Church Begins at Home: Palm Sunday

Opening the Scriptures at Home

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. As always, the global Catholic Church is reflecting on the same readings today. We remain spiritually connected to one another as we open our hearts to the Word of God. 

Fr. Desmond's Palm Sunday Playlist 

Fr. Desmond has matched some inspirational songs to some of the readings for Palm Sunday. Read each reading below and then listen to the songs that accompany it. Allow the readings and songs to lead you into our own experience of worship. 

Matthew 21:1-11

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.”

Hosanna - Soweto Gospel Choir

In the Name of the Lord - Sandi Patty

Just Want to Praise You - Maurette Brown Clark

Hosanna - Kirk Franklin

Isaiah 50:4-7

The Lord GOD has given me
a well-trained tongue,
that I might know how to speak to the weary
a word that will rouse them.
Morning after morning
he opens my ear that I may hear;
and I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
my face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting.

The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.

Peace from God - CeCe Winans

No Weapon - Fred Hammond

Morning's Breaking (featuring Kelly Price) - Richard Smallwood

Lord, You're the One - Ron Kenoly

God Has Not 4got - Tonex

Philippians 2:6-11

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming 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,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

That Name - Yolanda Adams

I Love The Name - Florence Quivar

There Is A Name - Byron Cage

More Like Jesus - John P. Kee and the New Life Community Choir

What songs come to your mind as you reflect on the readings? Take note and create an inspirational playlist that will accompany you as you begin Holy Week. As we prayerfully begin Holy Week, our hearts and minds will be ready for the Easter Triduum that begins on Holy Thursday.