April 5, 2020 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord –A

Isaiah 50:4-7

Philippians 2:6-11

Matthew 26:14-27:66

“Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” Mt. 26:35

Lord, today we begin the most solemn week of the year. Your word describes betrayal, denial, humiliation, cruelty, suffering, death and complete acceptance of the Father’s will. How would I have felt if I was in Jerusalem this week?  I put myself among those who cheered wildly in greeting you as their king with shouts of Hosanna. Would I have stood by you to the end on Calvary? Or would I have scattered like the rest of your followers when things got out of hand? Lord, I’m so grateful that you died for all people: those who stood with you and those who ran away out of fear and even denied knowing you. Thank you so much for giving us the Eucharist to always have you present with us. Lord, please forgive me the times when I’ve failed to follow you. With all that is going on in our world today, the observation of your Passion and Death will be quite different this year. Even so, I want to praise you and honor you each day this week for your complete dedication to the Father’s will and for the promise of Resurrection to come. You O Lord be not far from me; O my help, hasten to aid me.  Amen.