This is the Passion of an absolutely innocent victim who,

transform it to energies of love, and return it as redemptive grace.

The woman who anoints Jesus engages in an individual act of extravagant devotion,

but Jesus interprets the action as anticipating his burial.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 50:4-7

The Lord Yahweh has taught me

So I speak as his disciple and I know how to sustain the weary.

Morning after morning he wakes me up to hear, to listen like a disciple. 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 I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn.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.

 

Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Philippians 2:6-11

Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, 

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 ＊＊＊      

Mark 14:1-15:47*

(...)Early in the morning, the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law (that is, the whole Council or Sanhedrin) had their plan ready. They put Jesus in chains, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

 

Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "You say so." As the chief priests accused Jesus of many things, Pilate asked him again, "Have you no answer at all? See how many charges they bring against you." But Jesus gave no further answers, much to Pilate's surprise.

 

At every Passover festival, Pilate used to free any prisoner the people asked for. Now there was a man called Barabbas, jailed with the rioters who had committed murder in the uprising. When the crowd went up to ask Pilate the usual favor, he said to them, "Do you want me to set free the King of the Jews?" for he realized that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him out of envy.

 

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask, instead, for the release of Barabbas. Pilate replied, "And what shall I do with the man you call King of the Jews?" The crowd shouted back, "Crucify him!" Pilate asked, "What evil has he done?" But they shouted the louder, "Crucify him!"

 

As Pilate wanted to please the people, he freed Barabbas; and, having had Jesus flogged, Pilate handed him over to be crucified. (...)

The soldiers led him out of the city to crucify him. On the way, they met Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country; and forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.

 

When they had led him to the place called Golgotha, which means the Skull, they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he would not take it. Then they nailed him to the cross, and divided his clothes among themselves, casting lots to decide what every man should take.

 

It was about nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him. The statement of his offense was displayed above his head, and it read, "The King of the Jews." They also crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says: And with lawless ones he was numbered. (...)

 

When noon came, darkness fell over the whole land and lasted until three o'clock; and at three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?" As soon as they heard these words, some of the bystanders said, "Listen! He is calling for Elijah." And one of them went quickly to fill a sponge with bitter wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink, saying, "Now let's see whether Elijah comes to take him down."

 

But Jesus uttered a loud cry and gave up his spirit. And immediately, the curtain that enclosed the temple Sanctuary was torn in two, from top to bottom. The captain, who was standing in front of him, saw how Jesus died and heard the cry he gave; and he said, "Truly, this man was the Son of God."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Are you the King of the Jews?"

Lectio Divina

READ: Jesus ate the Passover meal. After the meal, Jesus prayed in Gethsemane. Jesus was arrested through the betrayal of Judas Iscariot. He was first brought to the High Priest. Peter denied Jesus three times. Jesus was brought to Pilate. While releasing Barabbas, Jesus was sentenced to death. Jesus was crowned with thorns and then carried his cross to Golgotha where he was crucified.

 

By three o'clock in the afternoon Jesus cried out loudly. Afterwards, Jesus gave up his spirit. The curtain that enclosed the temple sanctuary was torn from top to bottom. The captain professed that Jesus is the Son of God. There were some women watching from a distance. In the evening Joseph of Arimathea took and laid Jesus' body in a tomb.

 

REFLECT: Today is Palm Sunday. The palm symbolizes victory. Today's celebration invites us to reflect on Jesus' offering of his life, which paved the way for the birth of Christianity. The community of disciples he formed would, afterwards, spread through all the world to proclaim the Good News. Through his sacrifice, the mission of Jesus of bringing the fullness of life, began to branch out.

 

As Christians, we should be aware that there is no true sacrifice that is wasted. The good effects of our sacrifices for others can always go a long way.

 

PRAY: Let us pray that we may truly learn the value of sacrifice.

 

ACT: Let us do one sacrificial act today and offer it for the wellbeing of a person we love.