Cycle B - Year I:  

28 March 2021:  Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

(Liturgical Color: Red)

Readings:

First Reading:        Isaiah 50:4-7

Second Reading:   Philippians 2:6-11

Gospel Readings:  

Part 1 -  Matthew 21:1-11

Part 2 -  Mark 14:1 -- 15:47

"To walk with our Lord Jesus to Calvary!"

It was same time last year when the corona pandemic happened, and now we are in the second year of this pandemic.  

So we begin our entry into the holiest season of Holy Week in sadness as Palm Sunday ang Holy Week liturgies are commemorated again this year without the physical presence of the faithful.  

The guidelines issued by the Congregations for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic, and endorsed by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) remain essentially valid for the celebration of Palm Sunday and Holy Week in 2021 for the safety of everyone.

Nonetheless, let us reflect on the traditional activities of Palm Sunday for their meaning and significance in our spiritual life.  This time such reflection may be more realistic as the whole of humanity walks through difficult times during this coronavirus pandemic.

Palm Sunday begins our journey with Jesus on His way of the cross, as we also anticipate His Resurrection on Easter.  The color of the priest's vestments and the altar cloth is Red.

Two Gospel proclamations will be heard today.  The first Gospel at the beginning of the Sunday liturgy is from St. Matthew commemorating Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  Normally, the first Gospel is read after the blessing of the palm branches with the presence of the faithful and before the Mass proper.  This year there will be again no participation of the faithful for this ceremony.  

Gospel proclamation for blessing of the palm branches (Mt 21:1-11):  Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem for the last time and the people greeted Him: "Hosanna  to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest!"  Then the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while other cut branches from trees and strewed them on the road as Jesus passes by.  The event shows our Lord Jesus coming as a gentle, humble bearer of the Good News, and not as a conquering warrior.

Going to Jerusalem was a decisive step in completing Jesus' mission as He makes His final preparation for His journey to Calvary.  Amidst the shouts and welcome by the large crowds, Jesus sees beyond their noise His suffering, torture and death on the cross of salvation.  

Gospel proclamation in the Mass proper (Mk 14:1--15:47):  The second Gospel proclamation about the Passion of the Lord consists of two chapters of Mark's Gospel.  Notwithstanding His triumphal entry into Jerusalem earlier, it ended in a journey of love to Calvary as our Lord Jesus dies on the cross to save humanity.

During this Holy Week, as the laity is still unable to participate actively in the Holy Week liturgies, let us meditate more intensely on the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For God so loves us to give up His only Son to die in order to redeem us from sin.  There is no greater love than this: by His suffering, death and Resurrection, our Lord Jesus has bridged the gap between God and man.    

We ask ourselves, do all these preaching make sense when the coronavirus pandemic is still with us? But then again, when everything else fails, to whom can we turn to but to God Almighty?  Trusting in God's mercy and protection, we will pass through our Calvary and overcome this pandemic in God's time.

So let us pray:  Almighty and everlasting God, in Your tender love for the human race You sent Your only Son our Savior Jesus to take upon Him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of His great humility and obedience to Your will.  Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of His suffering, and also share in His Resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

Modification to be followed during this pandemic:

CBCP (issued in 2020): "For blessing of palms, the faithful who will be following the celebration on TV can hold their palm branches... while the prayer of blessing of Palms is prayed by the presider.  In this case.... there is no need for Holy Water to bless the Palm branches."

"After the Mass, the presider can go around the streets of the parish at a previously announced time, to bless the palms, without using Holy Water, of the faithful in front of their homes.  The priest makes the sign of the cross as he passes through the streets."

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!