Saints + Scripture: Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

The Long Road Back, III of III

The Popish Plot
Palm Sunday: "The Passion"

Commentary: Day four of The Popish Plot's "Turn It Up to 11" fête!

Sunday, 25 March was Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord: Palm-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of This Week
Mass Readings—Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter eleven, verses one thru ten;
or, the Gospel according to John, chapter twelve, verses twelve thru sixteen;
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty, verses four thru seven;
Psalm Twenty-two, verses eight & nine, seventeen & eighteen, nineteen & twenty, & twenty-three & twenty-four;
The Letter to the Philippians, chapter two, verses six thru eleven;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter fourteen, verse one thru chapter fifteen, verse forty-seven
(or, the Gospel according to Mark, chapter fifteen, verses one thru thirty-nine).

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, on this Palm Sunday we are privileged to become immersed in Mark’s great Passion narrative, where the kingship of Jesus emerges with great clarity—and also with great irony.

We read that upon being brought before the Sanhedrin, Jesus is asked whether he is the "Messiah," an implicit reference to David. When Jesus calmly responds, "I am," the high priest tears his robes, for how could a shackled criminal possibly be the kingly descendant of David? Upon being presented to Pilate, Jesus is asked the functionally equivalent question: "Are you the King of the Jews?" Again a blandly affirmative answer comes: "You say so." This leads the soldiers to mock him, placing a purple cloak on his shoulders and a crown of thorns on his head.

Mark does not want us to miss the irony that, precisely as the King of the Jews and the Son of David, Jesus is implicitly king to those soldiers. For the mission of the Davidic king is the unification not only of the tribes of Israel but also of the tribes of the world. What commenced with David’s gathering of the tribes of Israel would soon reach completion in the criminal raised high on the cross, thereby drawing all people to himself.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Video reflection by Jeff Cavins: Encountering the Word.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D.: Breaking the Bread.

Mass Journal: Week Thirteen
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:

God created us with legitimate needs. We all have legitimate physical, emotional, intellectual, & spiritual needs. The most basic understanding of these legitimate needs comes from considering our relationship to food, water, & oxygen. To east & drink are legitimate needs. If you don't eat & drink, you will die. if you don't breathe, you will die even faster. God gave us these needs for a reason. When we hear them calling to us, we hear the voice of God.

†

Otherwise, 25 March would have been the festival of Saint Ælfwold of Sherborne, Bishop, O.S.B. (died 1058, Bishop Ælfwold II): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also have been the festival of Saint Margaret Clitherow, Martyr (1556-1586, the "Pearl of York"), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, one of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link XL & Wikipedia-link XL.

Commentary: Aunt of the priest & martyr Bl. Robert Middleton, S.J. [3 April].

'Twould also have been the festival of Blessed Placido Riccardi, Priest, O.S.B. (1844-1915, A.K.A. Tommaso Riccardi): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"As we keep our gaze fixed on the Passion & death of the Lord, let us receive in our heart His boundless love & in silence await the Resurrection."
—Pope Francis

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"It is true that Our Lady is Queen of Heaven & earth, but at the same time she is more Mother than Queen."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"What is essential is not what we say but what God tells us & what He tells others through us. In silence He listens to us; in silence He speaks to our souls. In silence we are granted to privilege of listening to His voice."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta (A.K.A. Mother Teresa, 1910-1997; feast day: 5 September)