PALM SUNDAY, YEAR A

Matthew 27:11-54

As we enter Holy Week, we begin with celebration—but we know where the story leads.

In the Passion narrative of the Gospel of Matthew, the King who was welcomed with palm branches now stands on trial. The crowds that once shouted “Hosanna” will soon cry, “Crucify Him.”

Jesus is asked, “Are you the King?” And the answer is yes—but not the kind of king people expected. He does not fight, defend Himself, or resist. Instead, He walks the path of suffering. He is mocked, beaten, and crowned with thorns. He is lifted up—not on a throne, but on a cross.

And yet, this is exactly how He reigns.

Because Jesus doesn’t save Himself—He chooses to save us.

As darkness falls and He cries out from the cross, we see the weight of sin, and the depth of God’s love. When He dies, the temple curtain is torn open. The barrier between God and humanity is gone.

Holy Week invites us to hold these two truths together: the joy of the King who comes, and the cost of the King who saves.

So as we move from palms to the cross, we’re asked a simple question:
Will we follow this King—not just in celebration, but in surrender?

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Cover image artist – Hanna Varghese