Joining in the Broadcast Mass On our Webcam

Before the broadcast begins:

Place a piece of palm or a green branch on your door, or in a window, to let people know it is Palm Sunday.

• Gather with other members of your household, if you can.
• Pick some green branches from your garden to represent the branches people waved on that first Palm Sunday. If you do not have access to a garden perhaps take some pieces of cloth to represent the cloaks the people of Jerusalem laid before Jesus. Place one of these on the table that is your sacred space and give one to each person present.
• Light a candle safely.

During the broadcast look out for the following:

• Normally, the Palm Sunday celebration begins with a reading from the Gospels describing Jesus’ dramatic entry into Jerusalem. There follows a blessing of palm and olive branches and a solemn procession to the Church. This year, however, the ceremony may start instead with a simple blessing of branches. As this takes place hold your branch or piece of cloth aloft to be blessed.
• The Readings focus on Jesus’ passion and death. The Prophet Isaiah paints a picture of the servant of God ready to suffer for the people. The Psalm is the one prayed by Jesus on the Cross: ‘My God, my God why have you abandoned me!’ The Second Reading from St Paul speaks of Jesus’ ultimate exaltation, while in the Gospel we hear the traditional account of Jesus’ Passion from Mark.
• The Eucharist will be celebrated as normal. At communion time make invite Jesus to be present in your life, take some time to truly welcome his presence. He knows the lot of our human suffering. Ask him to be with all those who suffer at this time and to be with you, your family and our whole world.

On Palm Sunday we commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem before the days of his passion and crucifixion. Great crowds had gathered to welcome the famous preacher and miracle worker from Galilee. How fickle people can be! In only a few days, many of that same crowd are shouting ‘Crucify him’, ‘Crucify him!’ as they demand of Pilate that Jesus be brutally put to death.

Scripture tells us

‘When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, […] Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Mark 11:1-10)