Palm Sunday – Your Weekly Reflection from CMMB
A Catholic Meditation on the Gospel
This Sunday, called Palm or Passion Sunday, is the first day of Holy Week. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday are called the Triduum—three days that are the highlight of the Church year. The first Gospel, proclaimed before the procession with palms, tells of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. Riding on a borrowed colt, Jesus was hailed by the crowds as they blessed God and shouted “Hosanna!”
“Crowds, celebrating, praise, blessing, peace: joy fills the air. [He] has awakened great hopes, especially in the hearts of the simple, the humble, the poor, the forgotten, those who do not matter in the eyes of the world. He understands human sufferings, he has shown the face of God’s mercy, he has bent down to heal body and soul.” – Pope Francis
Pope Francis tells us that as Christians, we must be people of joy, but it’s a special kind of joy, not based on emotion or worldly contentment, but on our encounter with Christ.
“Ours is not a joy that comes from having many possessions, but from having encountered a Person. We accompany, we follow Jesus, but above all we know that he accompanies us and carries us on his shoulders. Jesus was a unique kind of King who came not to rule in the usual sense, but to take upon himself the weight of the world’s sins. In our time there are still plenty of sins for Christians to confront. Let us look around: how many wounds are inflicted upon humanity by the evil of wars, violence, economic conflicts that hit the weakest, greed for money, power, corruption, divisions, crimes against human life and against creation! There are also personal shortcomings, including our failures in love and respect towards God, towards our neighbor and towards the whole of creation. Jesus on the Cross feels the whole weight of the evil, and with the force of God’s love he conquers it, he defeats it with his resurrection.”
– Pope Francis
On Palm Sunday, we come face to face with Jesus and with the reality of how we are to live our lives each day. As Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, the king of heaven and earth once again gives us a powerful a lesson in humility. Humility is the realization that all our gifts and blessings come from the grace of God.
Today’s reflection was inspired by the Loyola Press Sunday Connection.
Stories of Children Living in Extreme Poverty
Purity is only one, but already knows the pain of hunger and thirst. Her mother is raising six young children on her own and constantly struggles to give her children what they need. Our team is worried that without enough food and clean water, Purity’s health is at serious risk. Help Purity grow up healthy and happy.
Read Purity’s Story BY CLICKING HERE
Evans is six years old and has a rare condition that makes it impossible for him to sit or stand on his own. As a result, he spends most of his time confined to a blanket on the ground. His mom is desperate to help him but she cannot afford the specialized care he needs. You can help Evans live a healthier and more dignified life.
Read Evan’s Story BY CLICKING HERE
Safari is a bright kid with big dreams. Sadly, his dad recently abandoned the family, leaving his mom to care for five young children. She is struggling to put enough food on the table and as a result is not longer able to pay for school fees. Safari misses going to school. You can help him get back into the classroom and back on track for a brighter future.