March 25, 2018 Palm Sunday B
March 25, 2018 Palm Sunday B
Click to hear Audio Homily
Have you ever had to call a locksmith to your house because you lost your keys? There you are outside the comfort of your own house, separated by a simple metal key. There is also a key that unlocks the mystery of Palm Sunday and Holy Week. Without this key, we are locked out of Heavenly Father’s Home. That key is contained in the words of Prophet Isaiah, “He was pierced for our faults, He bore our sufferings and sorrows. He took our sins on himself, and through his suffering He has won pardon for all of us” (Isa 53:4-6). Some may wonder why we repeat celebrating major life events of Jesus every year such as Christmas and Holy Week. The question comes up why do we have a crucifix in the church, read the Passion passages twice in one week, and venerate the cross. We commemorate the Passion, venerate the cross, and celebrate the institution of the Eucharist to remind us that Our Lord gave up his life freely and lovingly and to renew our gratitude to the Lord for this great self-emptying gift. Inspired by this gratitude, we are then called to do the same for Our Lord and our neighbor.
The Passion Narrative we just heard invites us to reflect on our gratitude toward the gift that Jesus made for us. To help us reflect, Pope Francis offers the following questions to ask ourselves:
Am I like the disciples? Have I fallen asleep in my spiritual life, not realizing perhaps I have betrayed Jesus with my actions and words?
Am I like Pilate? When I see that the situation is difficult, do I wash my hands and dodge my responsibility, allowing people to be condemned – or condemning them myself?
Am I like the soldiers who strike the Lord, spit on him, insult him, who find entertainment in humiliating him?
Am I like those who walked by the cross and mocked Jesus: “Let him come down from the cross and then we will believe in him!”.
Am I like Simon of Cyrene, who was returning from work, weary, yet was good enough to help the Lord carry his cross?
Am I like those fearless women, and like the mother of Jesus, who were there, and who suffered in silence?
Am I like Joseph of Arimathea, the hidden disciple, who lovingly carries the body of Jesus to give it burial?
Am I like the two Marys, who remained at the Tomb, weeping and praying?
For most of us, we see a glimpse of ourselves in each of the characters in the Passion Narrative. Each of us is aware of our failure to love and respect God, our neighbor, and the nature around us. So in our own brokenness and sinfulness, we have a part in sending Jesus to die on the Cross of Calvary. Ironically, the very reason he came in flesh is because of his love for us.
Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, and his Resurrection on Easter Vigil. As we journey forward this Holy Week, let us look at these palms and remind ourselves that although we see ourselves in those who sent Jesus to the Cross, we also see ourselves in those who helped Jesus on the Way of the Cross, remaining with him at Calvary and at the tomb. We ask Blessed Mother to open our hearts to the mystery of love of her Son who took the whole weight of sin on the Cross and conquered it with love. May she awaken in us the sorrow for our sins and the grace to share her closeness with Jesus as he journeyed toward Calvary.
Have you ever had to call a locksmith to your house because you lost your keys? There you are outside the comfort of your own house, separated by a simple metal key. There is also a key that unlocks the mystery of Palm Sunday and Holy Week. Without this key, we are locked out of Heavenly Father’s Home. That key is contained in the words of Prophet Isaiah, “He was pierced for our faults, He bore our sufferings and sorrows. He took our sins on himself, and through his suffering He has won pardon for all of us” (Isa 53:4-6). Some may wonder why we repeat celebrating major life events of Jesus every year such as Christmas and Holy Week. The question comes up why do we have a crucifix in the church, read the Passion passages twice in one week, and venerate the cross. We commemorate the Passion, venerate the cross, and celebrate the institution of the Eucharist to remind us that Our Lord gave up his life freely and lovingly and to renew our gratitude to the Lord for this great self-emptying gift. Inspired by this gratitude, we are then called to do the same for Our Lord and our neighbor.
The Passion Narrative we just heard invites us to reflect on our gratitude toward the gift that Jesus made for us. To help us reflect, Pope Francis offers the following questions to ask ourselves:
Am I like the disciples? Have I fallen asleep in my spiritual life, not realizing perhaps I have betrayed Jesus with my actions and words?
Am I like Pilate? When I see that the situation is difficult, do I wash my hands and dodge my responsibility, allowing people to be condemned – or condemning them myself?
Am I like the soldiers who strike the Lord, spit on him, insult him, who find entertainment in humiliating him?
Am I like those who walked by the cross and mocked Jesus: “Let him come down from the cross and then we will believe in him!”.
Am I like Simon of Cyrene, who was returning from work, weary, yet was good enough to help the Lord carry his cross?
Am I like those fearless women, and like the mother of Jesus, who were there, and who suffered in silence?
Am I like Joseph of Arimathea, the hidden disciple, who lovingly carries the body of Jesus to give it burial?
Am I like the two Marys, who remained at the Tomb, weeping and praying?
For most of us, we see a glimpse of ourselves in each of the characters in the Passion Narrative. Each of us is aware of our failure to love and respect God, our neighbor, and the nature around us. So in our own brokenness and sinfulness, we have a part in sending Jesus to die on the Cross of Calvary. Ironically, the very reason he came in flesh is because of his love for us.
Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, and his Resurrection on Easter Vigil. As we journey forward this Holy Week, let us look at these palms and remind ourselves that although we see ourselves in those who sent Jesus to the Cross, we also see ourselves in those who helped Jesus on the Way of the Cross, remaining with him at Calvary and at the tomb. We ask Blessed Mother to open our hearts to the mystery of love of her Son who took the whole weight of sin on the Cross and conquered it with love. May she awaken in us the sorrow for our sins and the grace to share her closeness with Jesus as he journeyed toward Calvary.
