Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion – April 13, 2025
Readings: Isaiah 50:4–7; Philippians 2:6–11; Luke 22:14–23:56
Theme: Jesus Gives Up His Life
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, a solemn time that leads us into the heart of the Christian mystery: the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The central theme of this Sunday is that Jesus gives up his life—not as a victim of fate, but out of a deep, self-giving love for all humanity. The readings and the liturgy invite us to reflect not on tragedy for its own sake, but on the profound love and obedience that led Christ to the Cross.
The first reading, from the prophet Isaiah, introduces the figure of the suffering servant who remains faithful to God’s mission despite being rejected, beaten, and humiliated. His strength lies in the Lord’s help, and he sets his face like flint, confident he will not be put to shame. This figure prefigures Christ himself, the ultimate servant of God.
The responsorial psalm echoes Jesus’ own cry from the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Though filled with images of suffering and abandonment, the psalm ultimately affirms trust in God’s deliverance. It connects deeply to the emotional and spiritual agony Jesus endures.
In the second reading, St. Paul writes to the Philippians about the humility and obedience of Christ. Though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not cling to his divinity. Instead, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant and accepting even death on a cross. Because of this radical humility, God exalted him, bestowing on him the name above every name. Paul presents this as a model for all believers: the path to glory is through humility and faithful love.
Before the main liturgy begins, the Gospel recounts Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. He rides a colt, not in power and might, but in humility. The people praise him with joy, shouting, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” It is a moment of celebration, but it foreshadows a coming reversal—soon, the crowd’s joyful cries will turn into demands for his crucifixion.
The heart of the liturgy is the Passion narrative from Luke’s Gospel. It begins with the Last Supper, where Jesus speaks of his impending suffering and institutes the Eucharist. He shares bread and wine, his body and blood, with his disciples as a sign of the new covenant. From there, the story unfolds with betrayal, denial, arrest, trial, mockery, and crucifixion. Along the way, Jesus continues to teach, to forgive, and to love—even those who harm him. He comforts the women of Jerusalem, forgives his executioners, and promises paradise to the repentant thief. Finally, in complete trust, he commends his spirit into the Father’s hands and breathes his last.
The narrative ends with Jesus’ body being laid in the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea, while the faithful women observe and prepare to honor him after the Sabbath. It is a quiet, sorrowful close, full of anticipation for what is to come.
Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus’ death was not a failure but the culmination of his mission. He freely gave himself for the life of the world. This day challenges us to follow the same path of love, service, and trust in God, and to see in the Cross not just suffering, but the gateway to resurrection and eternal life.
Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.