Luke’s account of the passion of Jesus is the story of the triumph of mercy and goodness over jealousy, injustice and evil. Today we are asked if we can imitate Jesus in at least some small way, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald in his Palm Sunday reflection.

Today’s gospel reading makes it clear that, if we are to confront the evils of the world in which we live, we have to start by confronting the evils within ourselves, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son invites us to reach out in mercy and forgiveness to others, and also to come in and celebrate whenever those we might be inclined to avoid accept the mercy, forgiveness and unconditional love of God which we sometimes take for granted, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

If we heed the call of Lent to change our hearts (not just our actions), to allow ourselves to be transformed by the hope that God offers us, we will not stave off the chaos of suffering and death but open ourselves to the one who can nurture us, to the gardener who wants to bring us to blossom. We are the fig tree of the parable, given yet another chance to realise our productive potential, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

The story of the Transfiguration, shows us that from time to time, we get a glimpse of the glory to come, but along the way we have to learn to shed whatever it is that holds us back, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.