traitor? Am I like those people in power who hastily summon a tribunal and seek false witnesses: am I like them? And when I do these things, if I do them, do I think that in this way I am saving the people?

After asking nine more questions, he concluded, “Where is my heart? Which of these persons am I like? May this question remain with us throughout the entire week.”

 

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Further information:

• Palm Sunday: "Who Are We Before Jesus Who Triumphs and Before Jesus Who Suffers?" (VIS)
• Pope celebrates Palm Sunday Mass in Saint Peter’s Square (Vatican Radio)
• Pope on Palm Sunday: Where is my heart before the suffering Jesus? (Vatican Radio)
• Celebrazione della Domenica delle Palme e della Passione del Signore (Holy See Press Office)