Homily for Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion - Year C

The readings for Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion - Year C may be found at:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041325.cfm

Today, we’ve made it 

to the most sacred week 

in our lives as Catholics.

It begins as we

we receive palms and recall 

Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. 

Crowds crying out, 

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.” 

But before long, 

that great joy

turns into harsh reality 

as we hear the prophet Isaiah’s account 

of the servant to be condemned and betrayed, 

and the Psalm calling out, 

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”. 

We begin - 

with joyous chants of Hosanna

only to unleash

angry shouts to crucify Jesus. 

Joy and anger - two different emotions  

that speak volumes about us.

We welcome Jesus 

with great joy and want

to live with Him when it works for us,

but we want what we want,

sometimes choose to turn away from God,

when we ought to be open and grateful.

This week - especially

we have so many opportunities 

to be open and show gratitude 

to the God who loves us 

and who gave everything for us.

On Tuesday at 4pm, 

we celebrate the Chrism Mass 

at the Cathedral,  

where we pray for our priests, 

who renew their sacred promises, 

and to collect the oils 

we use in our Sacraments 

throughout the year.

On Wednesday at 6pm, here, 

we have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, 

Evening Prayer and Benediction

followed by Tenebrae at St. Francis Xavier at 7PM 

where we experience 

the growing darkness of Christ's passion

and anticipate the emerging light of Christ's resurrection.

On Holy Thursday at 7pm 

we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper 

with the washing of the feet 

and Institution of the Eucharist 

followed by Adoration in our Memorial Chapel until 10PM.

On Good Friday, without Holy Mass, 

we commemorate the Passion of the Lord at 3pm, 

followed by Stations of the Cross at 7pm.

On Holy Saturday, 

we celebrate the most beautiful liturgy of the year, 

the Easter Vigil at 7:30pm.  

And on Easter Sunday we celebrate 

the wondrous resurrection of our Lord at Holy Mass.

Quite a week ahead.

A week where - we see our ordinary lives 

echoed in the extraordinary love of Jesus. 

Our imperfect lives 

reflected in the perfect saving love of Christ. 

This holy week, let us humble ourselves,

and commit to actively participate in these liturgies,

giving of ourselves just as Jesus did.

If we do that, not only will this be the most sacred week of the 

year for Catholics, 

It could very well be one of the most sacred weeks of our lives.

Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent Scrutiny Year A Readings

 The readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent Scrutiny - Year A may be found at:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033025-YearA.cfm

On this fourth weekend of Lent, 

we have the second scrutiny readings

as part of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)

where adults desiring to become full members of the Catholic 

Church prepare to receive their sacraments at the Easter Vigil.

And in today’s gospel, 

the evangelist St. John tells us about the blind man 

healed by Jesus on the Sabbath.

The scene begins with this man who was born blind. 

And the question is asked, “Who sinned...this man or his parents?”

As if physical blindness were a punishment for sin.

As if our God, the God who loves us, would ever operate like this.

You may have heard the phrase before, 

with something insignificant like stubbing your toe, 

someone might utter the phrase, “See, God punished you.”

That has always bothered me.

Here was an innocent man born blind, having to endure the blame game.

The reality is that no matter our physical state, 

every single one of us is made in the image of God. 

Every single one of us is a full and complete human being 

regardless of our limitations. 

And we see Jesus’ response, clearly. 

This man was born blind so God’s works might be revealed in him. 

Jesus states at the outset that He is the light of the world. 

Then makes a concoction with mud and spittle and puts it on the 

man’s eyes and the man is healed - he could now see! 

Jesus’ healed to show the kingdom of God present in a broken world. 

To show His lordship over all illness. 

To show His compassion over those who were suffering. 

The scene then goes from physical to spiritual. 

As the blindness of the Pharisees is revealed.

First, they refused to believe those who witnessed the healing.

 

Then, they took issue the healing took place on the Sabbath.

They showed their own blindness, rather than love and 

compassion towards another human being. 

The spiritual blindness of the Pharisees was confirmed by their words. 

I find it kind of comical - the comment the Pharisees made to the blind man: 

“You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” 

So they taught him alright, and expelled him from the synagogue! 

The question for us is - 

What wonderful works can God do in our world today 

and just as importantly - am I open to them? 

Will I not believe anything that looks too farfetched, 

ready to admit it must be some coincidence rather than the work of God? 

What if God is working and I don’t see, or I refuse to believe it?

Are we blind to what God can do or is doing in our lives? 

Are we relating to others in a way that Jesus wants us to? 

Are we holding back on witnessing our faith or not sharing it with others? 

Because, 

in those parts of our lives where we are not fully aligned to what God is doing, 

what God wants for us - 

we are blind.

Maybe it’s time for a self assessment.

To look at what we do or have failed to do in the context of what Jesus asks. 

In the story of the blind man - he - unlike his parents, has the courage to say what he knows, 

to speak truth to those in power, 

to tell what he can about the amazing grace by which he has been touched and can now see. 

At the center of this story, standing before the healing, during it, and eternally after it, is Jesus. 

The true light 

that enlightens our world 

as we live in the shadows of darkness and sin. 

He sheds true light on the nature of God, 

sheds light on the way to live reconciled to God 

and sheds light about what happens after we leave this world. 

He wants to bring the light of love and truth into our lives. 

Whether we choose to see or not 

doesn’t require mud and spittle.

Whether we choose to see or not - 

is up to us.