March 29, 2026
Palm Sunday
FOCUS: Be in step with Jesus, to love and sacrifice with him.
Consider our king. Entering the world in poverty, Jesus made his triumphal entry riding a colt. Rather than worldly power, Jesus was armed with love. This extraordinary king calls for extraordinary followers. Let us not be in step with this world, seeking glory and riches, but seek to follow Jesus, even to the cross, as we desire to join in his resurrection.
What's in Your Heart
Today's readings carry the sorrow of the world. The false accusations, denials, betrayals, and beatings Jesus faced are heartbreaking.
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What brings greatest sorrow in my life? How well do I bear my burden? In what ways does Jesus' Passion speak to that sorrow?
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Which injustice in my life and in the world at large stirs the most passion in me? Why? What can I do in the future? What can I do right now to rectify the problems?
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Unlike Jesus, who spent much of his last hours on Earth in prayer, many of us forget to pray in the midst of a crisis. What role, if any, has prayer played for me in my hour of need?
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Jesus offered himself completely for me. Am I willing to do the same for others—no strings attached?
Homily Stories
Early in my marriage I had the horrible habit of becoming extremely drowsy whenever my wife wanted to deal with a difficult issue. It was a highly inappropriate psychological coping mechanism, and I had the hardest time overcoming it. Try as I might to appear alert and interested, I kept falling asleep. Needless to say, that did little to endear me to my wife.
And so I have a bit of sympathy for the apostles who accompanied Jesus to the Mount of Olives and promptly fell asleep. Jesus expressed his tremendous sorrow and asked them to keep watch. But time and again they dozed. I imagine it wasn't only the wine from the Passover meal, nor the lateness of the hour that had them dropping off to sleep. I suspect that fear had a lot to do with it. Here was the person they could most count on in any difficult situation—the one who stood up to the temple officials and who calmed the stormy seas—and he was clearly in great turmoil.
I think we all can tend to snooze—literally or figuratively—when fear strikes. We can give in to the urge to hide in bed with the covers pulled up over our heads when life gets uncertain or scary. But time and again Jesus tells us, "Fear not." On Good Friday, Jesus walks head-on to face humanity's greatest fear—suffering and death. If we don't sleep through his Passion, we'll be awake for his Resurrection.
First Reading
Second Reading
Gospel
Quotes
Not all of us are expected to die a martyr’s death, but we are all called to the pursuit of Christian virtue.
—Pope Pius XII
We must be ready and eager for every opportunity to do good, and put our whole heart into it.
—Pope Saint Clement I