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.