Palm Sunday and the Lord's Suffering – March 29, 2026

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, the most important week of the year. We celebrate the Feast of Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem.

Today, we see statues in churches being covered as a sign of mourning for the impending death of Jesus. We also cover the statues to remember that Jesus' death on the cross bestowed the Resurrection upon us all. Our sainthood stems from the fact that Jesus died and rose again for us.

Jesus, through his death on the cross, opened the gates of heaven for us. Two passages from the Bible are read in today's service. At the beginning of the service, we read the passage of the day's Bible describing Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Then, we read the account of the Passion of Jesus. Therefore, today's Sunday is called "Palm Sunday" and "The Lord's Passion Sunday." The Church placed the story of the Crucifixion a week before Easter Sunday because many people cannot attend the celebrations on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Thus, even if they cannot attend the celebrations, everyone can read the story of Jesus' Crucifixion before celebrating Easter.

The biblical text we know today, the Gospel of Matthew, tells us about Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. The fact that Jesus entered the city riding a donkey carries a profound meaning. He is not a king who arrives with worldly power and glory; he is a humble king, a bringer of peace. Everyone expects Jesus to be a king like the kings we know in this world. Jesus does not come that way. Jesus is born in humility and poverty in a cave. He lives in humility and poverty with his family and dies on the cross. Jesus comes to teach us that his kingdom is not of this world. This world is temporary for everyone. He comes to reign in heaven.

The people greet Him with branches and joy, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” But we know that a few days later, the same crowd will shout, “Crucify Him!” This shows how changeable the human heart can be. Enthusiasm is easy, but loyalty is difficult. When we meet Jesus and begin to know Him, we are very excited, but then, when we see how many difficulties we will face, we begin to lose our strength. When we see the cross and the suffering, we become discouraged, thinking we have done something wrong. But this is Jesus’ way. From the joy and love of knowing Jesus, to the suffering and the Cross, to die with Him. In normal life, there is no way for us to escape the Cross, the pain of illness. But when we see Jesus’ suffering, all of this takes on a new meaning. He suffered and died, but it didn’t end there. He showed that it wasn’t the end by overcoming suffering and death. The life that Jesus wants to give us in the Resurrection will pass through dark and painful moments. But our hope in Jesus allows us to see that suffering will never end if we truly believe in Him. He will transform all suffering into joy. However, suffering will be an inevitable part of this path. Palm Sunday invites us to celebrate Jesus as the king of our lives. Jesus cannot be someone I only call upon when I need Him. We must surrender our lives to Him completely and unconditionally, accepting everything He wishes to give us. And on this path, He will give us much joy, but He will also teach us by allowing us to pass through much suffering.

At the start of Holy Week, the most important week of the year, we are invited to walk with Christ:

• On Holy Thursday, we deeply reflect on the love that manifested itself as service at the Last Supper.

• On Good Friday, we see love reaching its peak on the cross.

• On Holy Saturday, we experience silence and anticipation.

• And on Easter Sunday, we celebrate the victory of life over death.

Therefore, this day is not merely a commemoration, but an invitation to live intensely with Jesus at every step. The branches we carry today are not only symbols of the feast, but also a commitment. A commitment to follow Christ not only in the exhilaration of applause, but also in the faithfulness of the cross. Let us ask for grace so that we may not only be Christians on special days, but become true apostles who remain with Jesus at every moment. May this Holy Week profoundly transform our hearts.

May the Virgin Mary intercede for us so that, just as she did, we may always live with Jesus, whether in joy or sorrow.