Cycle C - Year II:

20 March 2016: Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

(Liturgical color: Red)

Gospel: Please read - Part 1: Luke 19:28-40

- Part 2: Luke 23:1-49

A journey of love!

Our Lenten journey is almost done. Today we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, the day on which the Church enters upon the mystery of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ 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 continue our journey with Jesus on His way of the cross and anticipate His resurrection on Easter.

The color of the altar cloth and the vestments of the priest changes to Red.

Today's liturgy has two Gospel proclamations from St. Luke. The people gather in a suitable place outside the main church, or chapel, for the blessing of palm branches. After the blessing and before the Mass proper, the first Gospel proclamation is read, which is about Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

The second Gospel proclamation is during the Mass, which narrates the passion and death of Jesus. We are invited to reflect on both these Gospel proclamations.

Palm Sunday: (Lk 19:28-40) Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem amidst the shouts and rejoicing of the people. "As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; .... They proclaimed: 'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.'"

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem astride a cold was a direct fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy of Zechariah (9:9) "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem. Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, and riding on an ass and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Reflection on the first Gospel proclamation: Despite the imminent danger, 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 our salvation. Yet He submits 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 our heavenly 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: (Lk 23:1-49) In the second Gospel proclamation, the crowd in Jerusalem shouts a different tune as Jesus is brought before Pilate: "Crucify him! 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 very life to redeem us from sin.

Reflection on the second Gospel proclamation: During this coming 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. With all faith and devotion let us follow our Lord to Calvary, so that as we partake of the cross we may also have a share in His resurrection and life eternal in heaven.

Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, in Your tender love for the human race You sent Your only Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon Him our human 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!