Palm Sunday
of the Passion of the Lord
This Sunday, we begin our spiritual journey into the most significant week in our lives as we solemnly commemorate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord. I imagine that if this pandemic was not happening, most of us would be excited about bringing palm branches to be blessed this Sunday and attending the procession for the commemoration of the Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem. However, with the current situation, most of us will be staying in our homes as we try to spiritually partake and gaze into the liturgical celebrations despite our absence.
We are all supposed to wave our palm branches and proclaim that Jesus is our Messiah, the King of Israel. “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel. Hosanna in the highest” (Ant., Mt 21, 9). However, although we cannot be physically present at this time, we can nevertheless unite ourselves in spirit with our priests as they celebrate these liturgical acts on our behalf.
Let this most difficult time be utilized in devoted prayer and doing good works if we are able. For the time being, let us wave not our palms but our worries, our petitions, ourselves, our family and our friends to our merciful and compassionate Lord, who is our Saviour, King and Redeemer.
Let us all cry out and say: Hosanna in the highest! “Glory and honour and praise be to you. Christ, King and Redeemer” (Hymnus ad Christum Regem).
Let us pray.
Almighty ever-living God,
who as an example of humility
for the human race to follow
caused our Saviour to take flesh
and submit to the Cross,
graciously grant that we may heed
his lesson of patient suffering
and so merit a share in his Resurrection.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
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