Gospel Reading

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke (19:28-40)

Jesus proceeded on his journey to Jerusalem. As he drew near Bethphage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples. He said, "Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, "Why are you untying it?" you will answer, "The Master has need of it."

So those who had been sent went off and found everything just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying this colt?" They answered, "The Master has need of it." So they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount. As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now, as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest." Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He said in reply, "I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!"

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

First Reading

A reading from the Book of Isaiah (50:4-7)

The Lord God has given men a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24)

(R) My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

All who see me scoff at me; they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads: "He relied on the Lord; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, if he loves him." (R)

Indeed, many dogs surround me, a pack of evildoers closes in upon me; they have pierced my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones. (R)

They divide my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. But you, O Lord, be not far from me; O my help, hasten to aid me. (R)

I will proclaim your name to my brethren, in the midst of the assembly I will praise you: "You who fear the Lord, praise him; all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him; revere him, all you descendants of Israel!" (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians (2:6-11)

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

Gospel Acclamation

(R) Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name. (R)

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (22:14-23, 56)

For the full version of the text see our Good Friday » posting.

Homily

Today, as we start the most sacred period of our Christian faith, we commemorate not one but two very significant and contrasting moments in the life of Christ. One was the moment when Jesus went to Jerusalem for the last time for the feast of Passover. He chose to enter the city riding on a colt, thereby showing Himself to be "the righteous, victorious, lowly king" predicted by the prophet Zechariah, Zechariah (9:9-10). Recalling the words of the prophet, great crowds of people joyfully welcomed Him by laying their cloaks in His path, waving palm branches, hailing and praising Him as the "King who comes in the name of the Lord", Luke (19:28-40)

But then a few days later Jesus faced an entirely different moment of his life. He was falsely accused, tried, and condemned to death. Some of the people, if not all, who celebrated Jesus' entry into Jerusalem called for His crucifixion which was the worst and lowest punishment usually reserved for political revolutionaries and hardcore criminals like Barabas and the robbers who were crucified at the same time as Jesus, one on His right and the other on His left. Furthermore, prior to His crucifixion, Jesus was betrayed and denied by His own disciples, mocked, reviled, and spit on by His opponents, blindfolded, scourged and severely beaten by Roman soldiers, taunted and jeered by the bystanders and religious leaders.

Today we read the accounts of the extremes of human experience - the moments of great joy and glory as well as the moments of terrible sorrow, pain, and suffering that Jesus experienced as a human being within a few days. So, today's liturgical celebration becomes joyful and sorrowful at the same time. This contrast between two moments is also a reflection of our life experience. It is a powerful reminder of the harsh truths and realities about our own lives, the circumstances that we fear, and the world that we don't want to face.

Life is a mixture of both joys and sorrows. No one gets only joy and happiness in their lives, and no one gets only toil and sorrow in their lives. Everybody in this world must experience their share of happiness, joy, pain and sorrow. However, we all welcome and accept joys but instinctively resist and suppress sorrows. So, today, the Church invites us to rejoice at Jesus' life, His compassion for sinners, His amazing teachings, extraordinary miracles and wonders, and to become aware of the physical torment, emotional trauma, and spiritual agony that He endured for our salvation while at the same time to take a moment to identify our own joys and sorrows of life and boldly embrace both realities of our lives, as Jesus did.

Although He was God's Son, Jesus fully embraced the full range of human emotion and experience. Because of Jesus, we have every reason to be known as people who are open and grateful for both the contrasting experiences of life - acknowledging that the sorrows can teach us even more. During this Holy Week, let us have our eyes fixed on Jesus, so that we know who we are and that we belong to Him and that He will give us strength to bear our pains and sufferings with love and become a holy and joyful people of God.

I wish you all a Blessed Holy Week!

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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