By Fr. Andrew Kelly
PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION – MARCH 26
On March 14, 2013, Pope Francis preached:
“When we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, and when we profess Christ without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly, we are bishops, priests, cardinals, popes, but not disciples of the Lord.”
Sunday begins Holy Week and the celebration of Jesus’ Cross that Francis preached as the community’s foundational story.
Without Jesus’ Cross, the community has no meaning or mission. Or as Francis said: “…are not disciples of the Lord.”
Sunday’s lengthy Passion (Luke 22:14 – 23:56) interprets Jesus’ Cross as self-emptying service for others. At Jesus’ Last Supper Jesus preached farewell words: “But I am among you as one who serves.”
Jesus’ Cross dominates the community’s worship space. It proclaims that the community will be as radical in its service as Jesus was radical in his self-emptying. In other words: “But I am among you as one who serves.”
Holy Week is the community’s week to reconnect with its holy foundational story of self-emptying service.
May the Holy Week Cross, which Francis preached about, both form and reform the community into disciples who follow Jesus Christ all the way to Jesus’ Cross.
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)
Scripture Readings for March 24-31
Sunday
Lk 19:28-40
Is 50:4-7
Phil 2:6-11
Lk 22:14—23:56
Monday
Is 42:1-7
Jn 12:1-11
Tuesday
Is 49:1-6
Jn 13:21-33, 36-38
Wednesday
Is 50:4-9a
Mt 26:14-25
Thursday
Chrism Mass
Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9
Rv 1:5-8
Lk 4:16-21
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Ex 12:1-8, 11-14
1 Cor 11:23-26
Jn 13:1-15
Friday
Is 52:13—53:12
Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9
Jn 18:1—19:42
Saturday
Gn 1:1—2:2 or Gn 1:1, 26-31a
Gn 22:1-18 or Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
Ex 14:15—15:1
Is 54:5-14
Is 55:1-11
Bar 3:9-15, 32-4:4
Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28
Rom 6:3-11
Lk 24:1-12
Sunday
Acts 10:34a, 37-43
Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8
Jn 20:1-9 or Lk 24:1-12 or Lk 24:13-35
