Palm Sunday Year C

This Sunday we begin the prayer of Holy Week as Jesus enters Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, accompanied by crowds shouting joyfully ‘Hosanna!’ and waving palm branches. Very soon, the mood of the people changes and their cry is ‘Crucify him!’ (Gospel). We accompany Jesus as he goes to his death.

The other readings help us to understand what is happening.

We see that Jesus fulfils the Old Testament prophecies of the suffering servant from Isaiah; in the face of his Passion, he knows and trusts that the Father will help him (First Reading).

Psalm 21 (22) moves from utter dejection: ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ to praise and trust in God: ‘Give him praise ... revere him’! You may wish to read the whole psalm from your Bible during Holy Week to understand the prayer that Jesus prayed from the cross.

St Paul’s explanation of the meaning of Jesus’s incarnation, death and Resurrection ends with a firm declaration of faith that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Second Reading). Even as we walk in sorrow with Jesus this Holy Week, we look forward to Easter joy in the Resurrection.

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Gospel

Christ was humbler yet, even to accepting death; death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names. Second Reading

This week’s texts if you want to reflect further

Isaiah 50: 3–7; Psalm 21 (22); Philippians 2: 6–11; Luke 22:14–23:56