The liturgy for Palm Sunday is a roller coaster. We begin with the triumphant story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem. In the Mass, just minutes later, the Scripture readings take us from triumph to pain.
Just a reminder, the Gospel reading is the Passion and we will be standing the whole time so wear comfortable shoes to Mass this weekend.
There are a few options for the opening of this Mass. For example, the Mass may begin with a procession or it can begin in a much more simpler form, just like any other Sunday Mass.
This week we Lectio the Liturgy with one of the opening prayers that are found in the First Form of the opening of the Mass for Palm Sunday, The Procession.
Increase the faith of those who place their hope in you, O God, and graciously hear the prayers of those who call on you, that we, who today hold high these branches to hail Christ in his triumph, may bear fruit for you by good works accomplished in him. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Our prayer starts out like many, asking God to increase our faith. There is a bit of a catch to this request, because those who have asked for this increase are the ones who also hope in Him.
hen we ask for faith, we should expect more because the Theological Virtues don’t come in a single pack. When we ask for more faith, we should look for more of hope and love.
We have faith in God when see the wonders He has done in the past. It’s faith that gives us hope for what is to come. The place where we stand now is love. Faith, hope, and love are why the people waved palm branches and laid down their cloaks as Jesus passed by on the back of the colt.
That must have been an amazing thing to see. Their palm branches looked a bit different than ours today. The palm trees of that area grew 40-80 feet tall. The snow-like pale-green fronds were 6-12 feet long. In scripture, palm branches are a sign of victory. (Rev. 7:9)
The people at the first Palm Sunday had seen Jesus perform miracles, many knew He was a great prophet, some knew that He was the Son of God. None of them knew what the week would bring.
In Luke’s gospel, we learn that "the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen.” (Luke 19:37) They praised Him and they had faith because of what they saw Him do. Their palm branches were signs of their praise.
The palms we receive each year often get forgotten. They get tucked behind a picture frame or cut up for a book mark. The crafty people even fold the palms into crosses. What if this year you keep your palm branches out. Wave them around and sing “Hosanna” when God performs a miracle for you. Hold it close to your heart when you need Him to draw close, because we, who hold high these branches to hail Christ need to bear fruit. This fruit is the sign of our love.
Next year, Palm Sunday 2026, may we all need new palm branches as ours have become frayed and broken from all the times we praise Him for what He has done and what He wants to do through us.
God has accomplished good and great works and as we close Holy Week, we celebrate His greatest work, the defeat of sin and death.
May you have a blessed Holy Week,
Julie