Cycle B - Year I: 29 March 2015

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
(Liturgical color: Red)

Part 1: Mark 11:1-10
Part 2: Mark 15:1-39

A journey of love!

Our Lenten pilgrimage is almost complete. Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion is the day on which the Church enters upon the mystery of the Death, Burial and Resurrection of our Lord through the triumphal procession of Christ as King and the proclamation of his Passion.

In the Church's liturgy, Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion marks our entry into the holiest season of Holy Week, the days during which we journey with Jesus on his way of the cross and anticipate his Resurrection on Easter.

Red is the color of the altar cloth and the vestments of the Priest.

The liturgy has two Gospel readings from Saint Mark. The people gather in a suitable place outside the Church, or chapel, for the blessing of the palms. The first Gospel is about Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, which is read after the blessing of palm branches and before the Mass proper.

The second Gospel reading is during the Mass, which narrates the Passion and Death of Jesus. We are invited to reflect on both these Gospel proclamations.

Palm Sunday: (Mk 11:1-10) Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem amidst the shouts of the people. "Many

people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. Those preceding him as well as those following keep crying out: 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"

Reflection on the first Gospel: Going to Jerusalem is a decisive step in completing Jesus' mission as he makes final preparation for his journey to Calvary. 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 the will of the Father.

In practical life, we, too, are called to enter into our own "Jerusalem" even as we are challenged to surrender ourselves completely to the will of the Father. Sometimes, or often times perhaps, we may not always understand; yet we cannot waiver in our faith. We must trust God as our loving Father who cannot, and will not, forsake us. This Palm Sunday, let us welcome Jesus, our King, into the "Jerusalem" of our hearts.

The Passion and Death of Jesus: (Mk 15:1-39) In the second Gospel proclamation, we hear the same crowd who welcome him in Jerusalem, this time shouting a different tune as Jesus is brought before Pilate: "Crucify him!" 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 to Calvary, as Jesus gives up his life to redeem us from sin.

Reflection on the second Gospel: During the Holy Week, let us meditate more intently on the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus. Indeed, God so loves us to give up his only Son to die in order to save us from eternal punishment. 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. Therefore, with all faith and devotion let us follow our Lord to Calvary, so that as we partake of the cross we may have a share also in his Resurrection and in his life eternal in heaven.

Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility. Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his Resurrection, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!