Brothers and Sisters in Christ, grace and peace be with you this Palm Sunday.

Today, as we enter into this most sacred week, our hearts are a whirlwind of emotions. We wave our palms, echoing the joyous cries of the crowds lining the road to Jerusalem: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” We celebrate Jesus, our King, entering his city, seemingly in triumph.

But even as we lift these symbols of victory, a somber undercurrent runs through our celebration. We know the rest of the story. We know that the cheers of “Hosanna” will soon turn to the venomous cries of “Crucify him!” The palms of praise will give way to the crushing weight of the cross.

As a priest in the Order of Preachers, a Dominican, I am particularly drawn to reflect on the Word, on the truth that God reveals to us. And what does today’s Gospel reveal? It reveals the paradoxical nature of our Savior, the mystery of God’s love poured out in suffering.

Think with me for a moment about the readings we have just heard. From Isaiah, we hear the suffering servant, a figure who bears the sins of many, who is struck and afflicted, yet opens not his mouth. We see a foreshadowing of the silent endurance of Christ in his Passion.

Then, in Philippians, Saint Paul unveils the profound humility of Jesus: “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” 

This, my brothers and sisters, is the heart of Palm Sunday and the Holy Week that unfolds before us. We acclaim a King, yes, but a King who reigns not from a throne of earthly power, but from the wood of the cross. A King who conquers not through armies and might, but through love, sacrifice, and ultimate obedience to the Father’s will.

As Dominicans, our vocation is to contemplate and to share the fruits of our contemplation. And what we contemplate today is this immense love of God, a love that embraces suffering, a love that seeks the salvation of all humanity, even those who would betray, deny, and condemn.

This week, we are called to walk with Jesus. Not just to remember the events of the past, but to enter into them with our hearts. To feel the betrayal of Judas, the fear of Peter, the abandonment of the disciples. And most importantly, to witness the unwavering love of Jesus in the face of such profound human frailty.

The palms we hold today are a reminder of our own fickle nature. How often do we offer praise and then turn away when things become difficult? How often do we shout “Hosanna” with our lips, but our hearts are far from the self-sacrificing love that Christ embodies?

This Holy Week is an invitation to examine our own lives. Where do we need to empty ourselves, as Christ did? Where do we need to be more obedient to God’s will, even when it is challenging? Where do we need to offer true compassion and forgiveness, even to those who have hurt us?

My dear parishioners, as we carry these palms home, let them be more than just decorations. Let them be a tangible reminder of the King we acclaim today, the King who loved us so much that he willingly embraced suffering and death for our sake. Let them be a symbol of our commitment to follow him, not just in moments of glory, but also in the shadows of the cross.

May this Holy Week be a time of deep reflection, profound conversion, and a renewed appreciation for the boundless love of our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.