Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

April 2, 2023

Year A

Commentary

Discover the deeper meaning and connections found in this week's readings, through these great commentaries written by our priests.

The Word

Explore this week's readings and hear what God is saying to us through His Word.

Liturgy notes

Find out more about how we can mark this special day in our liturgy.

Music

See our music recommendations for the liturgy.

Commentary

By Fr John Lee

All four Gospels tell of the life of Christ differently. But in telling the story of the Passion they are virtually identical.

The Passion story is the first item in the story-telling tradition of early Church before the written narrative. Remember that story is a literature genre that conveys truth.

The Story of the Cross  is the biggest problem for early Christians - "Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom; for Jews a stumbling block and foolishness to Greeks" (1 Cor.1:22-23)

There is a strong emphasis upon discipleship, the disciples are a privileged group; constant companions, with authority to cast out demons and to preach.

But they are not models - many are failures, they are jealous, struggle to understand or wanted to call down fire and brimstone on those who did not agree. Aren’t they a mirror to ourselves? Have we not experienced brokenness and failure?

The Passion story highlights these failures. One betrays, three go to sleep, one denies and all flee. Only one returned to be by the cross, a stranger attended to Christ's burial and it was the loyal band of women who remained closest and were the eventual messengers to the Apostles that Christ had risen.

In conclusion, the Passion story reveals the disciples for what they were, and it contains a powerful message on the essence of discipleship. Hopefully, the liturgical services of this coming week may help us to evaluate our discipleship - betrayal, denial, asleep, hiding, or on the run? The faithful could be encouraged to identify and walk with a figure from the Passion narrative. The Passion is a sacred drama, but we are participants not onlookers.

Liturgy notes

By Fr Bill Wilson

The Roman Missal provides extensive liturgical directions for this day, imbedded in the texts for the Mass(es). It is always useful to re-read them in good time as memories, and habit, can let our liturgical practice “drift”. Also, we move quickly from “Hosanna” to “Crucify”. How does that inform our liturgy?

The practicalities are significantly different from a “normal” Sunday and require careful planning. These include:

  1. How do we source the palms? Thin strips of corpse-yellow leaves are not exactly worthy. Would local greenery be better?
  2. Do not allow palm leaves to be turned into crosses before the Procession: they are for waving, after all.
  3. How might we decorate the church? (we are still in Lent and we don’t want to overly anticipate the Triduum)
  4. Which Mass will have a procession (there can be only one), a Solemn Entrance (any others), or a Simple Entrance (any others). NB, the Simple Entrance does not include the Blessing of Palms.
  5. If there is a Procession or Solemn Entrance, where might it begin? What safety plan do you need (car parking, stewards, level ground etc). What chant/hymnody will you use? How will you sustain coherent singing during the Procession?
  6. There will need to be far more readers than usual. How will you appoint them, and how will you proclaim the Passion Narrative? Think of amplification, physical spacing, etc. Is a “people’s” part a help or a hindrance? Should everyone read along or listen only (apart from those with hearing issues)?

Music recommendations

Any questions?

Do you have questions about the liturgy and how we are called to participate in it? Explore how the Church councils, saints, and popes have answered this key question and many more.

Discover the Mass

Every movement of the Mass is rich in meaning but we can become over-familiar with it. Rediscover the Mass and explore how it relates to the Exodus story, where many of its rituals come from, and how it makes Jesus present to us today.