Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week - the last week of Jesus’ ministry. Even though Jesus “was in the form of God, [he] did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,” (Philippians 2:6-7) to complete the mystery of our salvation.

   Reflecting on the  Lord’s Passion of this Sunday’s Gospel, we should ask ourselves: Why did Jesus publicly preach so many great things, perform so many miracles, and attract so many people to come to him, and yet at the end of his journey, he proceeds of his own free will toward his passion and death? Do we see ourselves in the case of Jesus’ death? Yes, we may see ourselves in the people that made Jesus die, such as his disciples - Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus or Simon who denied Jesus 3 times - or we may see ourselves in the chief priests and scribes who condemned Jesus, ultimately leading to his crucifixion, or in Pilate who sentenced him to death, or as part of the crowd who shouted “Crucify him!” We should learn that Jesus not only died for the sins of his people in his time, but he also died for the sins of those who passed away before him and for people after him, especially for each of us who is living on earth.

   During this Palm Sunday and Holy Week, let us take our time to reflect and remember Jesus’s holy and blessed passion, to say sorry for our sins as well as to ask his mercy, so that we may rejoice and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.