Jesus came through the back gate. He stood against the powers of death, and he stands with us still.
"Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem"
April 6, 2020
Many of you know Kathy McGovern, one of our parishioners who has taught scripture, lead prayer and given retreats for many years here at MPB and around the region. Many of you many also know that she was one of the lead singers with the music group Ekklesia back in the 80s. When I am giving a homily at MPB on Sundays I often look around and see so many well-known scripture scholars, local theology teachers, directors of spiritual programs and various experts in everything from ancient languages to psychology. It can be a daunting crowd to address! It is also a treasure trove of talent for times like these. So I’ve asked Kathy to reflect, not on the Passion reading from this past Sunday, but on the opening gospel.
For those of you with good memories, each Palm Sunday, Mass begins with the celebrant reading a gospel from back near the baptismal font, before blessing the palms and processing to the altar. It is this gospel that Kathy will be speaking about.
While we read the Passion at the usual time (after the first two readings, a psalm, and an acclamation), this first gospel is the one that tells the story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem, both triumphant but also resolutely headed toward suffering. It is a moment of elation against a darker, more persistent backdrop. Of course, underneath that is the deeper, richer background of resurrection that will not be overcome.
Blessing of the Palms at MPB in 2018
Effervescent Kathy McGovern
Music and Stories from the Margins
November 2019
As I was choosing music to accompany today's Touchstone, I ran across, in my computer archives, some old (priceless) recordings of Kathy when she was singing. I’m not sure that many of you have had the tremendous pleasure to know just how good this voice was. I found one recording of The Lord’s Prayer, which I used both to open and close the video this week.
I have included as well, for our song, a perfect piece for Holy Thursday: Panis Angelicus. Kathy was so gracious when I called to “twist her arm” into letting me use these. I hope you enjoy the beauty of the voice and these two amazing pieces.
God bless and be well,
Fr. Pat
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem
and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives,
Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them,
“Go into the village opposite you,
and immediately you will find an ass tethered,
and a colt with her.
Untie them and bring them here to me.
And if anyone should say anything to you, reply,
‘The master has need of them.’
Then he will send them at once.”
This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Say to daughter Zion,
“Behold, your king comes to you,
meek and riding on an ass,
and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them.
They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them,
and he sat upon them.
The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
while others cut branches from the trees
and strewed them on the road.
The crowds preceding him and those following
kept crying out and saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David;
blessed is the he who comes in the name of the Lord;
hosanna in the highest.”
And when he entered Jerusalem
the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?”
And the crowds replied,
“This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”
and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives,
Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them,
“Go into the village opposite you,
and immediately you will find an ass tethered,
and a colt with her.
Untie them and bring them here to me.
And if anyone should say anything to you, reply,
‘The master has need of them.’
Then he will send them at once.”
This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Say to daughter Zion,
“Behold, your king comes to you,
meek and riding on an ass,
and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them.
They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them,
and he sat upon them.
The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
while others cut branches from the trees
and strewed them on the road.
The crowds preceding him and those following
kept crying out and saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David;
blessed is the he who comes in the name of the Lord;
hosanna in the highest.”
And when he entered Jerusalem
the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?”
And the crowds replied,
“This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”
"Panis Angelicus"
Sung by Kathy McGovern, renowned scriptural scholar residing in Denver, Colorado.
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