Brothers and Sisters,

We are almost at the close of our Lenten Season. First Sunday, we met Jesus in the desert. The Second Sunday, we met Jesus on the mountain, transfigured in glory. The third Sunday, we met Jesus in a Samaritan town in conversation with a woman of ill repute, calling her to a change and transformation of her life. On the fourth Sunday, we met Jesus giving sight to a man who was born blind. The fifth Sunday of Lent called us to reflect on the mystery of the resurrection. Today, the Sixth Sunday of Lent is “Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord.” 

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord marks the beginning of Holy Week. Prior to the second Vatican council, the fifth Sunday of Lent was called “Passion Sunday,” and Palm Sunday was observed on the sixth Sunday. Currently the Roman Rite denotes Palm Sunday as “Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord,” which combines the two Sunday observances.

The fifth Sunday of Lent was called Passion Sunday because, on this day, the Church began to make the Sufferings of Jesus the main focus of reflection and prayer. Passion Sunday also marked the beginning of a special sub-season called Passiontide, which extended from the fifth Sunday to Holy Saturday. During this time, the Church’s liturgy became more somber, and a sorrowful mood was reflected in the various practices that occurred in the liturgy. The most obvious example of a more somber mood was the veiling of statues and images, which remains an optional practice in the current liturgy. Crosses remain covered until the end of the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, but other images remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.

Palm Sunday of the passion of the Lord is often thought of as the remembering and reliving of the suffering of Jesus.  The word passion seems to have the same meaning as suffering. Passion however has a much deeper meaning. It is important for us to note that suffering is only one of the consequences of passion.  Passion is an eager interest, a feeling of intense enthusiasm towards or compelling desire or longing for someone or something. Passion is determination, conviction, commitment and love. Passion is a strong desire, a hunger, a thirst and an urgent longing that can move you and get you to do amazing things. Passion can move you through difficult, troublesome and trying times because you don’t care about the cost of fulfilling your desire, satisfying your hunger and thirst, and achieving what you are passionate about.

To read more of this Sunday’s reflection, please click on the links below…..