April 5, 2009: Palm Sunday (B) by Deacon Roger Navarra
This is one of, if not, the most important questions ever asked in all of mankind. We know that Jesus was Man and God. I think that Jesus asked this question to show us His human side. He knew what His fate was, and He knew that God didn’t forsake Him. I think He asked this question for our benefit.
We all, from time to time, may feel forsaken. -- We all may question our faith from time to time.
We all have trials and tribulations that can make us question our faith. The illness or death of a loved one, the loss of a job, the feelings of loneliness or of being abandoned, can make us question our faith and feel forsaken.
God knows this; He knows that we are weak, sinful humans. That is why He sent His only Son to die for our sins. That is why He left His Holy Spirit for us. That is why He left us the Holy Eucharist.
Next time you feel forsaken, no matter what the reason, think of how much our Lord loves us. Think of Jesus suffering and dying for our sins. Open your heart, mind, and soul to the Lord, and allow Him to help you.
Remember Our Lord loves us unconditionally, and He would love nothing more than for each of us to grow closer to Him.
Today we sit on the eve of the holiest week of the year. One packed with every kind of feeling and emotion. We’ve been preparing for Holy Week for the past six weeks, getting ready to immerse ourselves in a great mystery as it unfolds before our eyes. And during this sacred time we have been assessing our lives—reflecting, praying, and examining who we are and who God would like us to be.
I don’t know how your Lent is going; only you do. It if is going as planned that is wonderful. Continue to more forward, and get ready to celebrate Easter.
If it isn’t going as planned, don’t get down on yourself. Have a heart to heart talk with yourself. Examine your conscience and work on the areas that are not pleasing to you and ask God for the strength necessary to get back on track.
Remember Our Lord loves us unconditionally, and He wants us closer to Him. We have to allow this to happen. We have to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. We have to be open to the Holy Spirit.
We have to pray, and pray as Jesus prayed: “not what I will, but what you will!”
As I close, if you remember nothing else from this homily, please remember this----as proof of how much Our Lord loves us:
Jesus paid a debt He didn’t owe,
Because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay.
Jesus paid a debt He didn’t owe,
Because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay.
May each of you have a wonderful Holy week and feel more blessed and loved than ever before. God Bless.
