Entry into Jerusalem, Lorenzo Ghiberti [Web Gallery of Art]
Readings
(New American Bible:
Philippines, USA)
The gospel for the procession with palms
is included here.
The shorter form of the Passion according
to St Luke is Luke 23:1-49.
Readings(Jerusalem Bible: Australia,
England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,
Scotland, South Africa)
The gospel for the procession with
palms is included here as is the Passon according to St Luke arranged for
reading by N.
Narrator. ✠ Jesus. O. Other single speaker. C. Crowd, or more than one speaker.
Gospel for Procession with Palms Luke 19:28-40 (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition)
After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to
Jerusalem.
When
he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of
Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the
village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that
has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say
this: “The Lord needs it.”’ So those who were sent
departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying
the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their
cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along,
people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of
Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with
a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
‘Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!’
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!’
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him,
‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell
you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’
The Gospel in Filipino Sign Language
Pope Benedict on Palm Sunday
In
years when World Youth Day isn't celebrated overseas, as it was this year in
Panama, 22-27 January, it is observed in Rome. That's where it took place in 2007. Here are extracts from Pope Benedict's homily that day, emphases added.
Dear Brothers and
Sisters, Dear Young People,
The Gospel of the
blessing of the palms that we have heard gathered here in St Peter's Square,
begins with the sentence: '[Jesus] went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem' (Lk
19: 28). At the very beginning of today's Liturgy, the Church anticipates her
response to the Gospel saying: "Let us follow the Lord". This clearly
expresses the theme of Palm Sunday. It is the sequela (consequence). Being
Christian means considering the way of Jesus Christ as the right way for being
human as that way which leads to our destination, to a completely fulfilled and
authentic humanity. In a special way I would like to repeat to all young
people on this 25th World Youth
Day that being Christian is a path or, better, a pilgrimage;
it is to travel with Jesus Christ, to journey in the direction he has pointed
out and is pointing out to us.
But what
direction is this? How do we find it? Our Gospel passage offers two clues in
this regard. In the first place it says that it is an ascent. This has first of
all a very concrete meaning. Jericho, where the last part of Jesus' pilgrimage
began, is 250 metres below sea-level, whereas Jerusalem the destination is
located at 740 to 780 metres above sea level: a climb of almost 1,000 metres. But
this external route is above all an image of the internal movement of existence
that occurs in the following of Christ: it is an ascent to the true heights of
being human. Man can choose an easy path and avoid every effort. He can
also sink to the low and the vulgar. He can flounder in the swamps of falsehood
and dishonesty. Jesus walks before us and towards the heights. He leads
us to what is great, pure. He leads us to that healthy air of the heights: to
life in accordance with the truth; to courage that does not let itself be
intimidated by the gossip of prevalent opinions; to patience that bears with
and sustains the other. He guides people to be open towards the suffering, to
those who are neglected. He leads us to stand loyally by the other, even
when the situation becomes difficult. He leads us to the readiness to give
help; to the goodness that does not let itself be disarmed, even by
ingratitude. He leads us to love; he leads us to God.
. .
. Jesus knows that his way goes further: the Cross will not be his end.
He knows that his journey will rend the veil between this world and God's
world; that he will ascend to the throne of God and reconcile God and man in
his Body . . .
. . .
Since the way to true life, to being people in conformity with the model of the
Son of God Jesus Christ, surpasses our own strength, this journey always means
being carried. We find ourselves, so to speak, roped to Jesus Christ
together with him on the ascent towards God's heights. He pulls and
supports us. It is part of following Christ that we allow ourselves to
be roped together; that we acknowledge we cannot do it alone. This
act of humility, entering into the 'we' of the Church is part of it;
holding tight to the rope, the responsibility of communion not breaking the
rope through stubbornness or self-importance. Humbly believing, with
the Church, like being a roped-party on the ascent towards God, is an essential
condition for the following of Christ. This being roped together also entails
not behaving as masters of the Word of God, not running after a mistaken idea
of emancipation. The humility of 'being with' is essential for the ascent .
. .
. . . Let us sum
up: the following of Christ requires, as a first step, a reawakening of
the desire to be authentic human beings and thus the reawakening of oneself for
God. It then requires us to join the climbing party, in the communion of
the Church. In the 'we' of the Church we enter into communion with the
'you' of Jesus Christ and thus reach the path to God. We are also asked to
listen to the Word of Jesus Christ and to live it: in faith, hope and love.
Thus we are on the way toward the definitive Jerusalem and, from this moment,
in a certain way, we already find ourselves there, in the communion of all
God's Saints.
Our pilgrimage following
Christ is not therefore bound for an earthly city, but for the new City of God
that develops in the midst of this world . . .
Pope Benedict, 2013 [Wikipedia]
Antiphon for The Procession Matthew 21:9
Hosanna to the son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel. Hosanna in the highest.
Setting by Thomas Weelkes (1576 - 1623)
University of the Philippines Manila Chorale
Text used in the video:
Hosanna to the Son of David;
Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna, thou that sittest in the highest heavens!
Hosanna in excelsis Deo!
Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna, thou that sittest in the highest heavens!
Hosanna in excelsis Deo!
