022 Palm Sunday of Lent

Readings

Cycle B Palm Sunday

Procession of Palms: Mark 11: 1-10 (This will be read during introduction of Mass followed by blessing and Procession with the Palms.)

Old Testament: Isaiah 50:4-7

New Testament: Philippians 2-6-11; Mark 14:1-15-47

Psalm: Psalm 22:8-9,17-20,23-24

Gospel: Mark 14:1-15-47

Homily Theme

Which One Will I Be?

This Sunday we will celebrate the beginning of Holy Week with the Liturgy of Palm Sunday, during which the solemn reading of the Passion of Our Blessed Lord will be proclaimed. Most priests will not preach a homily after it due to the length of the gospel reading, so I have chosen a thought for us all to ponder and consider during this Mass and the coming Holy Week.

In the procession of palms during the reading from Mark we see a great crowd crying out in acclamation to Jesus. It is so easy to be moved by a crowd. We will want to be there shouting also and we are, as we all hold and wave our Palms. Just a few days later the crowd will cry out again, only this time, it will be for His death. “Away with Him, Crucify Him." Even His closest friends will desert Him; just His mother and a few women along with the youngest apostle John are there to the end. They are not part of the crowd. No public opinion polls for them. It is love and faith that give them the courage to step away from the fickle, changing crowd. We still have the cheering crowds and the screaming mobs in our day; there are those who will avoid either, or both. Pope Francis

knows what it is like to see the cheering, flag waving crowds and the crucifying mob of the media after. Times haven’t really changed.

This is the beginning of the holiest week of the liturgical year when the church has the most beautiful of all its ceremonies. Have you ever attended them in previous years? Will you be there this year? The crowd will be back in church to sing His acclaim on Easter Sunday, but will all the people be there on Holy Thursday to celebrate the washing of the feet and the Last Supper? Many churches will sing the hymn, “Were you there when they crucified My Lord?”Will you be there on Good Friday when He is crucified? What about the Easter Vigil?

As you ponder the readings this Palm Sunday and hear all the different types in the scriptures,

ask yourself…….....................................Which One Will I be?