1. Wednesday Gospel Webinar
Portsmouth Diocese – Formation for Mission

2. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

3. Sunday 9th April 2017 Palm Sunday (A) Matthew 21:1-11
When they were near Jerusalem and had come in sight of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village facing you, and you will immediately find a tethered donkey and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, “The Master needs them and will send them back directly”.’ This took place to fulfil the prophecy: Say to the daughter of Zion: Look, your king comes to you; he is humble, he rides on a donkey and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden. So the disciples went out and did as Jesus had told them. They brought the donkey and the colt, then they laid their cloaks on their backs and he sat on them. Great crowds of people spread their cloaks on the road, while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in his path. The crowds who went in front of him and those who followed were all shouting: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heavens!’ And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil. ‘Who is this?’ people asked, and the crowds answered, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’

4. Literal meaning
Where? Matthew 21: Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time.
When? The beginning of Holy Week
What? Jesus enters Jerusalem both triumphant and humble
Who? Jesus, disciples, crowds, people of Jerusalem
How? Riding a donkey with her colt.
Why? To fulfil the prophecies, confirming that he is Messiah and King

5. ENTERING IN THE PASSION OF JESUS
26: 17-35: Passover meal:
announce of the betrayal of Judas
Eucharist
announce of the fall of the disciples and of the denial of Peter
26: 36-68: Jesus hands himself over:
To his Father in Gethsemane
To Judas and the armed crowd
To the high Priest, scribes and elders

6. ENTERING IN THE PASSION OF JESUS
26:69-27:25: The spiral of sin – the abandonment of Truth and Life
Peter’s fear
Judas’ despair
Pilate’s cowardice
The crowds’ cruelty
27:26-66: Torture and Crucifixion: the Passion
Scourging, mocking and walking to Golgotha
Crucifixion and mocking
Death of Jesus, cosmic signs and burial

7. Knowing what is true Choosing what is good Possibility
FREEDOM
Knowing what is true
Choosing what is good
Possibility

8. God chooses us over himself,
Finding God
In Jesus Christ,
God chooses us over himself,
as God and man,
supremely free.

9. Finding the human person
Slavery of sin:
Breakdown of truth and goodness in Judas, Peter, disciples, High priest, scribes, elders, crowds, Pilate, Roman soldiers…
The whole of humanity.
Their free choice for evil is mysteriously inserted within God’s providence

10. the sacrament of Redemption
Finding the Church
The Eucharist:
the sacrament of Redemption
Jesus our High Priest
gives himself to us
eternally

12. Mary, Virgin and Mother,
you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,
welcomed the word of life
in the depths of your humble faith:
as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,
help us to say our own “yes”
to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,
to proclaim the good news of Jesus.
Mother of the living Gospel,
wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones,
pray for us.
Amen.

13. Acknowledgments
Mosaics artworks: © Fr Marko Rupnik and Centro Aletti
Scripture: The CTS New Catholic Bible, Copyright © 2007 The Incorporated Catholic Truth Society
With gratitude to the Wednesday Word