This Sunday is Palm or Passion Sunday and it is the beginning of Holy Week which ends with the highlight of the liturgical year: the celebration of Easter, the victory of Christ over death through His resurrection. During Holy Week we prayerfully remember the events of Jesus’ passion and death, especially over the Easter Triduum (3 special days) which starts on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.
Today’s mass, begins with the procession with palms and the Gospel proclaims Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, riding on a borrowed colt. The crowds who were gathered for the feast of Passover enthusiastically waved palm branches and shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” The crowds were hailing Jesus as the king who would lead them against the Romans and make them free again, but Jesus came as a king of peace, love and forgiveness. Not to bring war.
The Gospel proclaimed in the Liturgy of the Word during mass, recounts the passion of Jesus from the Gospel of Mark. This narrative shows us that Jesus understood that his death had been preordained and that it was a part of the mystery of God’s plan and purpose. Jesus in obedience to God’s will freely laid down his life for him to take it up again after three days. The joy of his entrance into Jerusalem did not last long. After Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples (the Last Supper), where he predicted that their faith would be challenged (which they denied), he went to the garden to pray. Jesus went to pray alone to his Father calling him “Abba,” (father Aramaic) a sign of his love and intimate relationship.
Do we as Christians acknowledge God who truly is “Abba” our heavenly father? Do we place our trust in him or are we like the disciples in the garden who Jesus found sleeping? As the men seized Jesus, Mark says that his disciples “all deserted him and ran away.” At this most critical moment we ask ourselves the question, “will I desert Jesus? Will I remain a faithful follower of the Lord during the difficult moments in my life?”
At his arrest Jesus knew that his time had come, in fulfilment of the Scriptures. He was silent and confident before those who accused him, first the Sanhedrin (Jewish elders) and then Pilate. Holy Week invites us to reflect and meditate on the crucifixion, the cross of Christ as the reason why the Son of God became man. He was destined to die and to raise us up with him. After he was sentenced to death Jesus did not speak again until his final cry from the cross “my God, my God why have you forsaken me?” The veil in the Sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two at exactly the same moment, revealing the innermost sacred area the “Holy of Holies.” Confirmation that Jesus is the Son of God, and that through death on the cross he became the ultimate sacrifice, revealing God’s love for each and every one of us.
Today’s Gospel speaks to us about a special celebration which happened to Jesus one day. Today is Palm Sunday! It is a day when we remember how the people cheered and celebrated Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem more than two thousand years ago. Long before Jesus was born, God had promised his people a king who would bring peace.
- Jesus is the King of peace
- We should welcome Jesus into our lives
Jesus was walking with his disciples towards the city of Jerusalem. It was only a few days before he was going to die on the cross. At that time, the disciples did not know this although Jesus had been already preparing them for what was to happen. As they came near to the city Jesus told two of the disciples to go on ahead into the town of Bethphage and Bethany. He told them that they would see a young donkey tied up which no one had ever rode upon before. “Untie the donkey and bring it to me. If anyone asks why you are doing this just say ‘the Lord needs it, but he will send it back to you soon’.”
The disciples did just what Jesus told them to do and it happened just as he had said. They found the young donkey, untied it and as they were leading it away, some men asked them. “Where are you taking that young donkey”? They told the men what Jesus had said and the men let the disciples take the donkey.
The disciples brought the young donkey to Jesus and they put their coats on its back so Jesus could sit comfortably on it. As they entered the city of Jerusalem the people were very excited and they pulled off their coats and spread them on the road and they pulled branches from the palm trees and waved them as Jesus passed by. The crowds shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”! Others followed behind Jesus and shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna in the highest”! The crowds were pleased to see Jesus entering Jerusalem. Many years before the prophets had written that their King would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey and now he was here!
It was a happy celebration, the people were praising and singing songs just like we sing “Happy Birthday” when we are invited to a birthday party. It was a time of great joy and peace.
Do you know the song “This is the Day that the Lord has made”? Listen to this song and sing along, the words are very easy. At the same time we can rejoice and be glad because Jesus is the King of peace.
If you want to really celebrate Palm Sunday you can prepare the palm leaves (see attached example) and wave them whilst you are singing the song.
1. In today's Gospel, when Jesus comes close to the city of Jerusalem, we see that he asked two among his disciples to fetch him something. What did Jesus ask them for?
2. What did they put over this colt?
3. Other people who were witnessing the scene of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, greeted Jesus by spreading on the road...
4. What did the people say to greet Jesus?
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