Palm Sunday is the day we remember who we are called to follow, who directs our path, who our King is. So we sing, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” recognizing the Kingship of Jesus. Reminding ourselves and telling him that he is the one we follow. Thy will be done! Pope Francis in a homily on this day in 2013, which was also World Youth Day, emphasizes three words: joy, cross, young people. The joy of being called to accompany Jesus, the cross of our salvation, and a call that will always keep our hearts young. He says:
Dear young people! With Christ, the heart never grows old! Yet all of us, all of you know very well that the King whom we follow and who accompanies us is very special: he is a King who loves even to the Cross and who teaches us to serve and to love. And you are not ashamed of his Cross! On the contrary, you embrace it, because you have understood that it is in giving ourselves, in giving ourselves, in emerging from ourselves that we have true joy and that, with his love, God conquered evil.” Here is a link to the entire homily.
As we begin Holy Week, the Pope reminds us of what we are called to be. This is the week in which Jesus most emphatically teaches us who to love and serve. The Holy Father ends, “Let us ask the intercession of the Virgin Mary. She teaches us the joy of meeting Christ, the love with which we must look to the foot of the Cross, the enthusiasm of the young heart with which we must follow him during this Holy Week and throughout our lives. May it be so.” For all of us.
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