Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

March 24, 2024

Year B

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

Fr Jeremy Corley

The Palm Sunday liturgy begins joyfully. We join the crowds in Jerusalem welcoming Jesus as he enters Jerusalem. He comes peacefully as King of the Jews. He is not riding on a war-horse, like a Roman conqueror, but carried on a donkey.

The Isaiah reading portrays Jesus as an obedient disciple who listens to God’s word. When called to accept suffering, he makes no resistance. He does not cover his face against insult and spittle.

St Paul reminds us that by taking human flesh, Jesus assumed the condition of a slave. But he went further by humbly submitting to death—not just any kind of death, but the excruciating pain of dying on a cross.

In the long Passion Gospel, St Mark poignantly tells of the last hours of Jesus’ earthly life. Near the beginning we hear of an alabaster jar of precious ointment being broken open by an unnamed woman. Some saw this as a waste, because the ointment could have been sold for a lot of money.

A few hours later, Jesus would be betrayed for money. After he had been condemned to death, his body would be broken on the cross, and his precious blood (more precious than any ointment) would be poured out to save us.

At every Mass, we recall the Last Supper: “This is my body, broken for you.” We remember Jesus’ words over the cup: “This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which will be poured out for many people.”

Jesus will fulfil the fate of the Suffering Servant: “He poured himself out to death, and was included with the law-breakers. Yet he bore the sin of many people, and interceded for the law-breakers” (Isaiah 53:12).

His last meal was a Passover supper, a few hours before he himself was led out like a lamb to the slaughter. Yet he was truly the shepherd of his flock. When the shepherd was struck down, his sheep were scattered. The disciples would flee, like sheep going astray, each turning to their own way.

Although he was truly the King of the Jews, he would be crowned with thorns. The Roman soldiers would spit on him and mock him. Then he would be nailed to a cross as a condemned prisoner.

Finally, his death would happen in total darkness. Jesus would cry out: “My God, my God, why have you deserted me?” Then with a loud cry, he would breathe his last.

But though the male disciples had run away, the faithful women like Mary Magdalene remained present to the end. And a pagan Roman centurion was so moved by the event that he recognized Jesus as really being God’s son.

After all the horror, a gesture of decency closes the scene. Joseph of Arimathea is granted Jesus’ body, which he wraps in a shroud and places in a rock-hewn tomb. Mary Magdalene sees a large stone being rolled against the entrance to the tomb. We wait for what will happen next.

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

CCC 557-560: Christ’s entry into Jerusalem
CCC 602-618: the Passion of Christ
CCC 2816: Christ’s kingship gained through his death and Resurrection
CCC 654, 1067-1068, 1085, 1362: the Paschal Mystery and the liturgy

Liturgy notes

Canon Alan Griffiths

The title ‘Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord’ gives a hint of the complex history of this festival. Originally, the Roman Church celebrated the Sunday before Easter by remembering the Passion of Jesus, using St. Matthew’s Passion account at the Mass. Elsewhere in Europe, this Sunday was kept as a festival commemorating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This is also how Orthodox Christians observe this Sunday.

As the Roman Liturgy became enriched in the medieval period with rites and customs from France and Spain, a blessing and distribution of Palms and a procession was added to the Mass. This explains the rather sharp transition from triumph to Passion which is a feature of our Liturgy today.

The ‘First Form,’ the full procession, should take place at the principal Mass. At other Masses, the Solemn Entry or the Simple Entry should be used, depending on pastoral circumstances. It is desirable that the procession should start from a place other than the Church.

European custom has it that all sorts of branches are carried in the procession, often box or olive. These are more festive than the dried palm crosses we currently use. The magnificent woven palms often seen in the Papal Liturgy for Palm Sunday might serve as an inspiration for skilful parishioners. The Rite directs that ‘branches’ are to be carried, and does not specify palm leaves.

The two Psalms 23 and 46 attached to the Procession are a rich celebration of Christ’s lordship and should be sung as responsorial psalms. This will facilitate their use in procession. Theodulph of Orleans' Hymn Gloria laus is still in need of someone to give it a really festive English setting.

The Passion (according to St. Mark) may be read by lay readers, the part of Christ being reserved, if possible, to the priest.

Music recommendations

Notes These hymns have been chosen from different sources.

All glory, laud and honour (CFE17, L229, LHON113, TCH60)

Ride on, ride on in majesty (CFE623, L230, LHON593, TCH68)

At the name of Jesus (CFE59, L762, LHON147, TCH207)

From heaven you came (The Servant King) (CFE187, L749, LHON267)

My song is love unknown (CFE503, L752, LHON487, TCH65)

Key

CFE - Celebration Hymnal for Everyone

L – Laudate

LHON – Liturgical Hymns Old and New (Mayhew,  1999)

TCH – The Catholic Hymnbook (Gracewing)

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.