Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Gospel at the Procession with Palms

Matthew 21:1-11

Jesus enters Jerusalem as the crowd waves palm branches and shouts, "Hosanna!"

First Reading

Isaiah 50:4-7

The Lord’s Servant will stand firm, even when persecuted.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 22:8-9,17-20,23-24

A cry for help to the Lord in the face of evildoers



Second Reading

Philippians 2:6-11

Christ was obedient even to death, and God has exalted him.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 26:14—27:66

Jesus is crucified, and his body is placed in the tomb.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today we begin Holy Week, the days during which we journey with Jesus on his way of the cross and anticipate his Resurrection on Easter. Today’s liturgy begins with the procession with palms to remind us of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem.

The events of Jesus’ Passion are proclaimed in their entirety in today’s Liturgy of the Word. Those events will be proclaimed again when we celebrate the liturgies of the Triduum—Holy Thursday’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion, and the Easter Vigil. In communities that celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation with catechumens, these liturgies take on special importance because they invite the catechumens and the community to enter together into the central mysteries of our faith. These days are indeed profound and holy.

In Cycle A, we read the Passion of Jesus as found in the Gospel of Matthew on Palm, or Passion, Sunday. (On Good Friday, we will read the Passion of Jesus from the Gospel of John). The story of Jesus’ Passion and death in Matthew’s Gospel focuses particularly on the obedience of Jesus to the will of his Father. As Jesus sends his disciples to prepare for Passover, he indicates that the events to come are the will of the Father (Matthew 26:18). In Jesus’ prayer in the garden, he prays three times to the Father to take away the cup of suffering, but each time, Jesus concludes by affirming his obedience to the Father’s will (Matthew 26:39-44). Even Matthew’s description of Jesus’ death shows Jesus’ obedience to the Father.

Another theme of Matthew’s Gospel is to show Jesus as the fulfillment of Scripture. Throughout the Passion narrative, Matthew cites and alludes to Scripture to show that the events of Jesus’ Passion and death are in accordance with all that was foretold. And if the events were foretold, then God is in control. In addition, Matthew is particularly concerned that the reader does not miss the fact that Jesus is the Suffering Servant of the Old Testament.

Jesus acts in obedience to the Father even in death, so that sins may be forgiven. Matthew makes this clear in the story of the Lord’s Supper. As Jesus blesses the chalice, he says: “. . . for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)

While the Gospels of Matthew and Mark have many parallels in their narrative of the Passion, there are a few details worth noting that are unique to Matthew. Only Matthew indicates the price paid to Judas for betraying Jesus. The story of Judas’s death is also found only in Matthew, as is the detail that Pilate’s wife received a warning in a dream and that Pilate washed his hands of Jesus’ death. Finally, Matthew’s Gospel alone mentions the earthquakes and other phenomena that happened after Jesus’ death.

Matthew places the responsibility for Jesus’ death on the Sanhedrin, the chief priests and elders who were responsible for the Temple. However, the animosity that those Jewish leaders and the Jewish people demonstrate toward Jesus is not to be interpreted in ways that blame the Jewish people for Jesus’ death. Throughout Matthew’s Gospel, the narrative reflects the tension that probably existed between the early Christian community and their Jewish contemporaries. At the Second Vatican Council, the Council Fathers made clear that all sinners share responsibility for the suffering and death of Jesus and that it is wrong to place blame for Jesus’ Passion on the Jewish contemporaries of Jesus or on Jewish people today.

There are many vantage points from which to engage in Jesus’ Passion. In the characters of Matthew’s Gospel, we find reflections of ourselves and the many ways in which we sometimes respond to Jesus. Sometimes we are like Judas, who betrays Jesus and comes to regret it. We are sometimes like Peter, who denies him, or like the disciples, who fell asleep during Jesus’ darkest hour but then act rashly and violently at his arrest. Sometimes we are like Simon, who is pressed into service to help Jesus carry his cross. Sometimes we are like the leaders who fear Jesus or like Pontius Pilate, who washed his hands of the whole affair. Jesus dies so that our sins will be forgiven.

The events of Jesus’ Passion, death, and Resurrection are called the Paschal Mystery. No amount of study will exhaust or explain the depth of love that Jesus showed in offering this sacrifice for us. After we have examined and studied the stories we have received about these events, we are left with one final task—to meditate on these events and on the forgiveness that Jesus’ obedience won for us.



Were You There?

This old and beautiful spiritual still moves us with its haunting message. Reflect on its words this Holy Week.

What a Great Response from our Parishioners!



Thank you to all who contributed to the Knights of Columbus Lenten Food Drive. We collected 25 barrels of donations over the 3 weeks of the drive. Donations included food and over 3700 diapers and wipes for families with small children. We also collected $1380 in cash donations. The drive will support our food pantry and showers of blessing. Our surplus will go to Catholic Charities pantries across the diocese.

The Ladies of the Altar Society would like to thank our church family for their support of our Easter Boutique which was held on the church patio March 21st and 22nd. We thank you for purchasing raffle tickets, buying our kids Easter baskets and of course our delicious baked goods.

Because of your support we were able to raise $4,874.  

The winners of our Raffle Baskets are: Mike Thomas won the "Wine & Dine Basket" , Dawn Clark won the 

"Padres Basket", Jerome Moriarty won the "Dine Out Basket" and Greg Lorenat won the "Dine & Shop Basket". Congratulations to all our winners.

It's Pancake Time! 



Carlsbad Troop 748 is celebrating Easter with the entire community again this year as we host our 68th annual Easter Sunday pancake breakfast. The breakfast will be held at the Carlsbad Senior Center on April 5 from 7:30 am-12:30 pm. We're returning with our traditional menu of pancakes, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, and of course your cup of morning coffee, tea, or milk. Advance tickets are $10 (just $12 at the door) and as always, the proceeds will help send our Scouts to summer camp and a variety of other activities throughout the year! 

We will be on the church patio at all Masses on the weekends of March 21-22 and March 28-29. We thank you for your support. If you need your tickets delivered to your door or want more information on joining the troop, please contact Scoutmaster Bob Dixon at 760-712-6395.

Domingo de Ramos de la pasión del Señor”

Hoy entramos en el tiempo más sagrado del año de la Iglesia: la Semana Santa. El Domingo de Ramos comienza con un espíritu de alegría y triunfo. Escuchamos el Evangelio de Jesús entrando en Jerusalén, recibido por multitudes que agitan ramos de palma y gritan: “¡Hosanna!”. Es un momento lleno de esperanza y expectativa. El pueblo cree que el Mesías ha venido a salvarlos.

Sin embargo, muy pronto el tono cambia.

Pasamos de la celebración al dolor al escuchar la Pasión del Señor. Las mismas voces que antes lo alababan ahora gritan: “¡Crucifícalo!”. Este contraste tan fuerte nos invita a reflexionar más profundamente, no solo sobre los acontecimientos de aquel día, sino también sobre nuestros propios corazones.

¿Cuántas veces nos encontramos en esa misma tensión? A veces estamos llenos de fe, dispuestos a seguir a Cristo y proclamarlo como Señor. Pero en otros momentos luchamos. El miedo, la duda o las presiones de la vida pueden alejarnos de Él. Como Pedro, podemos desear ser fieles, pero fallamos. Como la multitud, podemos dejarnos influenciar por las voces a nuestro alrededor. Y como Simón de Cirene, podemos ser llamados inesperadamente a cargar cruces que no elegimos.

El Domingo de Ramos nos recuerda que el discipulado no se trata solo de momentos de alegría y alabanza; también implica sacrificio, perseverancia y confianza. En el centro de la liturgia de hoy está Jesús mismo. Él entra en Jerusalén no con poder ni fuerza, sino con humildad y paz. Sabe lo que le espera, y aun así lo abraza libremente. Su Pasión no es una historia de derrota, sino de amor: un amor derramado completamente por cada uno de nosotros.



Cada paso que Jesús da hacia la Cruz es un paso dado por nosotros. En su sufrimiento vemos la profundidad de la misericordia de Dios. En su silencio escuchamos su obediencia. En su muerte encontramos la promesa de una vida nueva.

Al comenzar la Semana Santa, se nos invita a caminar más de cerca con Cristo. Esta no es una semana para dejar pasar como cualquier otra. Es un tiempo para detenernos, orar con más intención y entrar en los misterios que celebramos. Ya sea participando en las liturgias, pasando tiempo en oración silenciosa o reflexionando sobre la Pasión, estamos llamados a estar presentes con el Señor.

Al sostener nuestras palmas hoy, que sean más que signos de un acontecimiento pasado. Que sean un compromiso de nuestro corazón: seguir a Jesús no solo en los momentos de gloria, sino también en el camino de la Cruz. Si caminamos con Él en su Pasión, también compartiremos la alegría de su Resurrección.

P. George G. Pérez, CJM

3821 Adams Street

Carlsbad, California 92008

760.729.2866