Cycle C - Year I:

24 March 2013 - Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

(Liturgical color: Red)

Luke 19:28-40; 23:1-49

Our Lord's journey of love!
 
We are almost there, that is to say, the agonizing journey to Calvary of our Lord Jesus marked by betrayal of his closest friends that led to his death in the hands of his enemies.

But first today we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. The liturgy has two Gospel readings from Luke: the first is Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, which is read after the blessing of palm branches and before the Mass proper; the other Gospel reading during the Mass is about the Passion and Death of Jesus. We are invited to reflect on both these Gospel proclamations.

Palm Sunday: Jesus enters the holy city of Jerusalem amidst the shouts of the people, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" The people were spreading their cloak on the road as they welcome him.

Going to Jerusalem is a decisive step in completing Jesus' mission as he makes final preparation for his journey to Calvary. But amidst the shouts and welcome of the crowd, Jesus sees beyond their noise his suffering, torture and death on the cross of salvation. Yet he submits himself completely to do the will of the Father.

In the Church's liturgy, Palm Sunday marks our entry into the holiest season of Holy Week.

The Passion and Death of Jesus:  In the second Gospel proclamation we hear the same crowd who welcomes him in Jerusalem, this time shouting a different tune as Jesus is brought before Pilate: "Crucify him! Crucify him!" they shout. And so the road to Calvary is sealed for Jesus; he is crucified and died on the cross. His triumphal entry into Jerusalem ended in a journey of love in Calvary, as he gave up his life to redeem us from sin.

Reflection: We, too, are called to enter into our own "Jerusalem" as we are challenged to surrender ourselves completely to the will of God, whatever it may be. As we discern God's will, sometimes, or even often times perhaps, we may not always understand. Yet that is not an excuse to waiver in our faith. Because we must trust our God as loving Father who cannot forsake us.

As we meditate more intensely on the Passion of our Lord during the rest of the Holy Week, we know and believe that indeed God so loves us to give up his only Son to die and so redeem us from sin. There is no greater love than this:  by his suffering, death and resurrection our Lord Jesus Christ has bridged the gap between God and man.

In his first address to the faithful and to the world, our new Pope Francis asked us to join him in the Church's journey of brotherhood towards the Father.  Are we ready to join him, and so together join our Lord Jesus in his journey of love, from the Kingly entrance into Jerusalem until his self-sacrifice of love in Calvary?A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Deo Optimo Maximo!