PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD April 13, 2025

Readings: Isaiah 50.4-7 Philippians 2.6-11 Luke 22.14-23,56

Today is Palm Sunday and the doorway of the Holy Week. Today is also known as Passion Sunday as the Passion Narrative introduces us to the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the opening ceremony of the Palms, we heard the Gospel of Luke (19:28-40) which tells us about the entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.

Some people erroneously think that they could make a return for God’s goodness by merely coming to Church on Sundays or any other “important” day or making some big donations or offerings to the Church. Making a material offering is commendable, but the offering of our souls to God is more desirable to Him.  We don’t come to Church to please God but to obtain spiritual nourishment for our faith journey.

The best return we can make to the Lord is to be passionate about what He wants from us. Most of us have a passion for a lot of things but not what should be helpful to our lives. You become passionate about God by loving Him with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and loving others as you would love yourself (Luke 10:27). Furthermore, you demonstrate your love for God through your faithful obedience to Him (John 14:15).

As we launch into the Holy Week with the ceremony of the Palms today, let us focus on our Lord’s passionate passion for the redemption of our souls and strive to return his liberating love by living holy and worthy lives throughout this season and beyond.                                                                          

      Fr. Terry.