Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Year B. - Sunday, March 24, 2024 (EPISODE: 470)

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Year B. - Sunday, March 24, 2024 (EPISODE: 470)

Readings for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Year B.
Blessing of the Palms Reading: Mark 11:1-10FIRST READING: Isa 50: 4-7
Ps 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24. "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"
SECOND READING: Phil 2: 6-11
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Phil 2: 8-9). Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless Glory. Christ became obedient for us, even to death. Dying on the cross. Therefore God raised him on high and gave him a name above all other names.
GOSPEL: B: Mark 14: 1 – 15: 47

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1312668722 - Cross and palm on (adapted red) background - easter sign symbol concept. Photo Contributor: udra11

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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Year B. - Sunday, March 24, 2024 (EPISODE: 470) by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-palm-sunday-of-the-passsion-of-the-lord-year-b-episode-470/s-zPp136DKGge  
(EPISODE: 470)

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Holy Week has begun. And the passion narrative is such a powerful text in itself.

In the coming days, when you get some quiet prayer time, it would be excellent to read through the whole passion reading of Mark's gospel, from the woman anointing Jesus with oil, to the last supper, and through his trial, and Peter's denial of him and then on to Jesus' crucifixion and the laying of his body in the tomb.

Mark, in his brief but powerful and striking account of Jesus' passion, presents to us an amazing array of people, representing contrasting personalities and different behaviours and values. Mark is inviting us to enter into the text and see where we stand in this astounding.

Mark presents the flawed leader, Governor Pontius Pilate, who wants to placate his people rather than do what is right. Mark also presents the disciple, Peter, who takes fright and denies his master when the pressure is on. A disciple who had misunderstood or not attended to Our Lord's warning to pray and fast and prepare in order to survive the imminent time of trial.

Mark shows us the crowd, who are swayed by the ever-changing moods of fashion. One day they welcomed Jesus in as the King and the Messiah, and now this same crowd easily gets whipped up into an emotional frenzy by irrational sentiment and, egged on by peer-pressure, they now bay for the blood of the man they so recently praised as their King. It is a sober warning to us all to be wary of being swayed by populist sentiments…(and a "mob mentality"). We also hear in Mark's Gospel, of the appalling trade-off between a guilty criminal, (a murderer), Barabbas, who is released in favour of an utterly good and innocent man, Jesus.

We see people dressing Jesus up as a King, and bowing to him. And people would be right to bow and worship him as the King of all heaven and earth. But disgustingly, these people are not worshipping him in truth but acting only in appalling mockery. The irony is unbearable. They are pretending to worship the one who truly should be worshipped. What they mock him about they should have been seriously recognising him. Their ignorance and lack of respect and reverence is breath-taking. Lord, save us from ignorance and gross offence to you if ever we mock another - and in so doing mock the very truth that you yourself give us, in your grace and love.

In what ways are we still to truly bow down to Christ, not just in outward action, but profoundly in heart and mind and soul? To what extent is our commitment to Jesus still only as deep as the baptismal robe we were clothed in.

Let us be immersed in the drama of Holy Week, so that Jesus, who gave everything for us out of divine and overflowing love and self-giving, will bring us through this and all trials and sins, injustices and tragedies, into to the new life of Christ and a renewed faith and commitment to his good news. His good news, so wonderfully and perfectly lived out in his life and death, gives us life… and life to the full.
(Pk).
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References:

Homily –Fr Paul W. Kelly

{ Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1312668722 - Cross and palm on (adapted red) background - easter sign symbol concept. Photo Contributor: udra11}


Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Year B. - Sunday, March 24, 2024 (EPISODE: 470)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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{{Goodness and faithfulness to you all}} welcome everyone, we gather - Silence, reflection, prayer and contemplation of our God.

Brothers and sisters, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the Lord's supper, let us recall our sins and acknowledge them in silence.
Lord Jesus, you are the image of the unseen God: Lord, have mercy.//You are the firstborn of all creation: Christ, have mercy//You are the head of the body, the Church: Lord, have mercy//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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Ps 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24. "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Phil 2: 8-9). Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless Glory. Christ became obedient for us, even to death. Dying on the cross. Therefore God raised him on high, and gave him a name above all other names.
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PREFACE: Preface of the Passion of the Lord
EP II
Communion side. pwk: RH
(theme variation: 2 )

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{Thanks for joining us for this time of prayer and reflection}

Go in peace.(glorifying the Lord by your life)

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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:

"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney, Australia).

"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy" inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020.

[ Production - KER - 2024]

May God bless and keep you.
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