March 29, 2026: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11

When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me. And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The master has need of them.’ Then he will send them at once.” This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: Say to daughter Zion, “Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he sat upon them. The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?” And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Reflection

Hail! Hosanna!

Here is the one who raised our friend Lazarus from the dead. Here is the one who heals the blind, cures the lepers, drives out demons and makes the lame walk. Here is the one who fed us when we were hungry.

The people lining the road were enthralled by the wonders worked by Jesus. They proclaimed him a prophet and hoped that he was the one who would end the Roman occupation and institute a new kingdom of Israel.

But like the seed in the parable, His word and works had fallen on shallow ground. There is not enough soil beneath to allow more than a sprouting of the seed – it doesn’t grow to full flower. In less than a week, these same voices will be calling for Jesus’ crucifixion. How quickly we forget!

Those of us who know the story well know that Jesus is riding to the fulfillment of his mission. Can we praise him with our full voice along with the crowd? He has done marvelous deeds!

But we know that our faith has to be more than skin deep. We understand that the suffering to come is part of the whole story and that Resurrection cannot come without death coming first.

So we can join the crowd praising Jesus along the road, but let us not be in that crowd calling for his death on Friday.

Action

This week, let us prepare the soil of our hearts for the seed of new life given to us in Jesus’ Resurrection.