From the Pastor
Fr. Mike Comer shares his thoughts on Scripture, spirituality and the challenges of living the Gospel.
palm sunday—it's about to get real for the apostles
April 13, 2025
Two special events of the final days of Jesus’ life are celebrated at our Mass today. First, there is the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, and second is the Gospel reading of the Passion According to Luke. Hence this Sunday is both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday.
We begin (weather permitting) outside for the blessing of palms. We carry the palm in remembrance of Jesus’ followers, who entered with Him into Jerusalem. Jesus was riding a donkey, recalling the prophet Zechariah who describes a king riding into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. His followers lay the palm branches in front of Him, much like rolling out the red carpet for someone. They chanted “Blessed be our king.” This would have been a dangerous cry, because Caesar is the king, and he would not tolerate any competition.
We begin (weather permitting) outside for the blessing of palms. We carry the palm in remembrance of Jesus’ followers, who entered with Him into Jerusalem. Jesus was riding a donkey, recalling the prophet Zechariah who describes a king riding into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. His followers lay the palm branches in front of Him, much like rolling out the red carpet for someone. They chanted “Blessed be our king.” This would have been a dangerous cry, because Caesar is the king, and he would not tolerate any competition.
Our procession into the church, carrying our palm branches, recalls Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem. For His followers, this was a joyful celebration. For Jesus’ enemies, it looked more like an invasion of the city, led by a pretender to the throne, threatening the leadership of both the Jewish people and the Romans. No good could come from this. The plots they had already engaged in now took a clearer and more immediate necessity.
The Gospel for this Sunday is the reading of the Passion According to St. Luke. It is read in dialogue form, with a narrator, one reader who fulfills the role of Voice, and the congregation filling the role of the crowd. The reading begins with the Last Supper and goes to the burial of Jesus.
—Fr. Mike Comer
The Gospel for this Sunday is the reading of the Passion According to St. Luke. It is read in dialogue form, with a narrator, one reader who fulfills the role of Voice, and the congregation filling the role of the crowd. The reading begins with the Last Supper and goes to the burial of Jesus.
—Fr. Mike Comer
