Gospel Reflection: Palm Sunday
Today, we begin the celebration of the Holy Week with the solemn commemoration of the Lord's entry into the holy city, Jerusalem, to complete the Pascal mystery, and which means precisely, our Lenten observance is drawing close to an end. The procession narrative (Mark 11:1-10) and the Passion account (Mark 14:1-15:47) are drawn from the Gospel of Mark for Palm Sunday Year B. This gospel, known for its concise and urgent storytelling, vividly portrays Jesus' ministry, emphasizing His dynamic teachings, miraculous deeds, and, notably, His path to the Cross. Mark's narrative thrusts us into the heart of Jesus' mission, highlighting His deep compassion and unwavering dedication to humanity's redemption. Through these readings, we are invited to reflect on the profound paradoxes of Jesus' kingship and sacrifice, prompting a deeper engagement with the mystery of Easter.
.jpg/200px-%D0%A6%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B8%2C_%D1%83%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BA_%D0%A5%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0_%D1%83_%D0%88%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%83%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BC_(Church_fresco_-_Triumphal_entry_into_Jerusalem%2C_Bitola).jpg "Palm Sunday") |
| Jesus entering Jerusalem on a colt Eastern Orthodox fresco |
As we hear the Passion narratives today, Christ was sentenced and condemned unjustly to die in the most humiliating way on the Cross in obedience and in fulfilment of His Father's will to save the world from the reign of sin and injustices. On Palm Sunday, the Mother Church invites all her faithful children to reflect and pray for the injustice committed by our world today through the oppression of the voiceless, those persecuted violently and innocently killed in conflict areas, war zones, and particularly those who suffer from hunger, starvation, and famine. May Christ's self-sacrifice and death enable us all to work faithfully and tirelessly for justice and peace in our parish and our society of today. Amen.