DAILY- HOMILY

March 25, 2018 - PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION 

Blessing of Palms

Cycle B. Red.

Blessing and Procession of Palms: Mk 11: 1 – 10

Mass: Is 50: 4- 7 / Phil 2: 6 - 11 / Mk 14: 14- 15: 47

FROM THE BLESSING OF PALMS:               Mk 11: 7- 10

They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks on its back, and Jesus sat upon it. Many people also spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread leafy branches from the fields. Then the people who walked and those who followed behind Jesus began to shout, "Hosannah! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David which comes! Hosannah in the highest!"

FROM THE 1ST READING:             Is 50: 5-7

The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear. I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn. I offered my back to those who strike me, my cheeks to those who pulled my beard; neither did I shield my face from blows, spittle and disgrace.

I have not despaired, for the Lord Yahweh comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced.

2ND READING: Phil 2: 6- 11

Though being divine in nature, he did not claim in fact equality with God, but emptied himself, taking on the nature of a servant, made in human likeness, and in his appearance found as a man. He humbled himself by being obedient to death, death on the cross.

That is why God exalted him and gave him the Name which outshines all names, so that at the Name of Jesus all knees should bend in heaven, on earth and among the dead, and all tongues proclaim that Christ Jesus is the Lord to the glory of God the Father.

GOSPEL READING:           Mk 14: 1 -- 15: 47

The Passion of Our Lord according to Mark.

REFLECTION

Palm Sunday brings us to the celebration of the most holy week in the liturgical calendar. The reading for the Procession of Palms recalls our Lord's triumphant entry into the holy city of Jerusalem. The first reading from Isaiah and the Lord's Passion according to St. Mark present the Lamb of God, the Suffering Servant of God. In the second reading Paul extols Christ's passion, death and glorification for our salvation.

During Holy Week, from Passion-Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday, the Church solemnly celebrates the Paschal mystery, the dying and resurrection of Christ, indeed his triumph in death. The Paschal mystery is one: life in and through the death of the Son of God, made man for our salvation.

In the Paschal mystery we see the core of Christian living, of the following of Christ. For the Christian, to live is to share in the dying-rising of Christ: "You know that in baptism which unites us with Christ we all baptized and plunged into his death. By this baptism in his death, we were buried with Christ and, as Christ was raised from among the dead by the Glory of the Father, so we begin walking in a new life." (Rom 6: 3- 4)

Christians are to reproduce the journey of Christ to rise to new life by dying, by dying to sin and to self. Dying to sin is not only turning from evil; dying to sin is turning to Christ in a constant conversion. Dying to sin is openness to God's love and presence in our lives.

Dying to self is realizing and accepting our human situation, being open and ready for whatever comes our way, being ready to move on whatever happens. Dying to self is readiness to let go of yesterday and being open and hopeful to what tomorrow may bring, trusting in the loving heavenly Father and his powerful Spirit.

May our dying be a new living, not without pain, but pain filled with Easter hope and promise.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     Fr. lsmael Jose V. Chan-Gonzaga S.J.

     Samaetha Emei Joson

     Gerard Nathan Allen Tan

     Shirley Tan

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     Stewart (1960- 1993) & Frances Valerie Liao (1963- 1999)

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

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