My dear friends today we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion in Year C. Today, as we begin the Holy Week, let us reflect on the triumphant yet touching entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, a journey that foreshadows both joy and suffering, and reminds us of the profound love and sacrifice at the heart of our faith. Today, we equally remember that day wherein the crowds, waving palm branches, hailed him as King, shouting “Hosanna! “This scene, a vibrant complexity of hope and anticipation, reminds us that Jesus is not just a historical figure, but a living presence, a King who continues to reign in our hearts and in the world.
The readings for this day set the tone for the profound mysteries of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. They invites us to reflect on Jesus’ identity as the suffering servant, the humble king, and obedient Son of God as seen in the prophecy of Isaiah, 52:13-53:12. Palm Sunday finds its root in Jewish traditions and messianic expectations. The passage read during the procession recounts Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. “See your king shall come to you; a just saviour is He, meek, and riding on an ass.” In ancient Israel, kings and rulers would enter cities on horses during war, but on donkey as a sign of peace.
By choosing a donkey, Jesus reveals His mission as Prince of peace, distinct from earthly kingship. The crowd’s enthusiastic welcome, waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna!” reflects their hope for a political Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule. However, their misunderstanding of Jesus’ mission becomes evident as the same crowd, just days later, demands His crucifixion. The first reading comes from the third servant Song of Isaiah, which presents a prophetic vision of a servant who suffers rejection, beatings, and humiliation but remains steadfast in his mission. “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”.
This passage prefigures Christ’s passion, where he endures mockery, scourging, and ultimately crucifixion. Despite the suffering, the servant remains unwavering because of His trust in God. Jesus embodies this suffering servant, willingly accepting humiliation and pain for the salvation of humanity. His silent endurance for suffering challenges us to trust in God amidst our own trials and difficulties, therefore, persevere with faith even when faced with injustice or persecution. The second reading is a powerful hymn of Christ’s humility and exaltation. St. Paul presents Jesus as the ultimate example of self-emptying i.e. kenosis, stating that “though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.” Instead, He chose to take the form of a servant, becoming fully human and accepting even the most humiliating form of death-death on a cross.
This passage highlights the paradox of Christ’s kingship: true greatness is found in humility and obedience. Jesus willingly lowers Himself to the point of death, showing that love involves self-sacrifice. For us, this massage is a call to imitate Christ’s humility. In a world that often values power, ego and pride, we are reminded that true discipleship involves self-sacrificial love, putting others before ourselves, and embracing God’s will, even when it leads to suffering. Just as Jesus’s obedience leads to His exaltation, our faithfulness to God will lead to eternal life with Him. The passion narrative from Luke leads us into the heart of Christ’s suffering. Luke’s account emphasizes Jesus’ innocence, His compassion even amidst betrayal and agony, and His unwavering trust in the Father. Palm Sunday presents a paradox: triumph and tragedy, praise and rejection, glory and suffering. It invites us to examine our own faith journey in relation to Jesus’s passion. The passion narratives presents us with many examples of faith and discipleship. We have Peter, who denies Jesus but later repents; Judas, who betrays Him, the women at the cross, who remains faithful; and the centurion, who proclaims Jesus as innocent.
The people of Jerusalem welcomed jesus with joy but quickly turned against Him when He did not meet their desired expectations. Do we follow Christ only when it is easy and beneficial, or are we willing to remain faithful even in trials? Like them, we too must decide how we respond to Christ in our daily lives. Friends in Christ, Palm Sunday reverberate deeply with us all as it speaks to three fundamental desires we all have; acceptance, appreciation, and belonging. We all want to be accepted just the way we are. We all want to be appreciated for our qualities and works. And finally, we all want to belong, we all have a desire to connect with others and feel a sense of community and shared identity. Our lives are often spent in, striving for approval, and seeking validation from others.
Yet, Jesus, the Son of God, had none of these on His path to the cross. He was abandoned, branded a criminal, and rejected by the very people who once praised Him. By human thinking, He was a failure: He had the opinion to back out, to avoid the suffering that waited Him in Jerusalem. Logically He could have used His fame for personal gain and avoided the cross. But from the moment of His incarnation, this was the hour He was moving toward, the climax of the love story in the Bible. True love is pain and sacrifice, and Jesus in choosing to go to Jerusalem, demonstrated the ultimate act of love. The palms that greeted Him in triumph soon turned into the ashes of suffering. His journey calls us to reflect: when was the last time we took a risk for someone else, loved without counting the cost, or embraced sacrifice for the sake of another? The Palm Sunday leads into the darkness of Good Friday, it ultimately points toward the light of Easter.
The passion is not the end of the story. Jesus’s obedience leads to His exaltation demonstrating that suffering endured with faith leads to resurrection and new life. As we enter Holy Week, Palm Sunday challenges us to walk with Christ. Are we willing to carry our crosses with Him? Do we recognize Him as our true king, not according to worldly standards, but as the One who rules with love and mercy? May this week be a time of deeper reflection, repentance, and renewal, preparing our heart to share in the victory of His resurrection. May His word continue to bear fruits in our heart. Amen.
• Rev. Fr. Meke Martin, Associate Parish Priest, Ave Maria Catholic Church, Ikate Elegushi Lekki and Associate Chaplain Medical Practitioners, Lagos Archdiocese.
