Cycle C - Year II:  

10 April 2022: Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion 

(Liturgical Color: Red)

Readings:

First Reading:        Isaiah 50:4-7

Second Reading:   Philippians 2:6-11

Gospel:  Part 1 - Luke 19:28-40

              Part 2 - Luke 23:1-49 (or Luke 22:14--23:56) 

The road to Calvary....

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion begins the celebration of our Lord's Paschal Mystery of His Passion and Resurrection.  The color of the priest's vestment and the altar cloth is Red.

Today's Church liturgy marks our entry into the holiest season of Holy Week. We journey with Jesus on His way of the cross and anticipate His resurrection on Easter Sunday.

There are two Gospel proclamations from St. Luke. At the beginning of the celebration the people gather in a suitable place outside the main church, or chapel, for the blessing of the palm branches. The first Gospel proclamation is read on the triumphal entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.

The second Gospel proclamation narrates the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and is done within the Mass proper.

Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem: (Luke 19:28-40)

Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem greeted by 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.' " (Lk 19:36, 38)

This event was a direct fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy  of Zechariah, "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." (Zac 9:9)

Reflection:  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. Our Lord submits completely to the will of the Father.

We are also called to enter our own "Jerusalem" through our life's many struggles and trials. Our challenge is to surrender ourselves completely to the will of the Father. We may not always understand these trials but we must keep our faith. We must trust God as our loving Father who never abandons us. So let us welcome Jesus Christ into the "Jerusalem" of our hearts.

The Passion and Death of Jesus: (Luke 23:1-49)

Jesus is brought before Pilate and the crowd in Jerusalem shouts: "Crucify him! Crucify him!"  The road to Calvary is sealed for Jesus. He is crucified and died on the cross. His triumphal entry into Jerusalem ended in death in Calvary as Jesus gives up His very life to redeem us from sin.

Reflection: During this Holy Week let us meditate more intensely on the passion and death of our Lord Jesus.   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 has bridged the gap between God and man.  With faith and devotion, come and 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, for the human race You sent Your 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, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!