Palm Sunday, April 9, to Wednesday of Holy Week, April 12
Reflection
The current readings for Palm Sunday produce what is surely one of the most schizophrenic liturgies imaginable. It starts out brightly, with the Hosannas of Gospel for the blessing of the palms, dives immediately into the plight of the suffering servant in Isaiah, and then to Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
I admit I am old enough to remember a time when Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday were different and all the crosses in the church would be draped in purple after mass on Palm Sunday to give us a week to get our heads ready for the pain of the passion. Maybe one lesson to take from this post-Vatican II liturgy is that we can never really prepare ourselves for the cross. When it hits us, all we can do is hold on and remember that we aren’t alone.
Readings
Readings for Palm Sunday, April 9
- At the Procession with the Palms, Matthew 21:1-11
- At Mass, Reading 1, Isaiah 50:4-7
- Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
- Reading 2, Philippians 2:6-11
- Verse Before Gospel, Philippians 2:8-9
- Gospel, Matthew 26:14-27:66
- Click here to go to USCCB Readings for April 9.
Readings for Monday of Holy Week, April 10
- Reading 1, Isaiah 42:1-7
- Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14
- Verse Before Gospel, “Hail to you, our King; you alone are compassionate with our faults.”
- Gospel, John 12:1-11
- Click here to go to USCCB Readings for April 10.
Readings for Tuesday of Holy Week, April 11
- Reading 1, Isaiah 49:1-6
- Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4A, 5AB-6AB, 15 & 17
- Verse Before Gospel, “Hail to you, our King, obedient to the Father; you were led to your crucifixion like a gentle lamb to the slaughter.”
- Gospel, John 13:21-33, 36-38
- Click here to go to USCCB Readings for April 11.
Readings for Wednesday of Holy Week, April 12
- Reading 1, Isaiah 50:4-9A
- Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 & 33-34
- Verse Before Gospel, “Hail to you, our King; you alone are compassionate with our errors.” Or, “Hail to you, our king, obedient to the Father; you were led to your crucifixion like a gentle lamb to the slaughter.”
- Gospel, Matthew 26:14-25
- Click here to go to USCCB Readings for April 12.