At the Procession with Palms - Gospel
Reading II
Gospel
Reflection
Initially, there seems a striking contrast between the shouts of praise in today’s first Gospel at the procession with palms and the harrowing Crucifixion account of the following Gospel reading. Today’s second reading from St. Paul, however, bridges these two scenes with the reminder that Jesus’ Cross is His glory. While we mourn our own sinfulness today, we also witness the splendor of Our Savior.
The disciples in the first Gospel passage praise God “for all the mighty deeds they had seen,” laying down cloaks and palms to honor Jesus as He enters Jerusalem. Little do they know the true reason for the moment’s praiseworthiness. Palm Sunday is Jesus’ accepting and initiating of His mightiest deed of all: ultimate obedience and love on the Cross. Jesus says, "I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!" Indeed, such a moment necessitates praise, to the point that earth itself would compensate for its absence.
In the second reading, Paul says Jesus emptied Himself to become one of us, “…becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him…” These words reveal that every knee bends at the name of Jesus because of His selfless incarnation and crucifixion.
Yes, today should fill us with humility and sorrow at the fickleness and brokenness of humanity, but our “Hosannas” today are not just a darkly ironic contrast to the Cross. Rather, our praise is the most fitting greeting for Jesus, Our Savior, coming to lay Himself down for us.
Let us mimic Our Lord, whose willing entrance into suffering and self-gift is His glory. We begin this Holy Week announcing our praise alongside the disciples in the Gospel, but we also accompany Jesus as He embraces the Cross. The Scriptures tell us that to be like Christ and offer ourselves as a gift of love is the most glorious act we can do. Let us go and do likewise.
Please be assured of my prayers for you before Our Lord, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
+ Bishop Schlert
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