Gospel Reflection - Palm Sunday, Year C


This is my body, which will be given up for you; do this in memory of me…This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.  On the eve of His death, Jesus institutes the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist, which will become the summit of our Catholic faith, a profound source of grace, and the pathway to Eternal Life.  He also leaves us the instruction to imitate His own example:  Let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant.  He reminds us to have confidence in God, Who knows the extent of our poverty and pain:  Were you in need of anything?  No, nothing, they replied.

Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.  Burdened by the tremendous sacrifice before Him and by the weight of our sin, Jesus teaches us to take refuge in prayer and submission to God’s Holy Will.  Yet we, like the Apostles, are often blinded to the sorrows of His Sacred Heart.  Why are you sleeping?  Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.

Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?  How often have we betrayed Jesus, by choosing something over Him, by our lukewarmness, by our failure to follow Him?  Each time we echo Peter’s denial: I do not know him.  And with the crowd, we sentence our God to death.  Away with this man! Crucify him!  Crucify him!

Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.  In the depths of our pitiful state, Christ’s words from the cross ring out through the ages, bridging the gap between man and God.  Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom, we cry out with the thief; and the Lord responds, Amen I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.  

Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.  

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