March 29, 2026 Palm Sunday Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11, 26:14-27:66
Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. This year on Palm Sunday, there are two Gospel readings, both taken from the holy Gospel of Matthew. They recount the Lord Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem and His Passion narrative as recorded by Saint Matthew. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections for all of you.
We often act like the crowds who welcomed Jesus into the city of Jerusalem, lining up to greet a distinguished guest who comes among us to be with us, and at times, we do our best to prepare in various ways to welcome that honoured guest. Just as Jesus’ disciples did for Him on that day (cf. Mt 21:1-7). When all preparations were complete, Jesus entered Jerusalem publicly and was welcomed by the crowds there.
We might find it strange: weren’t those crowds in Jerusalem welcoming Him when He entered? Didn’t they cry out, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mt 21:9)? Then, what were they doing when Jesus was being crucified? They sought all kinds of evidence against Jesus, slandering Him in every way possible to put Him to death (cf. Mt 26:57-67; 27:11-26). When Jesus was nailed to the Cross, they even mocked Him, saying: “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is King of Israel; let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He wants Him, for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.'” (cf. Mt 27:39-49). For they refused to believe that Jesus was the One sent by the Father into the world to save it through Him (cf. Jn 3:16-17).
Today, the Church invites each of us to meditate on the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and all that He did out of love for us. This is precisely an invitation for us to imitate Our Lord Jesus Christ: to courageously surrender ourselves, to remain steadfast in adversity, to always trust in God’s mercy, to always follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to have our hearts set on loving God above all things, and to imitate Jesus by loving those who hurt us and praying for God’s mercy upon them.
Almighty ever-living God, who as an example of humility for the human race to follow caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the Cross, graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
March 28, 2026 Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent Gospel: John 11:45-56
Today is the Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent. The passage from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John continues to present us with a narrative of Jesus before His Passion.
We often handle our interpersonal relationships according to our own thoughts and concerns. Some of us are unwilling to point out others’ mistakes and shortcomings face-to-face; instead, we prefer to criticize them behind their backs, even magnifying the slightest errors or flaws they have committed, yet we are reluctant to first reflect on whether we ourselves share similar shortcomings.
We often seek various reasons and excuses for the sins we commit, unwilling to confront the sins we have committed or accept who we are in the present moment. With eyes filled with hatred and jealousy, we drive out of our lives those sacred ministers of God’s Church who preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and set a holy example through their personal practice, as well as those brothers and sisters sent by the Lord to manifest His infinite mercy. We even report everything about them to their adversaries, hoping to ensure they never appear in our faith life again—just as the Jews did who came from Bethany (cf. John 11:45-46). For their hearts were so hardened that they refused to accept all that God revealed to them through His only Son and tried every means possible to prevent others from turning to God. Therefore, if we are unwilling to first examine our faith, accept who we are in the present, and follow Christ’s example by practicing charity in daily life—imitating Christ and attracting others to God through our acts of love—we will be like the chief priests and Pharisees who resolved to put Jesus to death (cf. John 11:47-50). They pursued all worldly power, refusing to completely surrender themselves to God to fulfil His will in all things.
As we draw nearer to Holy Week, let us now offer this prayer to God:
O God, who have made all those reborn in Christ a chosen race and a royal priesthood, grant us, we pray, the grace to will and to do what you command, that the people called to eternal life may be one in the faith of their hearts and the homage of their deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
March 27, 2026 Friday in the Fifth Week of Lent Gospel: John 10:31-42
Today is Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent. The passage from the Gospel according to Saint John continues to present the dialogue between Jesus and the Jews.
We often judge those around us by our own standards, choosing friends from those who obey us and viewing those who do not conform to our wishes as enemies. At times, we may even act like those Jews, unwilling to accept those who, following their conscience, do what the Lord considers good—even if they do not submit to our desires (cf. John 10:31-33). This is because we refuse to embrace the light of the World (cf. John 8:12), preferring to remain enslaved to the ruler of this world and his minions.
In reality, a perfect Christian does not live by their own will, nor do they judge others arbitrarily by their own standards. Instead, they strive to imitate Christ in every aspect of life, fulfilling the will of God the Father. Those who act according to God’s holy will no longer follow the cravings of the flesh, which alienates them from God and makes them His enemies. Rather, they are guided by the Holy Spirit, longing to receive God’s Word and the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, uniting perfectly with Him. They no longer see God with mortal, earthly eyes but with immortal, spiritual ones. Their actions are no longer as fickle as those of people living in a transient world; instead, they resemble Jesus Christ, always fulfilling God’s will. Through their lives, others see the face of the merciful Father, come to believe in the Word of God preached by Jesus Christ, and resolve to join Him in building the Kingdom of God in this passing world.
The Kingdom of God spoken of by Jesus is a kingdom where the only God is the God of love, a kingdom cantered entirely on God, where there are no more political parties or classes—only the God who loves and the people loved by God. Those who belong to this Kingdom no longer pursue personal gain but the good of all.
As we draw closer to Holy Week, let us now offer this prayer to God:
O God, who in this season give your Church the grace to imitate devoutly the Blessed Virgin Mary in contemplating the Passion of Christ, grant, we pray, through her intercession, that we may cling more firmly each day to your Only Begotten Son and come at last to the fullness of his grace. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
全属于祢 
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