This Sunday is Palm Sunday and marks the beginning of the most important week in the Christian year.

We hear two stories from the Gospel of Matthew at Mass today.

The first is a joyous and happy one:

Jesus and his disciples arrived at the Mount of Olives just outside Jerusalem. He sent two of the disciples to the next village to collect a donkey and her colt.

“If anyone stops you, tell them that they are for me and will be returned”, he said.

And so it was that the prophecy was fulfilled: “Tell Zion’s daughter: see your King drawing near, humbly riding on a donkey and her colt.”

They brought the animals to Jesus, and put cloaks on their backs so that Jesus could ride on them. When the people heard that Jesus was coming, they laid their cloaks on the road and pulled branches off the palm trees to wave in the air. The crowds grew more and more excited, and shouted at the top of their voices, “Hosanna, Hosanna! Blessed is the one sent by the Lord.”

Excitement filled the whole city, and some people asked, “Who is this man?”

The people answered them, “It is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

“Hosanna!” means “Praise God!”

To find ways to make your own palm to wave for Jesus and praise God on Palm Sunday, click here: Palms for Palm Sunday

For a worksheet on this story from the Gospel, click here: CAFOD.

The second story is much sadder (see the extract opposite). It describes the final days of Jesus’ life before he died on the Cross. We will hear another version of it on Good Friday.

For a worksheet on this story from the Gospel, click here: LOOK-Sunday-5th-April-2020

The story of Jesus’ suffering and death is called “The Passion”. It is told in one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written: