Palm Sunday C - 13th April 

Luke’s Gospel is the source of the account of the passion of Jesus for Palm Sunday. However, there are one or two points from the other readings which would be good to reflect on this Holy week. 

 

In the first reading Isaiah writes that the Lord has given him a 'the tongue of those who are taught.’ This week let us listen like ‘those who are taught’ to what the Lord is saying to us. 

 

In the second reading St. Paul writes to the Philippians that Jesus ‘emptied himself’. What would it mean for us to empty ourselves? What do we need to rid ourselves of in order to grow closer to Jesus?’ 

 

The passion of Jesus is read twice in Holy week – on Palm Sunday and on Good Friday. As we listen to St. Luke we may be struck by one or two words or phrases – it is hard to take in all of the reading so maybe it would be good to read it quietly beforehand. For me this year it was when Jesus said to the disciples, ‘You are those who have stayed with me in my trials.’ He said this just before He was betrayed by Judas, left alone as the disciples slept and then denied by Peter! 

 

Another phrase I have been reflecting on is ‘all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.’ (The previous translation was friends rather than acquaintances) When in my life, in your life, have we ‘stood at a distance’ when really we should have been more present? When have we sat on the fence when we should have been on one side or the other? We have had plenty of opportunities over the last number of years to help others. We have opportunities every day to help others. If we had been one of the disciples where would we have been? 

 

As we journey through this Holy Week we give time to pause and reflect on our lives and especially our relationship with Jesus, who gave His life for us, who gave His life for me. 

 

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