Weekly Reflections

Gospel Reflection for 5th April Palm Sunday
Palm or Passion Sunday – the beginning of Holy Week

The Drama of Holy Week begins – 5th April Palm Sunday

Today is Palm or Passion Sunday; the beginning of Holy Week. It is the climax of our Lenten journey and the most important week in the Churches liturgical calendar. It will be to use a word with which we are now very familiar ‘unprecedented.’ He will do and say things that his followers, friends and family will not fully understand. Despite all he prepared them for and said to them, they will not fully grasped what his happening to him or to them. Nothing could have prepared them for what they are about to experience and have to deal with.

Sound familiar?

About this time in many if not all our parishes, groups of all sorts would have been preparing for the celebration of Holy Week and Easter. We think of readers, choirs, altar servers, cleaners, and so many more. Sadly because of the Corona virus, it is more than likely that all local parish churches will now be closed for Easter.

As we said, this is unprecedented. Nothing has prepared us for this current and emerging reality. Perhaps we are not so unlike the followers, friends and family of Jesus. Three weeks ago if we were told that our churches would be closed for Easter, we would not have believed it. All that we considered normal has been put on hold; going out freely, shopping with ease, meeting others and so much more. So, as we begin this most sacred of weeks how do we enter into the prayers and liturgy of Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter?

At the start of Lent, Jesus asked us to travel and stay with as he began his journey to cross. Now, perhaps, we need to find the faith, hope and courage to ask Jesus to stay with during our time of suffering, pain and uncertainty. A friend of mine said to me recently that we are all now experiencing the pain of Good Friday. Many are afraid and worried about themselves and their families. Many have lost their jobs or have been sent home from work without pay, including members of my own family. This truly is a time of personal, familial, national and global suffering.

How do we have a sense of God being with us during these challenging times? I find it very easy to pray when things are going well for me; when I am in charge and control. This has not been experiencing these days. My prayer now is not so much what I do for God, but more of what God can do for me – and this is not easy at all! Those who knew Jesus stood by helplessly powerless has they watched him being condemned and crucified. Perhaps we feel helpless and powerless these days. But we are not without faith our courage: God is with us. This is Christian hope: not that things will turn out well or the way we want, but that whatever happens, God is with us.

Through the cross, fear was shattered by hope, darkness was overcome by light and death was defeated by life. This is a time of crucifixion, but the resurrection will come – for all of us. Today and this week try to find a radio station or television channel that is broadcasting the Holy Weeks services. If you have a computer try to find your own or another church that is celebrating the liturgies on-line; try your best to connected to what is happening.

In prayer, let us reach out to and connect with each other; we are not alone – God is with us.

-Br Michael Moore OMI

Gospel for April 5th Palm Sunday: Matthew 21:1-11 ©

When they drew near to Jerusalem

and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives,

Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them,

‘Go into the village facing you,

and immediately you will find an ass tied,

and a colt with her: untie them and bring them to me.

If anyone says anything to you, you shall say,

“The Lord has need of them,”

and he will send them immediately.’

This took place to fulfil

what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

‘Tell the daughter of Sion,

Behold, your king is coming to you,

humble, and mounted on an ass,

and on a colt, the foal of an ass.’

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;

they brought the ass and the colt,

and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon.

Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road,

and others cut branches from the trees

and spread them on the road.

And the crowds that went before him

and that followed him shouted,

‘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,

all the city was stirred, saying, ‘Who is this?’

And the crowds said,

‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee.’

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Weekly Reflections

Gospel Reflection for 5th April Palm Sunday
Palm or Passion Sunday – the beginning of Holy Week

Gospel for April 5th Palm Sunday: Matthew 21:1-11 ©

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