palm sunday
It is our tradition to read the Passion of Our Lord on Palm Sunday. This year we use St. Luke’s Gospel to guide us.
In His Gospel, Luke emphasizes the personal relationship of Jesus with others, and describes His kindness, His tenderness. For Luke, to know Jesus is to love Him. This is evident in his Passion narrative.
Only Luke describes the following:
-After one of the disciples cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Jesus stops and heals him then and there.
-After the Third denial, Peter breaks down and weeps. In Luke’s account, this happens because “Jesus turned and looked at Peter.”
-On the way to the cross, Jesus stops and speaks to the women who are mourning and lamenting Him.
-Hanging on the cross, Jesus forgives his executioners.
-One of the criminals crucified next to Jesus addresses Him by His first name (with no titles- the only time in any Gospel). The Good Thief says “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Jesus responds: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
May we all live in such a way that Jesus will say these same words to each of us as we come to the end of our life.
God Bless
Msgr. Powell