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.