Skip to content
God's MapOpen the map

Gospel for the Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

March 21, 2027 · Mark 11:1-10

Blessed is he who comes

Holy Week begins. Jesus enters Jerusalem among palm branches, and at Mass we hear his Passion. Mark 11:1-10

Liturgical color: red

This Sunday’s Gospel, in everyday words

Near Jerusalem, Jesus sent two disciples to a place nearby. There they would find a colt tied up that no one had ever ridden. Mark 11:1-2

The disciples found it and untied it. They answered as Jesus had told them, and the people let them take it. Mark 11:4-6

They put their cloaks over the colt, and Jesus sat on it. Mark 11:7

Many people spread their cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees. Mark 11:8

Those who went ahead and those who followed acclaimed Jesus with “Hosanna.” They blessed him as the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Mark 11:9-10

A few days later, the chief priests bound Jesus and handed him over to Pilate. Mark 15:1

Jesus died on the cross. The centurion who saw him die said that he truly was the Son of God. Mark 15:37-39

What the Bible says

Mark 11:1-10

1And when they were drawing near to Jerusalem and to Bethania at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples, 2And saith to them: Go into the village that is over against you, and immediately at your coming in thither, you shall find a colt tied, upon which no man yet hath sat: loose him, and bring him. 3And if any man shall say to you, What are you doing? say ye that the Lord hath need of him: and immediately he will let him come hither. 4And going their way, they found the colt tied before the gate without, in the meeting of two ways: and they loose him. 5And some of them that stood there, said to them: What do you loosing the colt? 6Who said to them as Jesus had commanded them; and they let him go with them. 7And they brought the colt to Jesus; and they lay their garments on him, and he sat upon him. 8And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down boughs from the trees, and strewed them in the way. 9And they that went before and they that followed, cried, saying: Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. 10Blessed be the kingdom of our father David that cometh: Hosanna in the highest.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The other readings at Mass

Procession with Palms

Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a colt. The people acclaim him with branches and cloaks. Mark 11:1-10

First Reading

God’s servant does not turn back: he offers his back to those who beat him. He knows that the Lord is his help. Isaiah 50:4-7

Responsorial Psalm

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24

Second Reading

Christ humbled himself to the point of death on a cross. Because of this, God exalted him above all. Philippians 2:6-11

Passion Gospel

The Passion of the Lord according to Saint Mark. It may be read in full or in its shorter form, Mark 15:1-39. Mark 14:1–15:47

The full readings for this day, from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: bible.usccb.org

What the Church teaches

Palm Sunday

The Church remembers this day every year on Palm Sunday, at the beginning of Holy Week.

Catechism 560

Hosanna

They shouted “Hosanna!”, which means “Save us!”

Catechism 559

Out of love

The Church teaches that Jesus freely accepted his death, out of love for the Father and for everyone, to save us.

Catechism 609

The color red

Today the priest wears red, the color of the Lord’s Passion.

General Instruction of the Roman Missal 346

To read with your children

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a little donkey. Mark 11:7

The people put branches and cloaks on the road. Mark 11:8

Everyone praised Jesus. Mark 11:9

A few days later, Jesus died on a cross. Mark 15:37

Jesus gave his life out of love. And on Easter Sunday he rose from the dead.

To talk about as a family

  1. The people welcomed Jesus with branches and songs. How will we welcome him this Holy Week?
  2. The centurion recognized Jesus when he saw him die. What does the cross say to us?
  3. For the child: where shall we put the blessed palm in our home?

This week

Take your palms to be blessed and put them next to a cross at home. Live Holy Week together: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil.

To pray

Lord Jesus, we welcome you as the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Walk with us this Holy Week, all the way to the joy of Easter. Amen.

Who is in it?