Passion (Palm) Sunday, Year C

Gospel

Jerusalem Bible © 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Company Inc.

When they reached the place called The Skull, they crucified him and the two criminals also, one on the right, the other on the left. Jesus said, ‘Father forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.’ Then they cast lots to share out his clothing.

The people stayed there watching him. As for the leaders, they jeered at him. ‘He saved others,’ they said ‘let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers mocked him too and when they approached to offer him vinegar they said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

One of the criminals hanging there abused him. ‘Are you not the Christ?’ he said. ‘Save yourself and us as well.’ But the other spoke up and rebuked him. ‘Have you no fear of God at all?’ he said. ‘You got the same sentence as he did, but in our case we deserved it; we are paying for what we did. But this man has done no wrong. Jesus,’ he said, ‘remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ ‘Indeed, I promise you, ‘he replied, ‘today you will be with me in paradise.’

It was now about the sixth hour and, with the sun eclipsed, a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. The veil of the Temple was torn right down the middle; and when Jesus had cried out in a loud voice, he said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ With these words he breathed his last …

(Luke 22:14–23:56 heavily abridged)

Did you know?

Points of interest and Catholic lore

• The institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper is reported in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke but not in John. In John (6:1–15), the setting involves the multiplication miracle of the loaves. Instead, in the Gospel of John, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper (13:1–11) in an act of service.
• All four gospels report the trials that Jesus experienced before the Sanhedrin, or governing council of the Jews, and before Pilate; however, only Luke recounts Jesus being sent to Herod.
• The Gospel of Luke emphasises the Lord's mercy and forgiveness for those who repent. Even on the cross, Jesus continues to embody these themes. He assures the repentant thief that he will have a place in paradise. Notably, this incident is only reported in the Gospel of Luke.
• Jesus is crucified at Calvary, a Latin translation of the Semitic word Golgotha, which means ‘skull’.
• Since the fourth century, the site now marked by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been revered as the site of Calvary.

Exploring the Word

So much of what is at the heart of Christianity is present in today’s long gospel reading:

• The institution of the Lord’s Supper. ‘This is my body which will be given for you; do this in memorial of me … This is the cup of the new covenant in my blood which will be poured out for you’. It is in the Eucharist that we find the source and summit of our faith. Explore what that means.
• The ministry of service. ‘I am among you as one who serves.’ The Church and all its members are at the service of the world.
• Peter’s denials. Like Peter, we so often fail; but we, too, can repent and re-orient our lives.
• The centrality of the cross. The cross reveals that God, in and through Jesus, entered human suffering and death and overcame the darkness. This death eternally proves that God is in solidarity with the pain of all human beings, and that nothing can separate us from his love.
• Read the three statements that Jesus made from the cross: his plea to forgive those who harm him, his invitation into paradise for the repentant thief, and his prayer of utter faith as he gives his spirit to God. In these statements, we see total forgiveness, hospitality and faithfulness. What is being asked of you in this gospel?

Making connections

Opportunities for group discussion and personal prayer

• ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ Are you ready for this commitment? What will it mean for your life in the future? Reflect on these words and what they mean for you as you prepare for the Easter sacraments this week.
• In our society, the idea of being ‘selfless’ is constantly challenged. Our culture of individualism emphasises the ‘I’ rather than the ‘other’. However, it is in self-giving and self-emptying that we find life. Discuss this dichotomy. How does individualism manifest itself? How can we live selflessly in our daily lives?
• Die with Christ a little this week. Fast from food, TV or entertainment, and try to be less distracted as you prepare for Easter.

Sharing the tradition

A closer look at the Scripture of the day, to see how it makes more explicit God’s word to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ

Passion Sunday, also called Palm Sunday, was already being celebrated in Jerusalem before the year 400. Processions with palms followed the path of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. In following this custom today, we are not simply re-enacting the events of that day; we are also uniting ourselves with Christ’s journey to the cross and his resurrection. We celebrate his victory over death and sin and share his suffering so that we may also share his resurrection and the new life it won.

• Reflect on how you felt as you heard the passion of Christ being read.
• One Catholic tradition is to take a small piece of palm home and place it near a cross. What may this act signify?

Symbols and images

Two symbols dominate the celebration of Christ’s passion: the palms and the cross. The palms, which symbolise Christ’s triumph, and the cross, which symbolises the means by which Christ's triumph is achieved.

Living the Word

Practical ideas for group leaders to employ in connecting Scripture and daily life, with suggestions for music and environment

• How does your community celebrate the procession of the palms? What role can the elect play in this celebration?
• Use a cross and some palms as a focus for prayer. Present to the elect a piece of palm (and a cross, if you have not already done so) to take home. Reflect on ways in which the elect are called to share Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection, and reflect on the new life that awaits them. A suitable song could be Jesus, Remember Me (GA 308). Conclude with the prayer over the elect in the RCIA at §169.