Palm Sunday 2018

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Palm Sunday

11 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.”’ They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ They told them what Jesus had said, and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,

‘Hosanna!
    Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10     Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. – Mark 11:1-11 New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)

Reflection

The Conspiracy Against Jesus 

The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were to take place in two days’ time. So the chief priests and the scribes were seeking a way to arrest him by treachery and put him to death. They said, “Not during the festival, for fear that there may be a riot among the people.”

The Anointing at Bethany

When he was in Bethany reclining at table in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil, costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it on his head. There were some who were indignant. “Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil? It could have been sold for more than three hundred days’ wages and the money given to the poor.” They were infuriated with her. Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them, but you will not always have me. She has done what she could. She has anticipated anointing my body for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

The Betrayal by Judas

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests to hand him over to them. 11 When they heard him they were pleased and promised to pay him money. Then he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

Preparations for the Passover

12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 15 Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” – Mark 14:1-15 (NABRE)

This reading always gets me because here we see Jesus executing the final part of the Lord’s plan for Salvation. It is a plan which will end with torcher and death, much suffering, and much torment. Jesus knows what is now going to happen once he enters into Jerusalem, he knows that the only way out for him is by completing the plan His father has laid out for him.

Guiding Question: ‘If you knew the future and saw your own suffering and death, knowing you put your self in that position to save the world would you?’ 

The other part of this which I find is mindblowing is how Jesus prepared for this moment, how he tried to prepare his disciples, how Jesus took each step closer to his own death with confidence in His resurrection and glorification by His Holy Father in Heaven. But even knowing all this Jesus still did not do it for His own rewards rather he single-mindedly sacrificed Himself like a sheep led to slaughter for you and me so we all could be together feasting with Him and God together in Heaven for all time.

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

 

43 Then, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44 His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, “The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely.” 45 He came and immediately went over to him and said, “Rabbi.” And he kissed him. – Mark 14:43-45 (NABRE)

So, it was with a single kiss our Lord, Jesus was betrayed and taken to the High Priests in the cover of darkness. How many things do we do under the cover of darkness? How many people in course of our life could we be guilty of betraying? Still, none of those betrails equals this single betrail of Jesus by Judas. But remember my brothers and sisters this was all part of a greater plan that Jesus Himself was executing as instructed by God on our behalf. With that said Jesus would have to have known Judas would be able to play his part, Just as He would have known the other disciples would flee in fear and that Peter would deny him three times before the cock would crow. (Luke 22:61-62) Each step Jesus took for you and me for our sins, so we might know God and receive His mercy and salvation. So, each of our personal betrails of others is forgiven by Jesus, and thus we must also learn to forgive others and love each other as Christ, Jesus loved us on this day of His own personal betrail by man. 

Let’s Us Pray

ANNUNCIATION

SOLEMNITY

God, come to my assistance.

Lord, make haste to help me.

Ant. A shoot will spring forth from the stock of Jesse, and a flower will blossom from his root. The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him (Alleluia) 

Psalm 113

 Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord, you his servants;
    praise the name of the Lord.
Let the name of the Lord be praised,
    both now and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
    the name of the Lord is to be praised.

The Lord is exalted over all the nations,
    his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the Lord our God,
    the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look
    on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
He settles the childless woman in her home
    as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord.

May the Lord bless you, protect you from all evil and bring you to everlasting life.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saint Joseph, Pray for us.Sancte Ioseph – ‘ora pro nobis,’

Now go spread the word!

Reaffirming Our Mission

To Always Image Christ in Mind, Heart, Body, and Soul.

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Saint Louis De Montford Catholic Church

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Listening Faithfully Blog written by Brian K. Stark © 2009-2018

Published by

Brother Brian

Brother Brian currently serves within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Catholic School System. He is currently in his twentieth year of teaching.

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