Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Today the Church celebrates Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. The assigned readings are Luke 19:28-40, Isaiah 50:4-7, Philippians 2:6-11, and Mark 14:1-15:47. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 22 (Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24).

The Gospel reading for the procession with the palms is as follows:

Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany  at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples. He said, “Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered  on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will answer, ‘The Master has need of it.’”

So those who had been sent went off  and found everything just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying this colt?” They answered, “The Master has need of it.”

So they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount. As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He said in reply, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!”

Reflections on this day and on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales; Sundays Salesian: Palm/Passion Sunday (March 24, 2013)

Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.: Passion Sunday - Palm Sunday

Msgr. Charles Pope: See What the End Shall Be – A Meditation on the Lucan Passion Narrative (23  MAR 13)

Catholic Online: The Happy Priest: Palm Sunday and the Humility of God (24 MAR 13)

Word on Fire: Sermon 637: Which King? Whose Kingdom?: Palm Sunday

Dr. Scott Hahn: Passion Sunday (March 24th 2013 - Passion of the Christ)

The Word Encountered: In Human Likeness (Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion C)

ST. Cyril of Alexandria: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.