Palm Sunday of the Passion of Our Lord – Matthew 21:1-11; Is 50:4-7; Psalm 21(22); Phil 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66

Palm Sunday begins the celebration of Holy Week, the most important time in the whole of the liturgical year. It is a Sunday and a week of great contrasts. We can say: from glory through humility, to the glory of being lifted up. We see Jesus, as the King of Peace, enter into Jerusalem being praised. After that, we follow Him through the whole story of the cruel and painful passion, reflecting on it not just today but throughout the whole week, so as to experience on the eighth day glory, joy and the beauty of love, which death cannot defeat, the love of resurrection.

It is also a year of great contrasts in our present circumstances – the peace we experience and the terror of war in Europe; multinational corporations benefitting from the rising price of goods and the struggle of poor families to afford heating and food.

Jesus, grant me the eyes of the heart which are able to contemplate Your glory and Your humility, and above all in these strange circumstances to be able to perceive Your presence every day.