The readings for the Palm Sunday of the passion of the Lord, profoundly reveal the depth of Christ’s love and the nature of His sacrifice for us. This day marks the beginning of the holy week, inviting us to reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross, His triumphant yet humble entry into Jerusalem. His suffering, and His ultimate Sacrifice for our salvation. In the first reading from Isaiah, we encounter the figure of the suffering servant, Isaiah speaks of one who is called to bring comfort and hope, who endures suffering without retaliation, and whose trust is firmly placed in the Lord. This is a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus, who is His passion, embodies the servant. As He enters Jerusalem, receiving both praise and rejection. He demonstrates the humility and obedience that leads to his sacrificial death.

The Psalmist echoes this theme in Psalm 22, a prayer filled with anguish yet ultimately longing for divine deliverance. The words of the Psalm ring out with the depth of human suffering: My God My God why have you forsaken me? These words spoken by Jesus on the Cross, reminds us that in our moments of despair, we can never truly be alone, God is with us even in the darkest hours. And in the second reading from Philippians, Paul beautifully articulates the nature of Christ-how He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and humbling Himself to the point of death on a cross. This is the powerful reminder of the depth of Jesus’ love, which calls us to reflect on our own lives and how we, too, are called to serve others humbly and selflessly.  

The Gospel of today relates the events of this week, from Judas’ making a pack with the religious leaders to hand over Jesus, to the last supper, to the agony in the garden, to the fake trial to His passion condemnation, scourging, crowning with thorns, crucifixion, death and burial. In the first century Jerusalem, under Roman occupation, tension ran high as Passover approached. The Jewish authorities, particularly the Sanhedrin, held religious authority but lacked the power to carry out executions, necessitating the Roman governor of Judea held jurisdiction over capital punishment, while Herod Antipa, the ruler of Galilee, played a minor yet pivotal role in Jesus’ trial. Against this background of political and religious complexity, Jesus appeared for what would be His final Hours. Jesus did not leave things to chance; his plans were carefully laid out, he arranged for a private upper room, a common setting where a rabbi would meet with his disciples, for intimate discussion.   

This Passover meal was unlike any other for Jesus transformed it into the establishment of a new covenant. Bread, once a simple staple, became the symbol of His body, wine, a part of every festive Jewish meal became the sign of His blood, the price of a renewed relationship between God and humanity. In the ancient Jewish understanding, a covenant was a sacred agreement. As seen in exodus, it was sealed with blood, signifying commitment and sacrifice. Yet-mankind had continuously broken its side of the covenant, failing to uphold divine low. Now, Jesus offered a new covenant, one not dependent on human faithfulness but on His sacrificial love. Yet even in that sacred moment, betrayal lurked at the table Jesus predicts Judas’s betrayal, showing divine foreknowledge. Judas was not the last betrayer. Every disciple who would falter in faith, every believer who would pledge loyalty yet live contrary to Christ’s teachings, would in some way echo that betrayal. 

Later that night, in the stillness of gethsemane, Jesus prays, “Father, if you are willing to remove this cup from me”, showing His human struggle, yet He submits, fulfilling Isaiah 53:10. Judas arrives leading those who would arrest Jesus. Judas identifies Jesus with a kiss. Jesus rebukes violence, healing the servant’s ear-demonstrating divine compassion even in betrayal. As predicted Peter denies Jesus three times before the rooster crows, fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy. His weeping signifies true repentance. Dressed before the Sanhedrin, Jesus faced accusation of blasphemy, a charge punishable by death under Jewish law. Since blasphemy was not a roman crime, the leaders presented Jesus as a political threat. Accusing him of claiming kingship and opposing Ceaser. 

Luke uniquely includes Jesus’ meeting with Herod Antipas, who seeks a miracle but receives silence-a fulfilment of Isaiah 53:7. Pilate, reluctant to condemn Jesus, offers Barabas instead but the crowd demands Jesus’ crucifixion. Pilate, though declaring Jesus’ innocent, succumbs to political pressure, condemned to die. Jesus was led through the streets of Jerusalem, too weak to carry His own cross. A man from Cyrene, Simon was pulled from the crowd to bear the burden. Jesus crucified alongside two criminals, prays, “father forgive them, for they do not know what they do” this exemplifies Luke’s theme of mercy. The repentant thief asks, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom” receiving the promise of paradise, Luke’s emphasis on salvation by faith. Darkness covers the land; Jesus cries, “Father into your hands I commend my spirit” signifying total trust in God. The Roman centurion, a gentile, recognizes Jesus’ righteousness-Luke’s universal message. So let us pray for grand wisdom to reflect on the saving mysteries of this Holy week and we boldly profess our faith and live in the fulness of the relationship Christ died to give us.