From the verse before the Gospel: “Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 22:14—23:56, today’s readings)
Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate addressed them a third time, “What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed.
In the final prayer over the people at the Palm Sunday Mass, the priest prays: “Look, we pray, O Lord, on this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ did not hesitate to be delivered into the hands of the wicked and submit to the agony of the Cross. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.” The Gospel begins as Jesus prepares for the Passover, the Last Supper, in which he institutes the Eucharist, the foretaste of eternal life he calls us to as adopted sons and daughters: “I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” In his passion and death, he freely chooses to do the will of the Father and not his own, and he recognizes in the betrayal of Judas that it is “the time,” in his own words, “for the power of darkness.” Understand that as much as he spoke to those who crucified him, he does as much to reconcile us to God as he continually intercedes for us, praying “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
God, I am overwhelmed by the readings for Palm Sunday and the Lord’s Passion. In reflecting on them, I want to take to heart the core meaning that brings them all together. Let me sit with them today, drawing from them what you see that I most need. The coming darkness that Jesus speaks of as Judas betrays him comes to its culmination as darkness covers the whole land after Jesus is crucified. How many times will I repeat, “Father, forgive them” without understanding the depth of your gift of mercy that makes that forgiveness possible? Give me the grace to put all power of forgiveness into the hands of your Son. Let my prayer be his: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Jesus, teach me to pray.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.