PALM SUNDAY - APRIL 10, 2022

PALM SUNDAY

Jesus Christ is shown in his full humanity on this most solemn Sunday. He was a priest, shown in the sacrifice he offered on the cross and at the last supper. He was a prophet, shown in his knowledge and full understanding of the suffering he was to undergo for the sake of humanity. He was a king, shown in the royal welcome he received into Jerusalem and the love he had for his people....

READ THIS SUNDAY'S MESSAGE

We certainly focus on the palms that are used for this Sunday’s liturgy, but in order to fully understand the meaning of this Sunday, we should look at the full liturgical title for this day: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. We will begin this Sunday’s liturgy with the use of palms, just as the people did when they welcomed Christ into Jerusalem for the last time. The use of palms is a physical reminder that we participate in the life of Christ as much as the people who lived during his time did. They acknowledged Christ for his kingly role, but nearly everyone who welcomed him into Jerusalem also abandoned him at his death. We must acknowledge that we do the same thing when we sin. Of course, our love for Christ and our desire to follow him can sometimes be blinded by the allure of sin. In these moments, we abandon him spiritually just as the people did when he went to his death. If we want to be true followers of Christ and authentically recognize him as High Priest, Faithful Prophet, and King of Kings, we need the painful reminder that sin makes us complicit in his suffering. This is not meant to induce guilt, but to motivate us to go through the suffering with him, rather than to be the cause of his suffering.

FAMILIES, ACTIVATE!

Family activity to do at home: Palms should have a prominent place in our homes to remind us of the solemn moments in this Sunday’s Mass. These are blessed sacramentals, and should be treated with respect and remembrance. These following activities contain multiple ways in which the whole family can learn about the significance of the palms, what we should do with them in the home, and even how we can wave them into shapes that allow us to better remember their meaning. Make sure to hold on to them until next year, when you can join other parishioners and burn them into the ashes used for Ash Wednesday.