The Significance of Palm Sunday for Catholics

Julie South [00:00:05]:
Welcome to your catholic corner. I'm your show host, Julie South.

Julie South [00:00:10]:
Peace be with you.

Julie South [00:00:12]:
Your catholic corner helps Catholics spiritually prepare for each Sunday's mass. Starting midweek each week, you can listen to your catholic corner at your Catholic today we're uncovering the biblical gems hidden in the books of the Prophet Isaiah, the Gospel of John, and St. Paul's letter to the Philippians. In catholic speak, we're in the 6th and the final week of Lent in year B. This week starts the most important, seriously, the most important week in the Catholic Church, also known as Holy Week, and leads us into the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. The format for today's show is a little different because we are in Palm Sunday or we're getting ready for Palm Sunday, this day, this coming Sunday. Remember, when two or more are gathered in Jesus'name like we are now with you and me, he is here with us. The Bible passages for today that we are reading from, you'll know that they're different.

Julie South [00:01:37]:
We're starting off with a gospel reading today. It's from John's Gospel, chapter six, verses twelve through 16 from the prophet Isaiah, chapter 50, verses four through seven, and Paul's letter to the Philippians, chapter two, verses six through eleven.

Julie South [00:01:58]:
But before that, a quick word about your catholic corner, just in case this is your first time here. Regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey, whether you've only just heard of that man called Jesus, your new to Catholicism, or you're a cradle Catholic, my prayer is that your catholic corner will help bring God's word to life in your heart through insights, reflections and practical applications that help deepen your relationship with God. Every Thursday we'll start preparing for mass by uncovering the richness hidden in each Sunday's Bible readings, from Old Testament prophecies to gospel parables.

Julie South [00:02:39]:
I invite you to join me and.

Julie South [00:02:42]:
The parishioners of the Cathedral of the.

Julie South [00:02:44]:
Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Julie South [00:02:47]:
Sponsors of your catholic corner so that together we can hear God's word and echo Samuel, speak. Lord, your servant is listening. Now let's get back to today's show.

Julie South [00:03:11]:
This week's question of the week is continuing on from the last two weeks, which is what is reconciliation? Where is it mentioned in the Bible, which we have covered over the last two weeks? And today's question why don't other christian churches have it as well? Or do the check out last week and the week before for what is reconciliation and where is it mentioned in the Bible? If you haven't listened to those. Yet today we'll be looking at whether other christian denominations have reconciliation as a thing in their traditions, like us Catholics do or not. Firstly, let's just get one thing clear. There are mainstream christian churches like say the anglican church or the Lutheran Church. Then there are also non mainstream churches, christian churches that I think of as more being like businesses where they have very charismatic men and or women start up because they can. They give themselves titles that they've borrowed from mainstream churches and then promote themselves as and when they want to to positions also recognized as mainstream christian positions. For example, like bishop, let's exclude those types of churches because they appear to make up from the outside at least they appear to make up the rules as and when they suit their own purposes and their own pockets. So instead, what we're going to do today is consider mainstream christian traditions and we're going to ask the question, do the have reconciliation practices? As we know in the Catholic Church, reconciliation holds huge significance.

Julie South [00:05:07]:
It's so important to us that we have an entire sacrament dedicated to it. We looked at this a couple of weeks back. It's known as a sacrament of reconciliation or the sacrament of confession. When it comes to other mainstream christian traditions, it's important to know that many christian denominations and traditions also recognize and practice reconciliation in various forms. So it's not just us Catholics, however, they're not all the same and that reconciliation may differ between denominations. For example, Anglicans and Episcopalians use the Book of Common Prayer, Capital B C P Book of Common Prayer, as a basis for their prayers and their confession and absolution. Similarly, the Methodist Church views reconciliation as an integral aspect of their faith and they encourage their faithful to seek forgiveness and reconciliation with God and others. The Lutheran church also places emphasis on reconciliation, particularly through the practice of confession and absolution.

Julie South [00:06:27]:
Then, outside of these specific denominations, the broader christian tradition also includes the belief in universal reconciliation. This is the view that all human beings, you and me, will ultimately be saved and restored to a right relationship with God. And this is what's known as christian universalism and it's focused on the doctrine of universal reconciliation. Then, in addition to denominational practices, reconciliation is also seen as a fundamental and a foundational teaching and value in Christianity as a whole. Even if you're very new to christian faith, you probably at some level know that being Christian is deeply connected with concepts such as forgiveness, mercy and restorative justice. Various christian organizations and initiatives promote reconciliation efforts in areas of conflict, social justice, and in building relationships between individuals and communities. For example, the global organization christian aid is one of those. So therefore, hopefully, in short, you understand that us Catholics aren't the only Christians who place emphasis on reconciliation.

Julie South [00:08:05]:
We do do it our way through the sacrament of reconciliation or the sacrament of Confession. But other churches also have an important sacrament of reconciliation as well. These churches are the Eastern Orthodox Church. Like us Catholics, only an ordained priest can pronounce absolution, and the confession is protected like us, through confessional seal, or through the confessional seal, or by the confessional seal. The Lutherans similar to Catholicism, the pastor acts in Persona Christi. I talked about this last week. The Anglicans and Episcopal both offer private confession similar to us in the catholic tradition and Methodists, they have a sacrament known as the Order of Confession and pardon. So, as you can see, we're not the only ones who recognize the importance of confession.

Julie South [00:09:05]:
Please remember, I'm only too happy to answer any questions you might have about becoming catholic or why Catholics do what we do. You can send me your questions if you have one@yourcatholiccorner.com. Contact at this point of each episode in the podcast, we usually look at what the connecting theme or themes are across the three Sunday's Bible passages. But this is Palm Sunday, and everything about Palm Sunday is different and special. Palm Sunday is significant, and it's a very special day in the Catholic Church because it commemorates jesus'triumphant entry into Jerusalem. It marks the beginning of Holy Week, that's capital H and capital W, Holy Week, which is the week leading up to and into Easter. Palm Sunday is different from a regular mass because it includes a gospel reading at the beginning of the mass that tells the story of Jesus'entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. The gospel reading at the beginning of the Palm Sunday Mass is known as the gospel at the procession with palms.

Julie South [00:10:41]:
This reading is taken from one of the four gospels, so one of either Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, depending on which liturgical year is taking place. This year we're reading from John's gospel because we're in year B, and this passage recounts the event, as I said before, where Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, and it's while the crowds greet him with palm branches, hence Palm Sunday, and the crowd shouts out Hosanna. It's this reading that sets the tone for the mass, and it reminds us faithful of the very important and critical events that took place during jesus'last week of his life on earth as men knew it at that time. Holy Week, which is next week as I record this episode, is a very solemn and reflective time in our church calendar. It's during this week, Holy Week, that us Catholics remember. We meditate and we pray on the suffering that Jesus took, had on our behalf, his crucifixion and his death. Throughout this coming week, Holy Week, you'll see the church start preparing to celebrate Easter, which, as I just said, is the most important feast in our christian calendar. The readings, the prayers and the rituals of Palm Sunday, as well as the rest of Holy Week are the invitation for us Christians, us Catholic, to reflect on our faith and also on the profound and absolute love and the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for us by attending the different services throughout Holy Week.

Julie South [00:12:44]:
And I invite you to do that. You'll get to fully experience and get the connection this week of all the Bible passages that they are about Jesus's ultimate sacrifice for us. This week is a very solemn and somber week for Christians worldwide. I'm, I'm going to omit the usual gospel passage today because it needs, I believe, more than just being read to be experienced. I invited you earlier, I invite you again to fully participate in Palm Sunday Mass this year. In other words, please go to mass. Please go to a catholic church on Sunday or Saturday night if there's a vigil mass where you are, because it really is something very special. Now, with all of that as the backdrop, let's pray together the three Bible passages for Palm Sunday, the 6th Sunday of Lent in year B.

Julie South [00:14:15]:
The first passage is from John's gospel, chapter twelve. A crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Even the king of Israel. And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it as is written, fear not, daughter of Zion, behold, your king is coming. Sitting on an ass's cult. His a reading from the prophet Isaiah.

Julie South [00:15:29]:
The Lord has given me a disciple's tongue so that I may know how to reply to the wearied. He provides me with speech each morning. He wakes me to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord has opened my ear. For my part, I make no resistance. Neither did I turn away. I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard. I did not cover my face against insult and spittle.

Julie South [00:16:05]:
The Lord comes to my help so that I am untouched by the insults. So too I set my face like flint. I know I shall not be shamed. From the letter to the Philippians, his state was divine. Yet Christ Jesus did not cling to his equality with God, but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave and become as men are and being as all men are. He was humbler, yet even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names, so that all beings in the heavens, on earth, and in the underworld should bend the knee at the name of Jesus, and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord to the glory of God the Father. Thank you for spending the last half an hour or so of your life with God and me.

Julie South [00:18:02]:
I hope you found this interesting and insightful. I hope this podcast helps you prepare and maybe even understand, just a teeny tiny, incy wincy dinky little bit better, the wonderful word of God and the catholic faith. I pray that each of these Bible passages has been able to make the difference God wishes for you today in their own way in your life. Can I ask you to do me a huge favor, please? If you enjoyed today's show, can you please help me spread God's word about your catholic corner? All your have to do is tell three of your friends and family about this podcast so they can hopefully benefit as well. It's really easy, just invite them to visit yourcatholiccorner.com where they can subscribe and follow the show from there. It's free. It doesn't cost anything. Thank you for doing that.

Julie South [00:19:07]:
Wherever your are, I pray that God's glass of love overflows into your heart and your life, and that when you're ready, you're able to accept God's invitation to join him to share in holy Communion at your local parish. And finally, I'd like to say thank you to the parishioners of the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton, New Zealand, who helped me bring this podcast to you today. This is Julie south signing off until next week. Peace be with you.

Julie South [00:19:42]:
God bless.