Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

In the Catholic Church, it is mandatory that a cross with corpus, a crucifix, be prominently displayed near the altar where the Liturgy of Eucharist is celebrated. A crucifix is carried at the head of every liturgical procession (if and when there are altar servers). There are often one or more crucifixes in our homes. We trace the sign of the cross on the forehead of a candidate or an infant seeking the Sacrament of Baptism. We use holy water, making the sign of the cross when we enter the Church (or at least we should) to remember our Baptism that celebrated our initial entry into the Church. Sacramental anointings (at Baptism or Holy Orders, and for Anointing of the Sick) are all done with the sign of the cross. We sign our forehead, our lips, and our hearts before the Gospel is read at Mass. Many of us wear a cross or crucifix either inside or outside our clothing. There is a crucifix hanging from every set of rosary beads. And more likely than not, we begin and end our formal prayers or shared prayers with the sign of the cross. And one last reminder, don’t forget we began our celebration of the Mass today with the sign of the cross.

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Entrance Antiphon – Mt 21:9: “Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.”  

Gospel at Procession – Lk 19:28-40: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

First Reading – Is 50:4-7: “My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting knowing that I shall not be put to shame.”

Responsorial Psalm – Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24: My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?”

Second Reading – Phil 2:6-11: “Christ humbled Himself. Because of this God greatly exalted Him.”               

Verse before the Gospel – Phil 2:8-9: “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.”

Gospel – Lk 22:14 – 23:56: “The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ”

Communion Antiphon – Mt 26:42: “Father, if this chalice cannot pass without my drinking it, Your will be done.”

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So, what am I getting at when I illustrate all of the places where there is a cross or crucifix? Well, the point I am trying to make is that the road to the Resurrection must pass through Calvary … through Golgotha … through the Place of the Skull … through the Place of the Cross.

In our Passion Reading, Jesus is eager to eat the Passover with us. He wants to feed us and turn us slowly into Himself. Saint Paul in our Second Reading tells us we must have the same attitude toward life and death that Jesus has. We sang hosanna and will leave church carrying palm branches that have become a sign of martyrdom. As Disciples … as Christians … we should want to accompany Jesus all the way to the Cross and, in accord with the Letter to the Philippians … we should proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord … the Lord of history … and Lord of our lives.

During the Passion, Peter denied Jesus for the third time and looked up to see Jesus looking him directly in the eye. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation and in the Penitential Rite as we begin Mass, Jesus looks at each one of us directly in the eye. He loves us, as He does Saint Peter, and He invites us to come and follow Him.

Like the Prophet Isaiah in this weekend’s First Reading, we must be attentive to God’s Word each and every day. God opens our ears that we may sense His call deep within our hearts. The Passion Narrative is recognized as the most significant part of the Gospels. The very core of the Christian faith is expressed in these chapters: service, suffering, death, and ultimately the resurrection. Bible scholars have sometimes referred to each of the Gospels as Passion Narratives … each with an introduction of varying length … the Gospel of Saint Mark being the shortest and the Gospel of Saint Luke is the longest … but each of them are essentially Passion Narratives with an introduction of varying length because that is ultimately where the story began. And get ready, we will hear another Passion Narrative again on Good Friday of this Holy Week. That one reserved for Saint John’s Gospel … and remember, every Disciple must be prepared to suffer … it has not been written anywhere in Sacred Scripture or the Catechism that being a Christian is easy.

After the Liturgy of the Word, our stewardship is presented, the table is prepared with the bread and wine … and the Liturgy of the Eucharist begins. These elements represent us who are to be consecrated … these elements represent those who are to be transformed in communion with Jesus. Viewing the corpus on the cross, we need to remember that we are the Body of Christ stretching out our arms to embrace the world and all that God is creating. Jesus, assures us that we can drink the cup that He will drink. He encourages us to take the bread and to take the cup. Our “Amen” as we receive Holy Communion … and it is Amen … it is not “Thank You” or some other sentiment, nor is it silence … our Amen prior to receiving our Lord on the tongue or in our hand recognizes that we are the Body of Christ. And each time we celebrate, we anticipate the eternal banquet in heaven to which we are all called.

If you think about it, Jesus’ whole life proclaims the Sermon on the Mount to us. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers, those seeking righteousness, the insulted, and the persecuted.” The Crucifixion is how the world punishes the Sermon on the Mount. And Jesus repeatedly tells us, “Do not be afraid!” The message to disciples from the Cross on this Palm Sunday as we begin Holy Week, is, “Go for life … it will cost you everything … but you will be changed … you will utterly surprise yourself … and you will change the world.”

We go for life each and every time we receive Christ in Holy Communion. United with Him, we are able to live out His Crucifixion and His Resurrection in the way that He wants. May you all have a faith-filled and blessed Holy Week.