Palm Sunday of the Lord’ Solemnity Passion
Also Read: Mass Readings for 02 April 2023 Homily for 02 April 2023 – Sunday
Procession: Matthew 21: 1-11
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. (8)
Let us prepare our hearts for this Holy Week so that we might be worthy of worshipping The Lord.
Amen!
First Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-7
The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. (7)
Christ chose to go to the cross to redeem us. In His free will as a human, he chose to remain faithful to the will of the Father. His obedience has saved us once and for all. When we are faced with trials we must know He walks with us.
In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 22: 8-9, 17-20, 23-24
But you, O Lord, do not be far away! O my help, come quickly to my aid! (19)
For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.
Amen!
Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11
Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited. (6)
God’s humility in coming into this broken world as a human is unfathomable for our little minds! May we learn humility from our Lord!
Amen!
Gospel: Matthew 27: 11-54
Then Pilate asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” (23)
Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. (50-52)
God willed that His son must die to redeem us and Christ willingly died for us. He went down to the dead as Saviour according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He brought back Adam and Eve and all the holy souls who had died before His passion on Earth. In his death, he conquered sin and gained victory over the devil. We thank God for his unimaginable love for us!
St. Francis of Assisi once said that by our continuing and taking delight in our sins and vices, we keep crucifying Christ over again. As we contemplate the passion of Christ during this Holy Week, may we truly repent of our sins. May we reform our ways and transform our hearts in Jesus’ name. Amen!