Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where crowds welcomed him as the Messiah by waving palm branches, spreading cloaks on the road, and shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Matthew 21:9). This joyful event fulfills Old Testament prophecies, such as Zechariah 9:9, portraying the king arriving humbly on a donkey rather than a warhorse, symbolizing a kingdom of peace, not earthly power.
At the same time, the liturgy shifts dramatically to the Passion—Jesus' suffering, betrayal, trial, crucifixion, and death—foreshadowing the events of the coming days. The day holds a striking contrast: exuberant praise quickly gives way to betrayal, abandonment, and sorrow, mirroring how the same crowds who hailed Jesus would soon cry "Crucify him!" It invites believers to reflect on human fickleness, the cost of discipleship, and the depth of Christ's obedient love.
Liturgies on Palm Sunday
The celebration is unique and unfolds in two main parts:
1. The Commemoration of the Lord's Entrance into Jerusalem (Liturgy of the Palms):
This often begins outside the church or in a gathering space. Palms (or branches) are blessed with holy water and a prayer. The Gospel of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is proclaimed (for Year A: Matthew 21:1-11). A solemn procession then enters the church, with the assembly waving palms and singing hymns like "All Glory, Laud, and Honor" or antiphons such as "Hosanna." This reenacts the biblical event and expresses our own welcome of Christ as King.
There are three possible forms: a full procession (preferred for the main Mass), a solemn entrance, or a simple entrance with the usual Introit. Red vestments are worn, symbolizing both royal triumph and the blood of the Passion.
2. The Mass of the Lord's Passion:
After the procession, the Liturgy of the Word continues with a more somber tone. The Passion narrative from the Gospel is proclaimed in full (often with multiple readers or the assembly taking parts for the crowd). No acclamations like "Glory to you, O Lord" or "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ" are used before or after this reading, emphasizing its solemnity. A homily may follow, and the Creed and Universal Prayer are included. The Liturgy of the Eucharist proceeds as usual. Palms are often taken home afterward as sacramentals and kept until the next year's Ash Wednesday, when they are burned to make ashes.
Readings for Palm Sunday, Year A (March 29, 2026)
- At the Procession with Palms: Gospel — Matthew 21:1-11 (Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey amid cries of "Hosanna").
- At Mass:
- First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7 — The Third Song of the Suffering Servant. The prophet describes one who is taught by God, endures insult and suffering without resistance ("I gave my back to those who struck me... my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting"), yet trusts confidently: "The Lord GOD is my help... I shall not be put to shame." This foreshadows Christ's obedient endurance.
- Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 (with the refrain "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"). This psalm of lament, which Jesus quotes from the cross (Matthew 27:46), vividly describes mockery, pierced hands and feet, divided garments, and a cry of dereliction, yet ends in praise.
- Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11 — The great Christological hymn. Christ, though in the form of God, "emptied himself," taking the form of a slave, becoming obedient to death on a cross. Therefore, God exalts him, and every knee shall bend. This captures the movement from humility to glory.
- Gospel (Passion): Matthew 26:14–27:66 (or the shorter form, Matthew 27:11-54). This recounts the Last Supper, Judas' betrayal, the agony in Gethsemane, Peter's denial, the trials before the Sanhedrin and Pilate, the scourging, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus.
Reflection on the Readings
Palm Sunday Year A confronts us with the paradox of the cross: glory and suffering are inseparable in Christ's mission. The entrance Gospel (Matthew 21) shows Jesus deliberately choosing humility—riding a donkey, not a stallion—and being acclaimed as prophet and king. Yet this "triumph" leads straight to betrayal for thirty pieces of silver, false accusations, abandonment by friends, and a brutal death.
The Isaiah reading portrays the Suffering Servant who accepts humiliation without retaliation, sustained by God's help. Jesus embodies this perfectly: he does not hide his face from shame but trusts the Father. Psalm 22 gives voice to the depths of forsakenness ("Why have you abandoned me?") while holding onto hope in God's faithfulness. Many who hear Jesus cry these words on the cross may recall the psalm's full arc—from despair to deliverance—pointing toward resurrection.
Philippians 2 reveals the theological heart: Christ's self-emptying (kenosis) is the model of true kingship. Power is exercised not by domination but by humble obedience and sacrificial love. The one who descends to the lowest point—death on a cross—is exalted as Lord. This hymn challenges us: Are we willing to "have the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus"?
The long Passion from Matthew immerses us in the drama. We hear the institution of the Eucharist, the weakness of disciples (sleeping, denying, fleeing), the injustice of religious and political leaders, the innocence of Jesus, and the cosmic signs at his death (darkness, earthquake, torn veil). Matthew emphasizes fulfillment of Scripture and the innocence of the condemned one, whose blood is "for the forgiveness of sins."
As we wave palms and then hear of the cross, we are invited to examine our own hearts. How often do we acclaim Jesus when it is convenient or popular, only to deny or abandon him in difficulty? Palm Sunday calls us to deeper fidelity: to follow the humble King who empties himself for our sake, to stand at the foot of the cross with Mary and the beloved disciple, and to trust that suffering embraced in obedience leads to resurrection glory.
This day begins Holy Week not as spectators but as participants. Let us carry our blessed palms as signs of our commitment to Christ the King. May we enter these sacred days with open hearts, allowing the Passion to transform us so that we may rise with him at Easter. Hosanna in the highest—yet also, "Into your hands I commend my spirit."
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