PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S - April 9

Procession with Palms

Gospel at the Procession: Mark 11:1-10. Jesus is in charge of his own destiny. He enters Jerusalem the way a king would, riding instead of walking.

Opening Antiphon and Procession

At the Mass

Isaiah 50:4-7. The third Song of the Servant is actually more the song of a disciple who listens and learns and lives by what God says.

Psalm of the Day: Ps (21) 22

An individual lament whose opening line is quoted by Jesus on the cross (see Mark 15:34 in today's passion narrative.) After listing his trials, the psalmist affirms faith in God and promises to praise God “in the midst of the assembly.”

Philippians 2:6-11. This is the “kenosis” (“emptying”) hymn—a Christian hymn that Paul borrowed and inserted here, adding the phrase “death on a cross” to make his point that Jesus was actually a human being (and not a divine being who merely seemed human) who died and was exalted.

Mark 14:1–15:47. Note the rubric: “The Passion begins directly, without the greeting or the acclamation of the people, but concludes in the usual manner.” Mark's account of Jesus' suffering and death interweaves a series of betrayals with a series of surprising acts of fidelity. Through it all, Jesus is presented as knowing what is coming and choosing his fate. The betrayers include Judas Iscariot, Peter (several times), James and John (in the garden), the leaders of the Sanhedrin, and Pilate. Jesus even has doubts about God ( 15:34 ). Those who are faithful include Simon of Bethany, the woman with the perfumed oil, the man with the water jar, Simon the Cyrenian, the centurion, the women—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, Salome, and other women—and Joseph of Arimathea. God, of course, as we learn on Easter, is the most faithful of all.

LITURGICAL NOTE: If you intend to read the Passion Narrative in parts, the traditional division is threefold: narrator, Christ, and crowd (all other voices). Some communities expand the number of voices, though it is probably not a good idea to give the congregation the "people's part" of this narrative, because that puts them in an adversarial relationship to Jesus. Instead, they should experience themselves as sharing not only in the sin that led to Jesus' death but also in his act of self-sacrifice to which they will soon join themselves once more in the Eucharist. Therefore, it might be good to proclaim this reading with the traditional three readers (which helps to hold attention), but break it at several points for a sung acclamation by the people: Some appropriate acclamations or responses are included in the list of music below.

Opening: The King of Glory (CC-315)
Opening 2: Hosanna (see sheet) [Not sure if needed...]
Ps: My God, My God (see sheet)

No Gospel Acc.

Offertory: Were You There (CC-271)
Com 1: Now We Remain (CC-455)
Com 2: You Are My King (Amazing Love)
Closing: Jesus, Remember Me(CC-270)