LENT 2024 Palm Sunday
‘Keep seeking and be ready to take risks. At this moment in time, we face enormous risks; we hear the painful plea of so many people.’
In his 2024 Lent Message Pope Francis outlines this season as a time of hope. He encourages everyone to find the courage of conversion. He writes:
“To the extent that this Lent becomes a time of conversion, an anxious humanity will notice a burst of creativity, a flash of new hope. Allow me to repeat what I told the young people whom I met in Lisbon last summer: “Keep seeking and be ready to take risks. At this moment in time, we face enormous risks; we hear the painful plea of so many people. Indeed, we are experiencing a third world war fought piecemeal. Yet let us find the courage to see our world, not as being in its death throes but in a process of giving birth, not at the end but at the beginning of a great new chapter of history. We need courage to think like this.”
Read the complete Lent 2024 message HERE
Procession with palms
Gospel Mark 11:1-10 or John 12:12-16
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Readings
Isaiah 50:4-7
I did not cover my face against insult and I know I will not be ashamed.
Psalm 21: 8-9, 17-20, 23-24
Response: My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Philippians 2:6-11
He humbled himself to become like us and God raised him on high.
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!
Christ became obedient for us even to death, dying on the cross.
Therefore God raised him on high and gave him a name above all other names.
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!
Gospel: Mark 14:1-15:47 The full account of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Truly this man was the Son of God!
Music suggestions
All glory, laud and honour (Sing Hosanna) by Moore.
Hail Redeemer, King divine by Charles Rigby.
Ride on, ride on in majesty by Milman.
Homily suggestions
Homily Studio podcast. For a conversation about the scriptures for Sunday during the week leading up to 24 March go to this link HERE
More to think about…
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion has two contrasting halves. They teach us about the true meaning of kingship. Of real love. First the palms proclaim the kingship of Jesus during the ritual procession. Second the soldiers do their best to destroy any kingship in Jesus. The Passion Reading shows the ridicule Jesus endured. They make a tortured fool out of this great king who chose total surrender no matter what.
For more on this, read the homily reflection from John Foley, SJ HERE
Prayer
E te Atua o te Tūmanako, God of Hope, as we remember the events of Palm Sunday and the Passion of Christ, we are reminded to welcome Jesus into our hearts and choose to follow You… Help us to fix our sight on You and the hope of the resurrection. Āmene (from Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Prayer card 2024.)
Photo of palms on slider by C Gibbs
Jesus wearing crown of thorns from ClipArt Library.
