Prayer and Reflection based on the Second Reading of Palm Sunday A 5/4/20

Welcome and Opening Prayer:
Lord, we place ourselves in your presence. Send us your Spirit to enlighten our minds and open our hearts to your word. We know Jesus is with us, because we are gathered in his name, and he tells us “…where two or three are gathered in my name I am there among them.”

We invite our holy mother Mary the Seat of Wisdom to be part of our sharing as we say … ‘Hail Mary ….’

We invoke the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit in all that we do as we say … ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.’

1st Reading of Scripture Passage: A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 2:6-11
His state was divine, yet he did not cling
to his equality with God but emptied himself
to assume the condition of a slave,
and became as men are; and being as all men are,
he was humbler yet, even to accepting death,
death on a cross.
But God raised him high and gave him the name
which is above all other names so that all beings
in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld,
should bend the knee at the name of Jesus
and that every tongue should acclaim
Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Silence (3 minutes)

2nd Reading of Scripture Passage

Silence (3 minutes) then sharing of word, phrase or image that left an impression on you.

3rd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 Minutes) followed by short and voluntary sharing of what stood out for you personally in the reading

Reading of Short Commentary:
The gospel for Palm Sunday is taken from Matthew’s account 26:14-27:66. We are invited to walk with Jesus. It is not simply that we are remembering what happened to Jesus. Rather we are invited to enter in, to engage, to be present throughout the events of Holy Week and the cross so that we can also enter into the joyful new life of Easter Sunday with Jesus.
In Matthew’s account Jesus is shown as one who is abandoned, by his own disciples and even ultimately by God. He faces death alone. The second reading for Palm Sunday is from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In this we see how Jesus himself has abandoned power, status, influence, even equality with God so that he can become like us. This is a choice made out of love and the one thing Jesus will not abandon is his commitment to God’s message of love. This is what brings him to the cross. Jesus does not choose death. He does not ask for suffering. He chooses the life giving message of God’s love even though this means that everyone and everything, even his life, is stripped away from him. But it is his commitment to life which brings Jesus through the darkness of Good Friday and the cross to the glory of Easter Sunday and the resurrection.
There is a lot to take in over Palm Sunday and Holy Week. You are invited to take the reading from the letter to the Philippians, above, to pray with right through Palm Sunday and the days of Holy Week. Let the words of Paul act like a lens, focusing the events of Holy Week. Be aware of what strikes you, in this reading and in the liturgies of Holy Week. What challenges you? What insight is offered to you? Where is your heart at? What does service mean in your life? (Seeds of Faith – Raphoe Diocese)

Discussion: Discuss for a few minutes any point that struck you from the commentary? How do we put the word of God that we have heard into practice? Is there something we can do individually or collectively? Are we doing something that could be done better? Are there attitudes that need to change?

Prayers of Intercession – Choose any 4/5 of the following prayers and, if possible, include your own prayers and petitions:

1. We pray for the Archdiocese of Armagh as we journey through this Year of Reflection and Prayer together. May our prayer help and guide us as we begin our process of planning for the difficult and challenging years ahead and may the Holy Spirit enlighten us on how we should move forward. Lord, hear us.

2. We pray for those who carry a cross of pain and anguish today – Lord, grant them patience and courage. Lord, hear us.

3. God of all kindness, bless your church - make your people faithful to you. Lord, hear us.

4. Judge of the living and the dead, be merciful to all our deceased family, friends and neighbours; especially N. and N., and receive them into eternal joy. Lord, hear us.

5. Lord remember us as we begin our work, that we work in harmony with you, with others and with our environment. Lord, hear us.

6. May we always do what is right for our brothers and sisters - and together build a world that is pleasing to you. Lord, hear us.

7. Lord, our refuge and strength listen to our praise at the conclusion of this day - teach us to praise you always. Lord, hear us.

8. Lord help us to remember the poor and unfortunate - may we do what we can to ease their burden. Lord, hear us.

9. By the resurrection of your Son, you have enlightened the world - give us new hope this day. Lord, hear us.

Now we offer all our prayers to God our Father as we pray in the Words that Jesus Gave us … ‘Our Father…’

Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank for the word that has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions in our homes, our communities and in this diocese. Grant us the strength to practice in our lives what your Word has revealed to us. Through you who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit one God forever and ever. Amen.