PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD
MATTHEW 26:14-27:66, April 2, 2023
1. STORY
Among all the animals in animal heaven,
the proudest was the horse. One day the horse, while drinking at a stream, met
a donkey. He boasted too the donkey how
while on earth he had carried kings and lead armies into battle. He asked the donkey if he had ever heard of
the great king, Alexander the Great. The
donkey replied that he had never heard of him. The horse boasted that he carried this great
king many times to victory. The donkey mentioned that he too, once carried a king.
The horse was in a hurry so did not have
time to listen. As the horse left, there
was a little rabbit who was very interested in hearing about this king that the
donkey once carried. The donkey said
this event happened many years ago in Jerusalem. He explained in great detail what had
happened. The rabbit asked the name of
the king. The donkey said it was a man
named Jesus. When the rabbit heard this,
he became very excited and happy telling the donkey that he carried into
Jerusalem the savior of the world.
2. GOSPEL. MATTHEW 26:14-27:66
A) JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM
The disciples prepared a donkey for
him to enter into Jerusalem. The donkey
was a symbol of peace, as the horse was a symbol of war. As he entered, the city was shaken and the
people asked who this man was. The crowd
answered it was Jesus the prophet.
B) THE PEOPLE WELCOMED JESUS
The very large crowd spread their
cloaks while others cut branches from the trees to spread them on the road. They all cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of
David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.”
3) APPLICATION TO LIFE
A) JESUS COMES INTO OUR LIVES
Jesus comes daily into our lives
because he loves us and helps is to lead good lives. He comes to us in many ways.
i) When we pray to him during the
day.
ii) When we hear his word while
reading the bible.
iii) When we receive the Eucharist.
iv) When we go to confession.
v) When we are kind to others by word
and deed.
B) WE WELCOME JESUS
When we see and hold a palm, it has
three meanings for us.
i) It is a sign that we welcome Jesus
into our lives and hearts.
ii) It is a sign of victory over
death; for as Jesus rose from the dead, so will we too rise from the dead.
iii) It is a sign of love that we
have for Jesus who died to save us.
4) CONCLUSION
It was a great privilege for the
donkey to carry Jesus into Jerusalem and for the people to welcome him. We also are privileged to welcome Jesus into
our lives. He comes to give us strength
to live good lives. When we see the palm, we remember that it is a sign that we
welcome Jesus into our lives, a sign of victory over death, and a sign that
Jesus loves us and we love Jesus.
