Procession

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.

The children of the Hebrews, carrying olive branches, went to meet the Lord, crying out and saying: Hosanna in the highest. V/. O gates lift high your heads; grow higher ancient doors. Let him enter, the king of glory!

Collect

Almighty ever-living God,
who as an example of humility for the human race to follow
caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the Cross,
graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering
and so merit a share in his Resurrection.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (RM)

First Reading Isaiah 50:4-7

The servant of the Lord said: 4 “The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6 “I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7 “The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame”.

Responsorial Psalm

 R/. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Second Reading Philippians 2:6-11

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Verse before the Gospel Phil 2:8-9

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.

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to Matthew

Catena Nova

Because of all he had done, the simple people believed in the Lord not only with a silent faith, but with a faith that proclaimed his divinity both by word and by deed. After raising Lazarus, who had been dead four days, the Lord found the young donkey his disciples had brought for him, as the Evangelist Matthew relates. Seated on it he entered Jerusalem, in fulfilment of the prophecy of Zechariah: Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold your king comes to you, the just one, the saviour. He is gentle, and rides on a beast of burden, on the colt of a donkey. By these words the Prophet shows that Christ was the king he was foretelling, the only true king of Zion. He is saying: ‘Your king will not frighten those who look upon him; he is not an overbearing kind of person, or an evildoer. He does not come with a bodyguard, an armed escort, at the head of hosts of cavalry and foot soldiers. Nor does he live by extortion, demanding taxes and the payment of tribute and ignoble services, hurtful to those who perform them. No, he is recognized by his lowliness, poverty, and frugality, for he enters the city riding on a donkey, and with no crowd of attendants. Therefore, this king alone is just, and in justice he saves. He is also meek, meekness is his own special characteristic. In fact, the Lord’s own words regarding himself were: Learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.’ He who raised Lazarus from the dead enters Jerusalem today as king, seated on a donkey. Almost at once all the people, children and grownups, young and old alike, spread their garments on the road; and taking palm branches, symbols of victory, they went to meet him as the giver of life and conqueror of death. They worshipped him, and formed an escort. Within the temple precincts as well as without they sang with one voice, Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna In the highest! This hosanna is a hymn of praise addressed to God. It means, ‘Lord, save us.’ The other words, in the highest, show that God is praised not only on earth by human beings, but also on high by the angels of heaven. (St. Gregory Palamas)

It was fitting that we who had fallen because of a tree might rise up because of a tree. Fitting that the one who had con­quered by means of a tree might also be conquered by means of a tree. Fitting that we who had eaten the fruit of death from a tree might be given the fruit of life from a tree. And because we had fallen from the security of that most blessed place on earth into this great, expansive sea,it was fitting that wood should be made ready to carry us across it. For no one cross­es the sea except on wood, or this world except on the Cross. (St. Aelred of Rievaulx)

Jesus acts - and the same Spirit that inspires his action moves in those about him, revealing to them its meaning. Simultaneously, their eyes see the Lord as he rides through the street, and their spirit sees what is behind the event. The physical eye and the spiritual are one. And those who so truly 'saw' in that hour were not the particularly talented, neither truly geniuses nor in any way the elite or the mighty, but' the common people,' those who happened to be in the streets at the time. For the power that opened their eyes and hearts was not human power, but the Spirit of God moving among men. Indeed, it is “the little ones,” possessors of the kingdom of heaven, as Jesus calls them, who are particularly free and open to the workings of the Spirit, for in them it can operate untrammelled by the consciousness of their own human value. This then is God's hour; were the masses to reject it, the stones beneath their feet would proclaim the Messiah. It is the last, God-given chance. (Romano Guardini) 

Those who, in the biblical phrase, would save their lives—that is, those who want to get along, who don’t want commitments, who don’t want to get into problems, who want to stay outside of a situation that demands the involvement of all of us — they will lose their lives. What a terrible thing to have lived quite comfortably, with no suffering, not getting involved in problems, quite tranquil, quite settled, with good connections politically, economically, socially — lacking nothing, having everything. To what good? They will lose their lives. (St. Oscar Romero)

A work of blood is our salvation; and we, as we would be saved, must draw near and gaze upon it in faith, and accept it as the way to heaven. We must take Him, who thus suffered, as our guide; we must embrace His sacred feet, and follow Him. No wonder, then, should we receive on ourselves some drops of the sacred agony which bedewed His garments; no wonder, should we be sprinkled with the sorrows which He bore in expiation of our sins! (St. John Henry Newman)

Will you remain faithful to the Crucified? . . . The world is in flames, the battle between Christ and the Antichrist has broken into the open. If you decide for Christ, it could cost you your life . . . Before you hangs the Savior on the cross . . .obedient to death . . . Your Savior hangs naked and destitute before you . . . Do not be concerned with your own body . . . The Savior hangs before you with a pierced heart . . . It is the loving heart of your Savior that invites you to follow . . .From the open heart gushes [his] blood. This extinguishes the flames of hell. Make your heart free . . . then the flood of divine love will be poured into your heart until it overflows and becomes fruitful to all the ends of the earth . (St. Edith Stein/Teresa Benedicta of the Cross)

This is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood” (Is 1:15). As we set our gaze upon him who was crucified for us, we can see a crucified humanity. In his wounds, we see the hurts of so many women and men today. In his last cry to the Father, we hear the weeping of those who are crushed, who have no hope, who are sick and who are alone. Above all, we hear the painful groans of all those who are oppressed by violence and are victims of war. Christ, King of Peace, cries out again from his cross: God is love! Have mercy! Lay down your weapons! Remember that you are brothers and sisters! (Pope Leo XIV)

(There is no homily this week)

Intercessions (Joe Milner; The Sunday Website)

For the Church: that we may strive to have the same mind as Christ as we offer our lives in loving service to others.

For courage: that God’s love will sustain us in times of suffering and rejection, and help us to trust in God’s providence each day. 

For the Elect and the Candidates for Full Communion: that they may enter more deeply into the mystery of God’s unconditional love through the celebrations of Holy Week.

For all who have been condemned to death: that the Spirit of God will lead them to conversion and into new life.

For all who have experienced abandonment, betrayal or rejection: that God’s Spirit will comfort them, help them to hold fast to the truth, and lead them to new communities.

For leaders of government and business: that through the example of Jesus, they may recognize how to be servant leaders and give priority to the needs of the most vulnerable.

For all who work in the legal system, for judges, attorneys, and juries: that they may always respect the dignity of both the injured and accused parties and work diligently to find the truth.

For all who are grieving: that God will comfort them, bring supportive people to accompany them, and fill their hearts with peace.

For peace: that God will open new awareness among all conflicting groups to the dignity of each person, inspire leaders with new ways to settle disputes, and protect the children and elderly from harm.

O God of eternal glory, you anointed Jesus, your servant, to bear our sins, to encourage the weary, to raise up and restore the fallen. Keep before our eyes the splendour of the paschal mystery of Christ, and, by our sharing in the passion and resurrection, seal our lives with the victorious sign of his obedience and exaltation. We ask this through Christ, our Lord.  Amen.  (ICEL; 1998)

Offertory Antiphon

Offertory Motet

In passione positus Jesus, cum pro nobis oblatus est, tremens ait: tristis est anima mea usque ad mortem vigilate mecum. Et factus est in agonia orabat dicens: Pater mi, si possibile est, transeat a me calix iste et clamans in cruce dicens: Deus, Deus meus ut quid dereliquisti me in manus tuas Domine commendo Spiritum meum consummatum est.

In his Passion, Jesus, when sacrificed for us, cried out trembling: My soul is sad unto death. Watch with me. And in his agony, pleading, he said: My Father, if it is possible, take this cup from me. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me; Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit. It is finished.

Communion Antiphon

 

Closing Hymn

 

O Saviour of the world, who by thy cross and precious blood hast redeemed us.

Save us and help us, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord. Amen.