Robert Hugh Benson<\/a>. What follows is a rough outline of his Palm Sunday sermon from around the year 1913. I like his style and his way of painting a portrait with words, even if many of his missing words must be imagined. What struck me most about his outine is what led me to title this post as I did. Because this wasn\u2019t the day of glory for Our Lord.<\/p>\nHow often it is that I yearn for the palm instead of the cross. But how often it is that the cross presents itself to me more often than the palm.<\/p>\n
Monsignor Benson will now take the pulpit,<\/p>\n
PALM SUNDAY\u2014GOOD FRIDAY<\/b>
Mark xv. 39:<\/b> Indeed this man was the Son of God.<\/i><\/p>\n
Introduction.<\/i>\u2014Extraordinary how we miss the point in this world. With men: meet a person, label him; and find out a year later that we have misunderstood. Movements: a popular stir; see external events, miss significance (France and England for example). We are like uneducated people at a picture gallery; admire frames, are blind to pictures.<\/p>\n
So Too With Our Lord On Earth. He came to His own . . .(John i, 11) Especially typified in last week of His Life.<\/p>\n
I. Two Processions.<\/p>\n
1. Two great events: one was Palm Sunday Procession<\/i>. Conceive excitement of apostles. At last their Master vindicated; yields to people. Early afternoon start; strange intoxication in air; people come out and look; carried away, join. Rumor runs ahead; for road is full; crowd swells and swells. Cheering begins. Presently on turning a corner, another crowd runs into them, wheels and turns. Children, dogs; grave men crying and laughing\u2014even great ecclesiastics are swept along: glorious sky; city of David. <\/p>\n
At last a check . . . \u2018Stop them; it is not decent. Hear what they are saying: Hosanna.\u2019 For a moment disciples hesitate. \u2018I tell you,\u2019 rang out the grave exultant voice, \u2018that if these should hold their peace the very stones would cry out.\u2019 There is no doubt; He has yielded. Here is the kingdom coming with power. Scepter and crown\u2014triumph of Jesus at last. \u2018Thank God, thank God!\u2019<\/p>\n
2. Five days later<\/i>.\u2014Another procession: streets thronged; heads thrust out; windows\u2014roofs. Hear them: \u2018It is the King of the Jews,\u2019 they say, sneering. First come children marching and singing; mob; spear-heads of escort. Then, in center, a piteous spectacle. A Figure staggering along, robed in blood-stained tunic; crowned! bearing a vast scepter indeed! Before him goes the herald \u2014placard I.N.R.I. Street full of howling and laughter; dogs bark; soldiers again; then mob, four abreast roaring out songs . . . on, on to the Enthronement of the King.<\/p>\n
And when last shouts have died, and all is gone, friend of Jesus sinks down sobbing\u2014Failure after all! And all that day there is blank misery. All mock and weep; all but one beneath the Cross; and from him a strange confession. Others on Palm Sunday had called Him Son of David, roused by splendor. Now one gives Him a higher title yet. Text (Mark xv. 39: Indeed this man was the Son of God<\/i>).<\/p>\n
II. Same Mistake Today.<\/p>\n
As we look back now, we know the truth. \u2018For this cause,\u2019 says our Lord, \u2018came I into the world. I am come to save sinners \u2026 I have a baptism to be baptized with.\u2019 (John xviii. 37; Matt. ix. 13; Luke xii. 50) We know that the real triumph was Good Friday, not Palm Sunday: not in palms and Hosanna; but spear-heads, scourge, and nails: not in strewing of their garments, but stripping of His own. Not colt but Cross was His Throne. On the colt He reigned over a few hundreds, on the Cross He is King of the World.<\/p>\n
Yet we continue to make the same mistake.<\/p>\n
Which after all is the glory of the Church? Ah! look close and test it by the Cross.<\/p>\n
(1) Splendor of domination in the Middle Ages? Or the catacombs; burning of martyrs; rack; beasts. Both have their place. Our Lord sanctioned outward glory by Palm Sunday; but He did more than sanction suffering.<\/p>\n
Not \u2018If any man will be My disciple, let him follow Me with palms and singing\u2019; but\u2026\u2019Let him take up his cross and come after Me.\u2019
(2) Court of France; when Church was honored? or now when against overwhelming hatred she is being stripped and scourged . . .<\/p>\n
(3) Look at comfortable Catholics in world, well spoken of; and Poor Clare<\/a>\u2026 which is the more glorious? Both are permitted.<\/p>\n(4) Tranquil death-bed of a good man, who has neither sinned much nor suffered much? or dying sinner\u2014sinned beyond description, who turns and weeps for mercy?<\/p>\n
Look at your own life too. Have you not believed you were succeeding, and that God was with you when all went well? That was your Palm Sunday\u2014perfectly right. People praised you, rejoiced with you. But the real test comes in sorrow. It was then that the crucified Lord was near to you\u2026 when darkness was thick: rent four ways at once; become aware that no friend would reach you. Then He was manifest in you. His Hands upon yours; His Kiss on your lips; His Heart beating on your broken heart.<\/p>\n
Blessed are they that hunger and mourn: for they shall be filled and comforted.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/i>.\u2014Today we are rejoicing: giving one more gift to God\u2019s glory and the honor as well of the saints who won their crowns by suffering; all in memory of a happy event. Things are well with us; your priests happy; you are happy. There is a large congregation. This then is your Palm Sunday \u2014Christianity does not exclude joy: our Lord has sanctioned it. But it is important to remember on days of rejoicing that they are only one half of life. The spiritual man is absorbed neither in joy nor sorrow; neither exalted nor depressed.<\/p>\n
The real test of the soundness of our joy is found in our behaviour during sorrow and conflict. We need so much. St. Peter\u2019s warning not to be bewildered when conflict comes, as if a \u2018strange thing\u2019 happened to us.(1 Peter vi, 12)<\/p>\n
God knows there is enough conflict coming: all over the world that old drama of the Passion is being re-enacted\u2014in S. America, in Spain, in France, and not least in England, evidences of old enmity of world against God which crucified our Lord. Face this, then, bravely; be prepared to suffer. Oh! brethren; it is in this that glory shows itself. <\/p>\n
You have magnificent churches here, evidences of old splendor; but you produced finer things than that. You have contributed saints to heaven\u2014such as Richard Langley<\/i> (Mr. Richard Langley was a Yorkshire gentleman, executed on December 1, 1586, for harboring priests.), infinitely greater. See that you continue\u2014it is an acceptable gift that you give today; but there are even better\u2014crucified, mortified souls. <\/p>\n
The deeper the darkness, the clearer is His Cross; the more ecstatic the harps of Heaven, the more radiant the smile upon the Face of God.<\/p>\n
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Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.<\/i> (Matt xvi, 24;Mark viii, 34; Luke ix, 23)<\/p>\n
Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Son of the Father, give me the courage to do just that.<\/p>\n
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