Palm Sunday is the great doorway leading into Holy Week, the week when the Lord Jesus makes his way towards the culmination of his earthly existence. He goes up to Jerusalem in order to fulfil the Scriptures and to be nailed to the wood of the Cross, the throne from which he will reign for ever, drawing to himself humanity of every age and offering to all the gift of redemption. We know from the Gospels that Jesus had set out towards Jerusalem in company with the Twelve, and that little by little a growing crowd of pilgrims had joined them. Saint Mark tells us that as they were leaving Jericho, there was a “great multitude” following Jesus (cf. 10:46). [. . .] And as he was about to enter the Holy City, had the moment come when God would finally restore the Davidic kingdom? [. . .] They cut branches from the trees and began to shout phrases from Psalm 118, ancient pilgrim blessings, which in that setting took on the character of messianic proclamation: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!” (v. 9-10). This festive acclamation, reported by all four evangelists, is a cry of blessing, a hymn of exultation: it expresses the unanimous conviction that, in Jesus, God has visited his people and the longed-for Messiah has finally come. And everyone is there, growing in expectation of the work that Christ will accomplish once he has entered the city. [. . .]
Let us return to today’s Gospel passage and ask ourselves: what is really happening in the hearts of those who acclaim Christ as King of Israel? Clearly, they had their own idea of the Messiah, an idea of how the long-awaited King promised by the prophets should act. Not by chance, a few days later, instead of acclaiming Jesus, the Jerusalem crowd will cry out to Pilate: “Crucify him!”, while the disciples, together with others who had seen him and listened to him, will be struck dumb and will disperse. The majority, in fact, was disappointed by the way Jesus chose to present himself as Messiah and King of Israel. This is the heart of today’s feast, for us too. Who is Jesus of Nazareth for us? What idea do we have of the Messiah, what idea do we have of God? It is a crucial question, one we cannot avoid, not least because during this very week we are called to follow our King who chooses the Cross as his throne. We are called to follow a Messiah who promises us, not a facile earthly happiness, but the happiness of heaven, divine beatitude. So we must ask ourselves: what are our true expectations? What are our deepest desires, with which we have come here today to celebrate Palm Sunday and to begin our celebration of Holy Week? [. . .]
Dear brothers and sisters, may these days call forth two sentiments in particular: praise, after the example of those who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with their “Hosanna!”, and thanksgiving, because in this Holy Week the Lord Jesus will renew the greatest gift we could possibly imagine: he will give us his life, his body and his blood, his love. But we must respond worthily to so great a gift, that is to say, with the gift of ourselves, our time, our prayer, our entering into a profound communion of love with Christ who suffered, died and rose for us. [. . .] “Today let us too give voice with the children to that sacred chant, as we wave the spiritual branches of our soul: ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel’” (PG 97, 994). Amen!
— from Pope Benedict XVI, Palm Sunday Homily, 1 April 2012
HOLY WEEK TRIDUUM AT ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH: St. George Parishioners are encouraged to celebrate especially these Triduum liturgies with/at our parent church, St. Thomas:
HOLY THURSDAY (3/28) 7PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper (followed by Adoration at Altar of Repose);
GOOD FRIDAY (3/29) 7PM Liturgy (with Veneration of the Cross); and
HOLY SATURDAY (3/30) 8PM Great Vigil of Easter
GOOD FRIDAY (3/29) 7PM Liturgy (with Veneration of the Cross); and
HOLY SATURDAY (3/30) 8PM Great Vigil of Easter
EASTER SUNDAY MASS: 11AM at St. George with reception and Children’s Easter Egg Hunt!
THANK YOU! To those who generously made time this month to volunteer helping serve our Scottsville community at Bread of Life. Your service is a blessing!
THANK YOU! To the many individuals and families who helped contribute to the Diocesan Annual Appeal on behalf of St. George Parish. Your generously has not only met but exceeded our goal! A humble and heartfelt thanks for your support and sacrifice!
MONTHLY CONFESSIONS & ADORATION: 1st Sunday of Month, 10:00-10:45AM at St. George.
MASS READERS: 3/24 Michael/Tina, 3/31 Bill/Olivia, 4/7 Karen/Tanya, 4/14 Tina/Kelly
PRAYER LIST: Pray especially for: Ina Freeman, Sue Gilbert, Lucia Matisinova, Charles “Mac” Maguire, Joe O’Rourke, Carla Sovocool, Margaret Reilly, Art Sovocool, Katie Smith, John Smith, Christopher Tomaselli, Mary Weirich.
St. George Parish, c/o St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, 401 Alderman Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903. 434-293-8081