Readings: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion | USCCB

As we move into the annual celebration of the holiest of weeks, we are invited into the experience of redemption for all of humanity that God desires for each of us. In a world marked by sin and division and separation among God’s children, we are called into communion with one another and with God.  

In a Christian worldview, we wonder at how God accomplishes this in the person of Jesus. Jesus is “from the Father and for the world”. And this world and the human family in it is divided. The wonder is that God enters into this division and brings about unity and redemption by way of the cross.  

God doesn’t just wave a wand and ignore the sin and division and say “all is forgiven”. Rather, in the person of Jesus and his suffering and death, we see God allows that sin and division to take hold of him and we watch him give back nothing but love. The power of this love is the only thing that can conquer these wounds in humanity.  

One would think that humanity would be grateful for this gift of love, but in the passion narrative we see the hostility that Jesus faces even as he tries to redeem those who are putting him to death.  

In the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola, those contemplating these mysteries are asked to “pray for the grace of confusion.” How could God be allowing himself to experience this hostility and even be put to death by those he is wanting to redeem? How could the crowds who celebrate Jesus as he enters Jerusalem in triumph at the beginning of the Palm Sunday liturgy turn into a mob calling for his execution? As fickle as the crowds are, we wonder at the steady gaze of love of Jesus upon all- both his friends and his enemies?  

Fr. Christopher Collins, SJ 

Vice President for Mission