Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

How quickly things can change! That seems particularly true in our current time as we respond on a daily basis to the changing threat of the Coronavirus, COVID-19. But as we reflect upon the events of Holy Week in Jesus’ day, we also recognize how quickly things changed at that time as well. The Mass for Palm Sunday (also known as "Passion Sunday”) begins with the Processional Gospel (Matthew 21:1-11) that recalls the joyous arrival of Jesus in the holy city of Jerusalem riding on the back of a donkey with crowds of people waving palm branches and shouting: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” The Scripture Readings for Mass later end with a reading of the Passion of the Lord, as Jesus is betrayed and tortured, denied, mocked and crucified. The very crowds who had welcomed him to shouts of “Hosanna!” later shouted “Crucify him! Crucify him!” as our Lord stood before Pontius Pilate.

As Catholics, we fully believe in the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ. We live the Paschal Mystery each day of our lives, fully embracing the Passion, the Death, and the Resurrection of Jesus. In fact, that is why we come to attend Mass. We come to intentionally experience, in no uncertain terms, this mystery every time we celebrate the Eucharist together. Even at times such as this in which we cannot physically gather, we are bound, one to another, as the Mystical Body of Christ and may participate in a Spiritual Communion. The Lord’s one perfect sacrifice on Calvary is made present again at each celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We also understand that there is no Resurrection without first embracing the Cross of salvation.

     Holy Week begins today on Palm Sunday. The climax of Holy Week, and of the entire Church year for that matter, is the Easter Triduum (Latin for “three days”). The Triduum begins on Holy Thursday evening with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in which we commemorate when Jesus established the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper with His Apostles. The Triduum continues on the evening of Good Friday with the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord and Veneration of the Cross, and then concludes with the Easter Vigil in the evening of Holy Saturday. Though we call this time the “Three Days” (or “Triduum”), in spirit it is really seen as one continuous event.

These three days are the holiest days of the year for Christians, and should be observed with dignity and respect as days of peace and prayer. My heart aches in sorrow as I anticipate celebrating these sacred rites alone in the church, without the faithful parishioners physically present, as I know that many of you have experienced heartache the past few weeks at not being able to receive the Holy Eucharist. But we may still remain mindful that despite the circumstances in which we find ourselves, we are celebrating one of the central beliefs of our faith – that Jesus, who suffered and died for our salvation, will rise from the dead, and offer us the hope of eternal life in his heavenly kingdom!

When difficulties emerge in our lives, we need look only toward the nearest crucifix. For in that glance, we realize that we are never alone in our adversity. Jesus is ever present with us, proving every day his total love for us. That is the message that we share with our fractured world – Jesus is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life for all! If all of us who profess to follow Christ crucified live our faith with joy, and live our lives in a way that is pleasing unto the Lord, the world in which we live could be healed of much of its pain and suffering. Jesus is the Way that leads to everlasting life.