Homily for Palm Sunday, Year A

The King Enters Your City: Make Room For Jesus

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara 

Homily for Palm Sunday, Year A

Church of St. Bridget of Minneapolis, MN

Sunday, March 29, 2026

As we begin Holy Week, I want us to remember that only you and I can make this week truly holy. If we treat it like any other week or fail to set aside time for reflection, prayer, and participating in the Holy Week liturgies, it will be holy in name only. 

On this day, the Church recommends a brief homily. However, there are two important points I want to emphasize. First, in the Gospel we read before the procession (Matthew 21:1-11), Jesus sent two of his disciples into a village to bring him a mother donkey and her colt. He also told them that if anyone asks why they are taking them, they should say, “The Master has need of them.” You know, it would have been a different story if the animals’ owners had refused to let Jesus use them. The Gospel did not tell us their names, but does that matter? What matters is that they were kind enough to let Jesus use their prized animals. And by doing so, they contributed something significant—something that allowed Jesus to ride into Jerusalem and fulfill God’s plan. This act led to our victory in Christ, friendship with God, grace through the Spirit, and salvation through faith and good deeds. No matter how unknown or unrecognized you feel, you can still play a vital role in God’s unfolding plan. Remember this: Jesus needs something from you and from me, just as he needed the animals. He needs something from each of us to help further God’s Kingdom. Each of us has something in our lives that, if given back to God, could help move Jesus and his Gospel forward, just like the colt did. Follow the example of its owners—don’t hold back, don’t count yourself out. Step into the story and offer yourself.

Now, when it comes to need, don’t get it twisted. God does not need anything. God is the Lord of the whole universe. God is the very act of being itself. God is the creator of all things. So, God does not need anything and doesn’t even need our very existence. God doesn’t need our good works. God can accomplish what he wants on his own; however, God delights in allowing us to cooperate with his providence. The most enduring truth is that God can accomplish anything on his own. None of us was there when God laid the foundation of the earth. None of us gave him counsel or helped God in any way. So, God can do whatever he wants without our aid. But he delights in letting us participate in his plan and purpose. Actually, it’s a unique privilege for us. St. Thomas Aquinas speaks of the dignity of causality, meaning we can act as instruments or secondary causes for God’s purposes. In the strict sense, God doesn’t need us, but he needs us in the sense that he wants to draw us into his work. Once we grasp this fact, once we understand this principle, everything in our lives will change dramatically.

The second point is this: Jesus, who triumphantly entered the holy city a few days before his passion, also desires to enter triumphantly into the city of our lives. As he rode into the city, people joyfully spread their clothes on the road, welcoming him with chants: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.” There was no resistance to him. No hesitation at all. Now, as Jesus tries to enter into our lives, into every part of our private and public lives, are we willing to let him move freely without any obstacle or hesitation? Are we ready to welcome him with joy and chants? Sisters and brothers, the Jerusalem that Jesus deeply desires to enter today is your heart, my heart, all of our hearts. He wants to come into our lives and be one with us.

May God bless you, and I pray you have a wonderful Holy Week!