The Passion of our Lord, the Passion of the Humanity

Passion/Palm Sunday: March 29, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 50:4–7; Psalm 22:8–9, 17–20, 23–24; Philippians 2:6–11; Matthew 26:14–27:66

Jesus enters Jerusalem on a mule

What is it like entering into the lives of others? What is it that makes us be compassionate and show our empathy to the person who is suffering?  It is our attitudes, feelings, values, convictions and readiness to embrace the other as our brother or sister. As we enter into the mystery of Christ's Passion, suffering, death, and resurrection, we are invited to enter more intensely into the life of our Lord Jesus, lovingly, passionately, and with a heart full of tenderness and love. Today, we read in our Churches the passion narrative of our Lord, so that it enables us to enter into the drama of Jesus' passion. 

1. Passion of our Lord, the Passion of the Humanity

Today, the Church celebrates Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. It is a beautiful day when we realize that what matters most in our lives is giving time to others. The liturgy of today in our Churches and parishes unfolds with a profound and almost unsettling beauty. It begins in jubilation—palms raised, voices lifted, hope awakened. Yet, as the narrative deepens, the tone shifts. The hymns of praise give way to the solemn cadence of the Passion. Glory and suffering stand side by side, not as opposites, but as inseparable companions in the mystery of Christ.

Palm Sunday is not merely a remembrance; it is an invitation to enter into this paradox—to behold a King whose throne is the Cross, and whose crown is woven not of gold, but of thorns. It is to enter into the gentleness of our Lord Jesus. Christ chooses the quiet dignity of a donkey and not a limousine over the spectacle of power. His authority is not imposed; it is offered. He reigns not by command, but by love that stoops low. To follow Him, then, is to learn the eloquence of humility—to discover that the deepest strength is often hidden in gentleness.

2. The Turning of the Human Heart at the Passion of our Lord

This day marks the beginning of the great week that we are going to embrace and celebrate: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday with the culmination of Easter Vigil. We will celebrate the Holy Priesthood of our Lord with the institution of the Holy Eucharist on Holy Thursday. We mark the beginning of a new era of worship and remembrance of God's theodrama. The Gospel reading of the passion of our Lord reminds us again and again that everything has its time. In the divine plan, everyone is included: Roman officials, Jewish authorities, disciples of Jesus, women followers of Jesus in Jerusalem and Mother Mary, soldiers, strangers, betrayers, helpers, guards, passersby, Pharisees, and Sadducees, Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod, and Caiaphas. 

God handles everything beautifully. The whole process of the passion of our Lord does not end in the middle or is discontinued. It continues until the Calvary; everything ends on the Cross for human eyes. But for God it is in the Resurrection of our Lord. The whole theo-drama, as Swiss Catholic Theologian Hans-Urs von Balthasar put it so beautifully, has its own essence and purpose in bringing redemption and salvation to all. By the blood of our Lord, the innocent lamb is being slain for the greater good of humanity. Nothing goes unwasted; nothing goes unnoticed. In the divine plan of God, there is a purpose in the eternity of God.  

3. The Noise of the Passion Ends in the Silence of God

As we scroll through the passion narrative of our Lord, there is so much noise, denial, crying, beatings, and all that city life brings. But Jesus takes everything in silence. He suffers silently from the violence that is inflicted upon him. In such moments, he has words of comfort, support and healing. The authentic human self is the way one endures human suffering and pain. In one's moment of distress, Jesus brings solace to others. That is the stemina of Jesus. To accept and carry forward the mission that is entrusted to him with clarity and due diligence. Ultimately, holiness is often found not in the extraordinary but in the unnoticed acts of faithfulness that shape a life.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, in your gentle entry we glimpse the humility of God, and in your passion we behold the depth of divine love. Grant us the grace to walk with you not only in moments of praise and light, but also in the quiet endurance of the Cross. May our lives become a silent “Hosanna,” faithful and steadfast, remaining true through every trial, until at last we come to share in the fullness of your Resurrection. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

- Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ
E-mail: olvinveigas@jesuits.net
Blog: Celebrate Faith
Video: YouTube
29 March 2026