Hosanna in the highest

by Peggy Colf, Executive Assistant  |  03/29/2026  |  This Sunday's Reading

This Sunday we are reminded how quickly things can change. People cheer and wave palm branches and call Jesus King and then we hear the story of His suffering and death. That same crowd that praised Him calls for Him to be crucified. Sometimes we do the same thing in our own lives with those that we call friends. Lent will soon be ending and Holy Week has begun. It brings both joy and deep sorrow. We now walk with Jesus in His final days before His Death on the Cross.

Today we hold palm branches to remember and celebrate that the kingdom that Jesus has talked about is built on peace, love and service. This Sunday the readings show us the humility, suffering, and obedience that Jesus has for God the Father. He is welcomed as a king, but he came in humility, riding a donkey because his kingship is different than earthly rulers. Like the crowds we cry out saying “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest”. (Matthew 21:19) Judas then betrays Jesus, and to top it off Peter denies knowing Him. We are now at the beginning of the most sacred days in the entire Christian year. We go from a crown of gold to a crown of thorns, from a king that would defeat Rome to a King that would defeat death and from “Hosanna in the highest” to “Crucify him.” Jesus shows us the best act of obedient love because He is God and He could have stopped it all with just a word, yet He did not. Jesus endured pain, humiliation, and death on the cross and His suffering was an act of love for others. The death of Jesus was not the end, no, rather when He rose from the dead, it shows us that good is stronger than evil. We should prepare ourselves for Easter by deepening our faith and understanding of what the coming week is all about. Will you be like some on that First Palm Sunday, staying silent and afraid to speak up, will you deny Him, or will you follow the crowd and walk with Jesus to try and help ease His suffering? If we walk with Jesus, we are not promised comfort, but we do have His presence with us. Jesus invites people to respond personally, and each person must choose whether to stay in the background or step forward in faith. Come and join your parish family for the Triduum. On Holy Thursday we remember the Last Supper, when Jesus gave his disciples the Holy Eucharist and showed them how to serve by washing their feet. The Altar will be stripped after Mass, and the Eucharist will be placed in a special location for adoration to remind us about Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest, and then on Good Friday, we gather, with no Mass, but reflect on the death of Jesus on the Cross. These events in our church, reminds us that Jesus willingly gave His life out of love, even though He suffered. We need to reflect during this time on His sacrifice and that through his death we have new life. This is the most important week of the year. Jesus lived, suffered, died, and rose again so that you and I might live forever. Do not let this coming week pass like any other. Walk with Him to Calvary. You will not be the same if you do. (PC)