SALFORD DIOCESE OFFICE FOR LITURGY

Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!

On Palm Sunday the long reading of the Passion dominates the celebration, and in a sense its meaning is obvious. Do not allow this, however, to detract from the other readings, which give the vital context necessary for understanding the Passion as more than just a long story. It is our story – the tale of how God achieved OUR salvation by the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7

This is one section of a great block of readings that comes in the third section of the book of Isaiah, and is commonly called the “Song of the Suffering Servant”. It has always been interpreted by the Church as referring to the inner attitude of the Lord Jesus in his Passion, and so is a vital reading today: it lets us into Jesus’ mind, and tells us the story of the person behind the events we hear in the Passions. It is the voice of the Lord in his silent suffering. And what is the word he speaks? “Obedience.” The servant trusts completely in the Lord, who provides even the words he speaks. Whatever comes, he will trust in God, because if one is faithful to God, then one will know no shame. Allow this reading into your heart, so that it can find its way into others’ hearts as you read it. Make it much more than just “a reading before the Passion” – these two readings are the very meaning of the Passion. Also remember it’s a poem, and that must make a difference in the way you read it.

Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11

Before the sacrifice of the cross was the sacrifice of the Incarnation. In other words, even before he came to Calvary, Jesus had already sacrificed so much for his people. This is the theme of this great hymn of the “self-emptying” of the Son of God. He leaves behind all his glory and equality with God in order to become a slave – even going further to accepting a terrible death. But even as we proclaim his emptying, his lonely death, we proclaim that God raised him higher than any other.  This reading starts almost mournfully, but by the end is a triumphant hymn of victory through sacrifice. Begin reading slowly and quietly, pausing after each short line (as printed in the Lectionary), but increased the pace and grow a little louder from “But God raised him high…” onwards. Aim to end triumphantly with “…the glory of the God the Father.”

There is a tradition of the congregation joining in the Proclamation of the Passion by reading the crowd parts. Obviously this is too long to put on the Mass sheet so here you will find a companion sheet for the whole of Saint Matthew's Passion with congregational parts marked. Please feel free to download and use it as you would a Mass sheet.

Saint Matthew's Passion

Click on the link to get this week's Gospel based Wordsearch. Feel free to copy and paste it into your parish publications.