Palm Sunday of the Lord’ Solemnity Passion

Also Read: Mass Readings for 24 March 2024 Homily for 24 March 2024 – Sunday

First Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-7

The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. (5)

Today we welcome the Lord God and hail him as the King! Isaiah is prophesizing about Jesus that he was not rebellious and describes him as the one who did not hide his face. All this the Lord God suffered for our redemption!

Let us also “listen as those who are taught” and not become rebellious towards our Saviour.

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24

“Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—let him rescue the one in whom he delights!” (8)

Amen!

Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11

Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (9-11)

St. Paul says: “…let the same mind be in you that was in Christ.” He then proceeds to describe the humility of God! Hence, humility must be our standard.

Let us strive to remember this principle of faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Gospel: Mark 14: 1 – 15: 47

For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. (15:10)

The Holy Week begins with the entire narration of the Passion of Christ Jesus. The gospel opens with a woman anointing Christ’s feet and closes with another set of women who watched where his body was laid. There are noteworthy characters that cross Christ’s path to the Cross and we may find ourselves drawn to any one or all of them. We also learn that the crown of thorns was an instant creation by the Roman soldiers to mock Christ as King of the Jews. The inhuman torture of God went far beyond the Jewish laws; as it was meted out by the Romans.

We may find ourselves among the crowd that was being instigated by the chief priests. Had we been witness to such horrific injustice, what would be our reaction? Would we too have joined with the crowd demanding innocent blood? Today, when we turn a blind eye to the abortions being committed in the name of liberty, are we not partaking in the murder of the innocents? Do we have the courage to stand up for Gospel values in daily life? Or do we like Iscariot, turn away from the Lord even when we have the chance to repent?

Like Peter, let us turn our gaze to the Lord! As our eyes meet the Lord’s, we have the choice to repent like Peter and receive the forgiveness of our Saviour. Let us have the courage to be humble and the humility to be courageous on our way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Third Scrutiny of the Elect/ Lenten Mass Readings

Also Read: Mass Readings for 17 March 2024 Homily for 17 March 2024 – Sunday

First Reading: Jeremiah 31: 31-34

Know Thy LORD in every minute!

No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. (34)

We thank the Lord God our Father for his great mercy on us. We have been disobedient towards God, quite like the Israelites from the Old Testament. Yet God has been faithful towards us and poured his Holy Spirit on us through Jesus Christ! We know God as Our Father because of Jesus Christ.

God has made the new covenant through Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. (Lk 22:14-22) Through the new covenant, we have been saved. (Heb. 9)

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 51: 3-4, 12-13, 14-15

“Wash me and I will be Clean!”

For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. (3)

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. (12)

In Jesus Name, Amen!

Second Reading: Hebrews 5: 7-9

Obedience!

Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. (8)

Let us not grow weary in our suffering. We must remember that Christ Jesus being the Son of God suffered and was obedient even unto death. By His death and resurrection, we have been saved.

In today’s reading, we are reminded that Christ is appointed “priest, according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Heb. 5:1-6) We thank the Lord God for our priests and all clergy and especially pray for them today.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Gospel: John 12: 20-33

Find your “Grain!”

Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (24)

What is Christ also referring to as “The grain that dies”? Could it be a submission at the very core of our being? The grain dies but is transformed into a tree with fruit. Then let us submit our whole self, our plans, our thoughts, and our desires to the one who can grow the tree of our life! Jesus came that we may have life in abundance. (Jn 10:10)

Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. (28 -30)

This great sign occurs in Bethany at the house of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. The people had gathered there in a large number not only to see Jesus but also to see Lazarus who had been raised from the dead. Mary anoints his feet with nard and Jesus proclaims that she had bought it for the day of his burial. (Jn. 12:7-8) There were some Greek visitors who had come to worship in Jerusalem, among the people at the house. They all heard the voice from heaven. Each one interpreted it differently. The voice had come for our sake and not for Jesus’ sake! Yet among the witnesses were a few who wouldn’t believe! The few remained obstinate in their unbelieving heart until they jealously had the Christ crucified.

We pray today for a heart that is submissive to God. Like the Psalmist we pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.” (Ps.51:10-11)

In Jesus’ name, Amen, Amen, Amen!