And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked “Who is this?
(Matthew 21:10, Palm Sunday Entrance Gospel)
We know what it means to be shaken right now. Jesus too lived our humanity, emptied himself (Philippians 2:6-11, Second Reading), and experienced with us the ways in which life shakes us, like an earthquake.
In Palm Sunday’s entrance Gospel (Matthew 21:1-11), we hear that the whole city was shaken as Jesus entered. But this is not the first or last time we hear about “shaking” in Matthew’s Gospel. In Matthew 8:24, a similar word is used to describe the way in which Jesus’ disciples were shaken by the storm at sea. During today’s second Gospel proclamation, we hear that the earth shook at Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 27:51). With his resurrection, the earth shakes again at the empty tomb. And the hearts of the tomb’s guards are likewise shaken with the appearance of an angel (Matthew 28:2-4).
How are we being shaken right now? What are the storms we are experiencing? Our Gospels and readings offer a message of consolation and hope. God is with us as the world quakes around us. But God is also shaking us with a different type of earthquake: with the good news and presence of Christ, who has entered into the city of our lives. By emptying himself, Jesus is a sign for us of how to live through this moment and all moments. In the ways we empty ourselves (and many are emptying themselves right now in acts of extraordinary service and gentle patience), we too live Jesus’ way of life. Let us then hold fast to the promise of his exaltation and glory (Philippians 2:6-11) .
Praying with the Readings
(Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion)
READINGS | PRAYER PATH FOR THE READINGS | KEY WORDS AND PHRASES
What other words or phrases from the biblical readings resonate with you and your anxieties, fears, hopes, or yearning right now? This is a good way of starting what is often called lectio divina, praying with the Bible. MORE ON LECTIO DIVINA FROM FATHER JAMES MARTIN
Resource pages above from St. Louis University Liturgy Website
Keeping Sunday Holy
(Palm Sunday at Home)
HOLY WEEK PRAYER SERVICES AND RITUALS FOR HOME | From Liturgical Press – Very useful for celebrating adapted rituals throughout Holy Week
MORNING PRAYER | EVENING PRAYER
From Diana Macalintal, liturgy.life
FAMILY WORSHIP@HOME
From Paul Canavese and Ann Naffziger, The Pastoral Center
PALM SUNDAY GREEN BRANCH PROJECT
Put greenery on your doors for Palm Sunday!
Mass Video Streams: ST MICHAEL CANTON, OH | CATHOLIC TV | NATIONAL SHRINE LIVE AND ARCHIVE
Tips for Watching and Praying Mass from Home:
PRAYING MASS AT HOME: CREATING A SACRED SPACE | Diocese of Sioux Falls
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION RESOURCE PAGE | Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.
Throughout the Week: Prayer, Spiritual Support, Faith Formation
GIVE US THIS DAY DIGITAL AND APP | Morning and Evening Prayer, Daily Readings, Reflections
LIVING FAITH DIGITAL | Daily Reflections
ONE CALL INSTITUTE HUB | Live Prayer Events, Podcasts, and More
BECKY ELDREDGE SPIRITUAL SUPPORT HUB | Guided Reflections and More
NFYCM HUB | ST MARY’S PRESS HUB | Teens and Parents
PROJECTYM | Youth Ministry Live National Online Gathering, Sunday Nights
ST MICHAEL HUB FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
Well-Being Resources during COVID-19
MENTAL HEALTH, ANXIETY, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES | Covid-19 Hub from the National Catholic Partnership on Disability – Mental Health, Caregivers, Persons with Disabilities
A FAITH RESPONSE TO COVID-19 | The Pastoral Center
Hear our prayers,
for our salvation. Christ our Lord. Amen.
Text: Copyright © 2020 Justin Huyck. All rights reserved.
Images:
Gallen-Kallela, Akseli, 1865-1931. Hand of Christ / The Palm of Peace, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55740 [retrieved April 4, 2020]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kristuksen_k%C3%A4si_Gallen-Kallela.JPG. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike 3.0 License.
Environment for Taize Prayer, prepared by youth participants of Music and Liturgy at Pyramid Lake, Diocese of Albany
FAITHSHAPE 
