PALM SUNDAY
CELEBRATION OF THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
For use in the home or in a small community
Adapted from Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather in a place where an environment appropriate for prayer can be created.
Put a green branch on the front door or on a window of the home. It doesn’t need to be a palm branch, any branch will do. Through this green branch on our door we can remember each other and Jesus’ sacrifice for us as we enter into the holiest week of the Christian calendar.
Instrumental music may be played or an appropriate song may played or sung.
Parish music directors should be able to provide additional appropriate song choices.
A musician can lead one of the following songs or all can sing along to recording (youtube, etc)
Possibilities:
- Hosanna to the Son of David (Schutte or Booth)
- Hosanna (Hillsong: Ligertwood or Haas or Avolicino or Soper or O’Brien)
- All, Glory, Laud and Honor
- Crown Him with Many Crowns
- Take up Your Cross (ERHALT UNS, HERR or Cortez or Haas)
- Take up Our Cross (Stephan/Hart)
LEADER: We gather here to celebrate the Lord’s Day. Sunday has been called the Lord’s Day because it was on this day that Jesus conquered sin and death and rose to new life. While we are not able to celebrate Mass today and receive Holy Communion, let us be united in the Spirit of Christ with the Church around the world as we commemorate Jesus’ Entrance into Jerusalem and celebrate our redemption in Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection.
All make the sign of the cross as leader continues:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL: Amen
LEADER: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be God forever.
ALL: Blessed be God forever.
LEADER: God of all creation, we gather on this first day of the week made holy by the resurrection of Christ. In the waters of baptism we were buried with Christ so that we might also rise with him and so share his victory over sin and death.
You have transformed our lives into the living stones that form your Church with Christ as the foundation stone.
Strengthen our community’s bond of communion and peace during this uncertain time, and deepen our solidarity with your Church throughout the whole world. Rekindle in us today the vision of your kingdom so that our daily concerns and labor may find their proper perspective.
Fill our homes with the spirit of the Gospel and give us the grace to see the true face of the people with whom we live. In a world torn by fear, sin and division make us instruments of reconciliation and mercy.
Since the beginning of Lent we have been preparing our hearts through penance and charitable works. With faith and devotion, we now commemorate the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem for our salvation. Following in Jesus’ footsteps and partaking of the Cross, we raise our voices in praise and thanksgiving to you, O God.
May we who celebrate Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection this day share in his eternal glory where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
LEADER: A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them,
“Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered,
and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me.
And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The master has need of them.’
Then he will send them at once.”
This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:
Say to daughter Zion, “Behold, your king comes to you,
meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them.
They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them,
and he sat upon them. The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road.
The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is the he who comes in the name of the Lord;
hosanna in the highest.”
And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?”
And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
ALL: Praise to you, Lord, Jesus, Christ.
LEADER: Let us pray.
All pray in silence for a short time, then leader continues:
Almighty and ever-loving God, we sing your praises, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” In your great mercy you sent your Son to become like us, taking on human form and living among us, submitting to the Cross. Increase the faith of all who place their hope in you, and help us love you to the best of our ability. Keep us faithful in word and deed, and may we bear fruit for you by good works accomplished in Christ, our Lord.
ALL: Amen
LEADER: Jesus enters Jerusalem to cries of “Hosanna,” but in just a few days the shouts he hears from the crowd are “Let him be crucified!” As we now listen to Isaiah’s prophecy, Paul’s testimony, and Matthew’s account of the Passion, let our exclamations echo those who came to believe almost two thousand years ago: “Truly, this was the Son of God.”
LITURGY OF THE WORD
The readings and psalm are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary for Mass.
Visit www.usccb.org for the readings of the day, April 5, Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Note that there is a long version and a short version of the Passion.
FIRST READING: The First Reading is proclaimed by someone other than the leader. Begin with “A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah”…” and close with “The Word of the Lord.”
THE RESPONSORIAL PSALM: The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 22) is sung or read.
SECOND READING: The second reading is proclaimed by someone other than the leader. Begin with “A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians” …” and close with “The Word of the Lord.:
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The Gospel Acclamation given in the Lectionary is sung.
If is not sung, it should be omitted and leader continues with Gospel.
CANTOR: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of Endless Glory. (ALL repeat)
CANTOR: Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name. (ALL: Praise to you…)
GOSPEL: The Gospel is proclaimed by the leader. Begin with “The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew” and conclude with “The Gospel of the Lord.”
REFLECTION ON THE READINGS:
Parish Catechetical Leaders can be consulted for appropriate materials and sources for reflection and sharing on the readings. The following options for reflection are provided but can be adapted as necessary by parishes. In addition, the pastor may wish to provide a homily which can be played or read by the leader at this time.
- LECTIO DIVINA (for more background and information on this type of prayer visit usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions)
Take the passage “Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit” or another short phrase that stood out to you and repeat it several times. Place yourself in the story. As you repeat the phrase, meditate on the people and the actions of the story. Have the leader read the Gospel again if necessary.
Meditate on what this phrase means to you at this point in your life.
Share your personal response to the text: Allow everyone to simply share their thoughts and feelings about what the text means to them. Dialogue and converse about each other’s responses after the prayer service over a meal.
Take time in silence to personally encounter how Christ has touched you and those you are with through your meditation on this story.
- QUESTION(S) OF THE WEEK
Share together some or all of the following questions based on the scriptures:
ISAIAH: What words of hope, promise, or challenge has God given you to speak to others?
PSALM 22: How have you relied on God through trials or hardships?
PHILIPPIANS: Where have you encountered leadership through humility?
How have your Lenten practices strengthened and nourished you this Lent?
Have you been inconsistent with your actions and beliefs?
What words or phrases from either Gospel reading stand out to you the most?
After the reflections or sharing, a period of sacred silence for further meditation on the readings may be observed.
If there are catechumens or elect present, after the silence, continue breaking open the Word of God if necessary to conclude the celebration (Parish RCIA Coordinators will be helpful with providing additional materials to facilitate this) and then close with the Concluding Rite
PROFESSION OF FAITH: Recite either the Nicene Creed or the Apostles’ Creed
www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/prayers/basic-prayers.cfm
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
LEADER: With faith in God’s promises, let us now present our needs and petitions.
READER: For the Church, that we may always sing Hosanna to the Lord, giving witness to our joy in Christ’s saving act, while continually aligning ourselves with the poor, marginalized, oppressed, and vulnerable, we pray to the Lord…
READER: For an end to religious persecution of all kinds worldwide; for all people to have the freedom to worship without fear, let us pray to the Lord…
READER: For those who are imprisoned and condemned to death to know the infinite saving mercy of God, and for all who are near death to feel the peace of Christ through the care of others, we pray to the Lord…
READER: For all care-givers, health-care workers, first responders, and for all those who are working to heal the suffering from this pandemic in every way, we pray to the Lord…
READER: For those in our families, neighborhoods, or workplaces who feel alone, abandoned, or forsaken in the midst of quarantine; for all who are looking for the Lord’s tender presence through the compassionate outreach of others, we pray to the Lord…
READER: For the Elect who are preparing for their Christian Initiation, that their celebration of Holy Week and Easter may bring them closer to the Lord and continue to prepare them for baptism, we pray to the Lord…
READER: For all of us to celebrate Holy Week to the best of our ability, emulating the humility of Christ and proclaiming God’s love in word and deed, we pray to the Lord…
READER: For all who have died, (mention any names…) especially victims of COVID-19, to attain the fullness of life in the eternal kingdom, we pray to the Lord…
LEADER: God of love, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, and grant us what we ask of you in faith. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer may be prayed at this time
PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
ALL: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
ACT OF THANKSGIVING
The act of thanksgiving may be a song, hymn, psalm, canticle, or litany. See music choices above. Parish music directors may advise their communities on additional appropriate choices within parish repertoire for the season.
CONCLUDING RITE
LEADER: May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
ALL: Amen
SIGN OF PEACE
If appropriate, all may exchange a sign of peace
Another song or instrumental music may conclude the celebration.