--- title: Daily Readings Reflection for 4/17/11 description: Daily Readings Reflection for 4/17/11 --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2011/04/17/daily-readings-reflection-for-41711#) # Daily Readings Reflection for 4/17/11 Apr 17, 2011 7:00:22 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) Scripture: Lectionary # 38.  Matt.21:1-11 (Palm Sunday reading) Isaiah 50:4-7. Psalm 22:8-9.17-18.19.20.23-24  and the Passion Narrative of Matthew Year A : Matthew 26:14-27:1-66 [Sunday's Readings](http://www.usccb.org/nab/041711.shtml) We enter more intensely into the mystery of Jesus during the beginning of Holy Week which starts with Palm Sunday or the Passion of Our Lord. Matthew has been our guide through most of the year. Only John's Gospel is reserved every year for Good Friday when his Passion Narrative is read at the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified or at the Liturgical worship of Good Friday. We enter into all of the events of this week by beginning with Matthew's view of them. By careful and reflective reading his Passion Narrative we prepare ourselves for the deeper following of Jesus on his way to the Cross and to his death and burial. Matthew has followed Mark very closely in his passion account and all we have remembered our learned from Mark helps us to appreciate the nuances and emphases of Matthew's narrative. The theology of Matthew is different and his knowledge of the prophetic literature of the Old Testament is easily seen in his whole Gospel and now in his Passion Narrative.  We will be able to follow two disciples in his version, namely, Judas who betrayed him and hands him over to the authorities and Peter who denies him three times.  Both feel guilty, but it is Peter who does not lose hope and repents of his denials. The guilt of Judas remains and his death is suicide in this Gospel. We pray for him that the mercy of God be shown.  We may identify with Peter in our own forms of repentance for the particular sins that seem to be haunting us throughout life; but we do not give up hope. Usually we see that Matthew emphases the fulfillment of Old Testament passages both in what happens to Jesus during his suffering and death. His narrative has the themes taken from passages that are similar to what Jesus undergoes.  These are not proof texts but they are part of the revelatory message that Matthew shares with us in his Passion Narrative.  The details of Jesus' suffering and death are described within the framework of the inspiration he received from Mark as well as from the Old Testament. Matthew, of course, also add his own passages that are not found in the other canonical gospels and they come after the death of Jesus and describe what happened in the surrounding villages near Jerusalem.  We are privy to his thoughts about what happened at this last stage of Jesus' being here on earth. Psalm 22 is important for understanding how Matthew sees the agonizing prayer of Jesus and his only words from the Cross in his narrative.  We can connect the Psalm to what has already happened in the Garden of Olives where Jesus prayed with three disciples--again only Peter is mentioned by name. Fr. Raymond Brown who dedicated over ten years of research and study in writing his book called "The Death of the Messiah" tells us: "Matthew, following Mark, does not hesitate to show Jesus in the utter agonfy of feeling forsaken as he faces a terrible death."  We return to the prayer of Jesus where he asks the Father that this cup be taken from him, but not according to his will but that of the Father's will. We therefore enter into the Sacred Passion Mysteries of Jesus through the Gosple of Matthew as we begin this Holy Week.  This is the most important week of the sacred season we are in and we should not be discouraged if we have not prayed well or done much in the past five weeks. There is this momentous week ahead of us and we can intensify our efforts at being united with Jesus and our asking for his forgiveness and for the mercy of God upon all humankind.  "We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your Holy Cross and Resurrection you have redeemed the world." 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