A Single Tear of Contrition

Homily for Palm Sunday in Holy Week

We read the section of the Gospel known as the passion narrative every Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday). We also read the passion narrative of St. John’s Gospel on Good Friday. On this particular Palm Sunday, we read from the Gospel of Saint Luke.

While each of the narratives tells the same basic story, each of evangelists includes details that are specific to their Gospel. In the case of the Gospel of Saint Luke, the details that he includes portray Jesus as the compassionate healer and the source of forgiveness.

For instance, a crowd approaches Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and we hear that one of the apostles draws a sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant. While the other evangelists include this particular detail, it is Luke alone who tells us that Jesus compassionately heals the wound.

In St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is being followed by a large crowd, including women who mourn and lament for Him. St. Luke tells us that Jesus addresses them, saying, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children." This statement reflects Jesus' compassion and prophetic insight into the future suffering of Jerusalem.

Perhaps the most telling of the special inclusions in St. Luke’s Gospel is the conversation that takes place between Jesus and the thieves that are crucified with him. The dialogue begins with one of them crying out: "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us." His words show that he is unable to accept the fact that he is a sinner in need of forgiveness. His words are filled with anger and recrimination, totally unable to admit that he is being punished for his actions. The other man calls out to the first: "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Unlike the first, this man realizes the truth of the situation. He has been condemned because of his crimes. However, rather than striking out with anger and recrimination, he expresses his faith in Jesus as he recognizes Jesus as God. Humbly, he speaks to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” His words are full of contrition and sorrow for his sin. The word “contrition” comes from the Latin “contritio,” which means “crushing.” He feels the burden of his sin and asks for pardon. He is rewarded for his confession when Jesus says: "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Early in the Gospel of St. Luke, the evangelist cites the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue of Nazareth: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Though the Gospel is filled with the healing miracles of Jesus, it is only when he is hanging on the cross, when he is at his most vulnerable, that Jesus frees a captive. While the Gospel has been filled with wondrous stories and incidents that reveal the compassion of Jesus, this particular and specific event in the Gospel of Saint Luke is, perhaps, the most poignant of all Jesus’ actions.

The final particular difference in St. Luke’s Gospel comes as Jesus is about to die, and he says, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” The story of the passion of Jesus is filled with lies, betrayal, injustice, and many other failures that can only be called sins. However, in these words Jesus reveals how God is ready to forgive. I believe that it is St. Augustine who wrote: “All God needs from the sinner is a single tear of repentance.”

We are all sinners. As much as we would like to deny this, we all know that it is true. However, we also have a compassionate and forgiving Father in heaven who is simply waiting for us to express sorrow for our sins, our contrition.

In the passion narrative, God is confronted with all the sins of humankind. By the shedding of his blood, Jesus saves us from our guilt. He takes it upon himself and suffers death that we might live forever.

The Eucharist is our pledge of reconciliation. This gift from God is God’s offer of forgiveness. All God waits for is that single tear of repentance.