PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD MARCH 28, 2021

MASS READINGS:

At the Procession with Palms - Gospel Mark 11:1-10

When Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately on entering it, you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone should say to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ reply, ‘The Master has need of it and will send it back here at once.’” So they went off and found a colt tethered at a gate outside on the street, and they untied it. Some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They answered them just as Jesus had told them to, and they permitted them to do it. So they brought the colt to Jesus and put their cloaks over it. And he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!”

REFLECTION: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!”

This week comes to fulfillment the mystery of the salvation of mankind. Today begins Passion Week. Many people were following Jesus after He left Bethany because His many miracles had been told throughout Jerusalem. The Lord, on a colt, was greeted with songs, joyous demonstrations, red carpet, people laying out their garments on the ground and waving olive and palm branches. The crowd had been wowed by the many and mighty works of Jesus. At last, the Jewish people had seen their signs.

What a difference, though, a few days make as the people on Good Friday were yelling, " Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him! ( Gospel of the Mass Mark 1-15:47) And in a few days He will be nailed to a cross.

Everything that Jesus does has a meaning. We see Him entering on a colt. The humility is what strikes us the most--and this is just how He wants to enter triumphantly into our simple lives of working, caring for children or parents, cleaning, cooking, and living as close to Him as possible. He lives in our lives and in the normal human relationships that we have.

But do we make Him weep as He wept over Jerusalem when He neared it? Jerusalem was deep in sin, stubbornness, meanness, double standards, impenitence and hypocrisy. Jesus offered peace but Jerusalem was not to find peace; rather misfortune, destruction and enslavement were in Jerusalem's future. Miracles, teachings, preachings, and a multitude of graces would not change their minds.

Jesus loves us and will give Himself up for us. His death will bring salvation. Whether our Lent was the best or if we failed in our attempts, remember that the Holy Spirit is always seeking to make us holy. Though Lent will soon be over, we continue saying "yes" to God and "no" to sinfulness; "yes" to faithful perseverance and loyalty and "no" to all that separates us from God.

Have a blessed Holy Week.