PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD ( 28 March 2021)

FIRST READING (My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (50:4-7)

The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.

The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24)

R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Ps 22:2a)

All who see me scoff at me; they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads: “He relied on the Lord; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, if he loves him.” (R)

Indeed, many dogs surround me, a pack of evildoers closes in upon me; they have pierced my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones. (R)

They divide my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. But you, O Lord, be not far from me; O my help, hasten to aid me. (R)

I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you: “You who fear the Lord, praise him; all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him; revere him, all you descendants of Israel!” (R)

SECOND READING (Christ humbled himself. Because of this, God greatly exalted him.)

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians (2:6-11)

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

The narrative of the Lord’s Passion is read without candles and without incense, with no greeting or signing of the book. It is read by a Deacon or, if there is no Deacon, by a Priest. It may also be read by readers, with the part of Christ, if possible, reserved to a Priest.

 

Deacons, but not others, ask for the blessing of the Priest before singing the Passion, as at other times before the Gospel.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Phil 2:8-9)

R. Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name. (R)

Homily

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

When I was a boy and then a teenager, our town hosted an annual Memorial Day parade to welcome home some of the young men from our town who had returned from the Vietnam war, as well as older veterans from other wars. To this day I still remember the parade – the shouts, and the looks on the faces of those older veterans and of the returning soldiers only a few years older than I.

Hearing both our opening Gospel and now the Passion narrative of St. Mark, I wonder if the feelings of the people at Bethphage and Bethany, and at the base of Mount Olivet, had similar emotions as they hailed Jesus as a King – or did they have an inkling that their enthusiasm would quickly turn to disdain when he was later arrested, tried and put to death. 

Hero worship does not seem to enjoy a long shelf life – THEN or today.

We don’t usually think of Jesus as a Hero, but heroic he is. He is our Savior, the one who handed himself over for our sake, the one who was abandoned so that we might belong. Today, when the excitement of the procession and waving of palms ceases, we should all take some time reflecting on the character of our hero. On this first day of Holy Week, we should seek to understand why a week filled with betrayal and denial, of mockery and bloodshed is called HOLY.

Our readings today paint a picture of terror and viciousness. Isaiah speaks of a beating and derision; the psalmist staggers under the weight of abandonment and assault; and the Gospel describes each excruciating episode of the passion of Jesus. How can anyone endure such horrors? But they are endured. In fact, they are EMBRACED by the Lord. 

Trusting in God, the suffering servant servant of Isaiah offered himself to his persecutors braced by an inner certainty that he was not disgraced. With a lyricism heard for centuries, Paul proclaims that Jesus, our hero, emptied himself and humbly accepted death on the cross – a death seen at that time as one of abject disgrace and defeat. Anticipating his torment, Jesus humbly submits to the Father, “Not what I will but what you will!” What is it that empowers people to face such unthinkable suffering bravely and unflinchingly? There is only one explanation: UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

In Holy Week we focus on the sufferings of Jesus. But, it is not the suffering of Jesus, that makes this week HOLY. Rather, it is “holy” because of the inexplicable and immeasurable LOVE that prompted that suffering. Genuine love often empowers – even transforms – us. We know that love of family can engender unselfishness, and love of kinship and nationalism can inspire heroism and sacrifice. This week we see that, driven by love for all of us, Jesus willingly accepted the consequences of his messianic role. 

This week is holy because of LOVE, even though a misunderstood love. Jesus is a hero, but not in the traditional pattern of heroism. He is not triumphant, as we understand triumph. Instead, he appears to be a failure. Judging by one set of standards – those especially of the people of his day, but even our own, he does not meet expectations. But if we look through the prism of unconditional love, we can understand that Jesus has far surpassed all of our expectations.

Parents, people in love, committed men and women of every background and culture, age and race often disregard their own desires and comforts for the sake of those they love. Are they heroes? Of course they are! Are they failures? Certainly not! Have they frustrated our expectations? Quite the opposite! We may even expect them to act out of such personal disregard. Human self-sacrifice like this gives us insight into the meaning of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and such selfless and self-sacrificing LOVE is at the CORE of our COVENANT relationship with God. 

The love that prompts us to give of ourselves is but a reflection of the magnanimous love of God which, in the guise of suffering and death, unfolds before us this week.

The conditions surrounding us today can make us feel that this is a terrible week, not a holy week. However, we can change this, if only in some small way – we can make it holy if we can but begin to realize the depth of God’s magnanimous, unconditional, all-enveloping love. We can make this week HOLY if we can bring unconditional love into the lives of those around us. We will make this week holy if we live according to the paradoxical standards of Jesus – who is truly our HERO.

We all face a Jerusalem ahead of us. It may not be a city, but it might be a serious illness, a change in our life, a problem, social upheaval, a pandemic, a challenge or perhaps an uncertainty ahead of us. Jesus shows us how to move toward our personal Jerusalem. As with Jesus, many people who say they will be with us, probably will not be. Yet, we must move forward, facing whatever lies ahead, knowing that Jesus has been there before us. That is the message for Palm Sunday for us. We are not entering our Jerusalem alone. Jesus has been there.

Let us ask the Lord to give us the grace and the strength to face whatever is ahead of us on our own journey. Jesus shows that the cross, whatever form it takes in our life can lead to salvation and new life. As we carry home the blessed palms today, may they remind us that through the Passion of the Lord, we will learn how to face what lies ahead of us. Jesus has been there; he knows and shows us the way that will lead to Easter. 

Prayers

CelebrantChrist our King has entered his city. Our palms and cries of homage fade away, as the words of the Gospel tell the story of his suffering and death. Let us bring our prayers to the Father, through the Son he gave up for us, with love beyond all comprehension.

READER: For the Church throughout the world, following the Saviour during Holy Week, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For peoples of every race and nation who seek peace, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For our Elect and all who are preparing for Baptism at the Easter Vigil, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For a spirit of penance, reflection, and gratitude during these days of Holy Week, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For those who suffer physical, emotional or spiritual anguish, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For all who have died in company with the crucified Lord, especially our family, friends, and parishioners, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

CELEBRANT: Lord God, with serene courage your Son went forth to die for us. Grant us a share in his strength as we bring these prayers before you, through Christ our Lord, (all) AMEN. 

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