Fr. Jim's Jots - Palm Sunday - April 10, 2022

 Palm Sunday

April 10, 2022

Fr. Jim's Jots

Today, as we gather as a church throughout the world, we are called to remember how Jesus entered into Jerusalem with great joy and triumph, with the crowds singing and laying palm branches on the road of his entrance, and how quickly they called out "Crucify Him."

This week of Holy Week, we too are called to gather with all our hopes and fears and pray that the "PEACE" of Jesus may be in our hearts, minds and souls during this Holy Week and throughout the Easter Season.

This holiest week of the Year, I invite all to pray and reflect on the following prayer:  

Give me Grace and Mercy this Holy Week.  Guide my steps when I am not sure which way to go and the wisdom to trust in YOU in all things.  Jesus, your love brings light and hope to all who seek you.  May I seek You as I walk with You through Holy Week and beyond.  Amen.

Happy Holy Week,

Fr. Jim

Stations of the Cross - Friday at 12 noon in person and on Zoom (the Zoom link is the Sunday Mass Link).

~ Image Source

Children's Liturgy, Palm Sunday - 4.14.2019 ~ Photos by Liz Wiznerowicz

~ Photos by Liz Wiznerowicz

Palm Sunday 2019 - Reading of the Passion ~ Photo by Janet Stern

Palm Sunday, 4.14.19 - Reading of the Passion

~ Photo by Janet Stern

Palm Sunday 2018 ~ Photos by Lula Lamb

Palm Sunday 2018

~ Photos by Lula Lamb

Palm Sunday at St. E's ~ Photos by Lula Lamb

Gospel and Blessing of the palms from the loft

Reading of the Passion

Preparing for the Easter Sacraments 

 Photos by Lula Lamb

Palm Sunday at St. E's 2015 ~ Photos by EJCooley

Palm Sunday by William Hemmerling

At. St. E's

The Reading of the Passion

~ Photos by EJCooley

Palm Sunday 2014 ~ Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem

Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Art by Emmanuel Nsama of Zambia

Were you there? ~ A reflection on Palm Sunday 2012

Palm Sunday

Is 50:4-7
Ps 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
Phil 2:6-11
Mk 14:1 - 15:47

Were you there? One could almost ask this of Isaiah, as he describes the "Suffering Servant" who allows himself to be beaten and spat upon... looked upon by everyone as disgraced; yet relies on the Lord God as his help. Isn't this the picture of Jesus as he gives himself up to be crucified?

How beautifully Paul describes Jesus in his letter to the Philippians. Not only did Jesus not claim equality with God, his Father, but he emptied himself completely and took the form of a slave. Jesus "humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Phil 2:8)

Were you there that day when Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem? Were you among the crowd that waved palm branches and scattered leaves and flowers on the road over which Jesus rode? Were you one of those who was ready to proclaim him king and savior of his people? Don't you realize that only a few days later, that welcoming crowd had turned into the rabble that wanted him crucified? Jesus did!

Yet, despite the fact that Jesus could have used his power as God to become an earthly king and savior, he realized that only by emptying himself and becoming that "Suffering Servant" could we be redeemed.

Were you there at the foot of the cross as Jesus, in agony and even despair, prayed to his Father: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Ps 22:2a) Jesus, in his humanity, could feel that despair, but he also never gave in to it. The psalm actually becomes a hymn of praise...

"I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help." (Ps 22:22-24)

Jesus was there... for us!


~ Image: Palm Sunday by William Hemmerling

Palm Sunday 2011 ~ Ride on, King Jesus!

Is 50:4-7
Ps 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24
Phil 2:6-11
Mt 27:11-54

Our procession this morning commemorated Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem so many centuries ago. From the parking lot to the entrance of the church, we sang and waved our palms! On entering the church, the choir began our entrance song, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, lift up your voice and sing: Hosanna in the highest; Hosanna to our King!"

Jesus arrived like a king to the cheers of the people. But this Jesus was a different kind of king than the one the people expected. He was a humble king who rode into the city on an ass instead of a horse.

His kingship was not political or economic. No, Jesus' mission was spiritual. His agenda was to bring peace of mind and heart to His people; a servant leadership that was expressed as "we", not "I". Jesus led by example and showed us that the way to God was through serving and loving one another.

The crowds that cheered Jesus that triumphant day turned into a mob that mocked and jeered Him a few days later as He was led away to carry His cross. The crowd failed to recognize a king who did not liberate them in the manner they expected. So, instead, they crucified Him.



~ Icon at Crossroads Initiative

Palm Sunday 2010 ~ Photos by Ken Soistman

Ken took some beautiful photographs of our Palm Sunday celebration. Here are some of them:

Palm Sunday: Who Would You Choose? ~ by Phyllis Booth

Palm Sunday's Readings begin with the glorious procession of Jesus and the disciples into Jerusalem. The scene is one of joy, happiness and thankfulness; the Kingdom of the Lord has arrived and we'll become a joyful and happy people. The crowd sang Hosanna to the Son of David and lined the road with their cloaks and branches. The city was amazed and wondered who is this! They were told, "Jesus of Nazareth, the prophet!" The crowd welcomed Jesus into the city.

The First Reading by Isaiah recalls the harsh treatment the humble savior will receive as he comes to teach obedience, humility and justice to the children of God. Saint Paul's letter to the Philippians tells us of the love Jesus has for the world. He came knowing that he'll take the form of a human; his appearance will be human and he'll serve as a slave; being an obedient disciple of God until his death on a cross.

The Passion was well read and proclaimed. Matthew's Gospel relates the story from the point where the feast of the Passover begins. Jesus and the 12 disciples are in Jerusalem. The Chief Priest and Judas Iscariot have planned his capture. Jesus follows the journey already predicted for him. He reminds the disciples to have great faith because the coming events will bring sorrow to all who believe in him.

When Jesus is taken to Caiaphas, the High Priest and questioned, he remained silent rather than argue about accusations he was accused of saying or teaching. Upon being ordered to tell if he was the living Christ, Jesus' reply was "You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." Caiaphas accused Jesus of blasphemy and urged the crowd to give their opinion. Jesus is sent to Pilate. Pilate cannot find any wrongdoing in the accusations presented and asked the crowd to choose Jesus or Barabbas to be set free. The crowd chooses Barabbas.

In choosing Barabbas, the crowd finally learns the truth about Jesus of Nazareth. All that the prophets before Jesus told of the Messiah came true on the hill of Calvary. He even rose from the tomb three days later. Barabbas, the revolutionary was free. Would he continue to follow his former life or become one of Jesus' disciples? Barabbas had tried to bring freedom to the people earlier. The freedom Jesus offered was release from the oppression of the unfair laws, taxes and customs of discrimination. His teachings provided a way for all to share a life of abundance of the earth's produce and products; to love one another; to provide for the widow and the poor and to receive God's grace and eternal life.

Two thousand years later, we are still struggling to believe and find the peace Jesus promised. The faith Jesus asked his apostles to have is hard to master in this technological world. The world gives instant gratification and we're happy for a time, while everlasting life seems an illusion.


~ Image from Hermano Leon Clipart