Today's Lenten Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Dear John,

Today, we remember both Palm Sunday and the Passion of Our Lord. How has God’s sacrificial love changed me this Lent?

At the Procession with Palms: St. Mark 11:1-10 or St. John 12:12-16

First reading: Isaiah 50:4-7

Psalm: 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24

Second reading: Philippians 2:6-11

Gospel: St. Mark 14:1–15:47 or St. Mark 15:1-39

Over the past few weeks, the readings have taken us through salvation history, which clearly shows us how God worked in the history of mankind, eventually culminating in the birth, life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus.

In the reading from Isaiah today, we see one of the prophecies that tells us about Jesus many years before He was born:

"I gave my back to the smiters,

and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;

I hid not my face

from shame and spitting."

- Isaiah 50:6

And as we read through the Gospel today, we should remember that the events that are

mentioned, the stories that are told, are historical events that happened in historical locations. Jesus Christ truly lived, truly suffered, and truly died in the Holy Land. To this day, we can still see places that point to the authenticity of the Gospel narrative.

As we look back, almost 2000 years later, we know that Jesus, the Suffering Servant, died so that we could be forgiven of our sins and learn the lessons of His Love. This Holy Week, we can walk with Him on the Way of His Cross, as we try to understand the depth of His Love for each one of us.

To read more about Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and the Passion of Our Lord, please visit ewtn.com/holyweek.

In Jesus,

Father Joseph

EWTN

5817 Old Leeds Rd

Irondale AL 35210