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Mass Readings
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
March 25, 2018
At the Procession with Palms, Gospel – Mark 11:1-10 or John 12:12-16
Reading 1 – Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm – Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
Reading 2 – Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel – Mark 14:1-15:47 or Mark 15:1-39
Today we celebrate the great feast of Palm Sunday! The readings today are so richly textured, that it is difficult to know where to begin. Perhaps we need to start with that shocking question that my wife and I have already encountered as we make our transition to Europe: so what? If Jesus really existed, then this is an awful story, but so what? What does that have to do with me? Well first, we need to remember that C. S. Lewis, the great expert in mythology, tells us this is no myth.1 So how do we answer this question?
As my family marks the one-year anniversary of my father-in-law’s death, my kids’ grandpa Jim, one approach to answering that question is to consider pain, suffering and death. You see my family is not the only one touched by death. I know there are people in our community right now who are scared as they wait for test results or are dealing with the news they already got from the doctor. I know there are people in our community right now who are coping with the death of someone they loved. Maybe it’s someone who’s been dead a long time, but something stirs up that pain, like the memory of a laugh or perhaps an empty seat at the table, especially at holidays, birthdays or anniversaries. Perhaps we can draw closer to Jesus, as our diocesan Prayer of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary reminds us, through our woundedness.2
Sometimes there are no words – no words that can wipe away our fear or our pain. But having someone who loves us and who can relate to what we’re going through can be more helpful than words.
My brothers and sisters, I have good news! Our God is not some detached deity who sits on a throne high above on some cosmic mountain! No! Our God loves you and loves me so much that he chose to become human; to walk in our shoes; to experience our pain, our suffering and our death. In many ways our experience is like our own personal road to Calvary. Archbishop Fulton Sheen tells us that at any time during the Passion, Jesus could have cast off his humanity, but he doesn’t.3 He walks in our footsteps.
Isn’t amazing that just a few months ago we celebrated Christmas. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Think about: the Lord of all humbled himself and took the form of a slave, as St. Paul tells us. The creator who set the stars in heaven couldn’t even reach up and touch the cattle around him. He couldn’t take care of himself. He was dependent on someone else to feed him, to clean him, to dress him!
Have you ever experienced either personally or through a loved one someone who couldn’t take care of themselves – someone who needed to be fed, cleaned and dressed? Jesus who walks with us on our journey can relate. He knows what it’s like to feel helpless.
Then we come to the Mass of Lord’s Supper on Thursday described in Mark’s Gospel. Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane who scripture tells us cries so intensely that he sheds tears of blood, looks to heaven and asks, “Father, take this cup from me…”
Have you ever been so frustrated about an illness or the approach of death that you looked to heaven and yelled out, “why is this happening?” Jesus who walks with us can relate. He knows what it’s like to cry out to heaven and look for a different answer.
Finally, we arrive at Good Friday where we behold what the late great evangelist, Billy Graham called the scandal of the cross! Jesus looks to heaven and cries out the words of the Psalmist, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me,” as he passes away, and the veil of the sanctuary is torn.
Have you ever felt so alone in illness? Have you experienced the tearing of the veil of your own heart when someone you love passes away? Jesus who walks with us knows what it’s like to face death.
For some of us, that’s where we leave it. We try to pick up the pieces of our lives and move on. And some people never really move on. But that’s not the end of the story!
Just a couple of days later, on Easter morning, we see the risen Jesus Christ who overcomes pain; who overcomes suffering; who overcomes death. Pope Francis tells us that in Jesus our wounds are risen.4 Jesus offers us the promise of the resurrection where every tear will be wiped away. It is the risen Jesus who gives our lives purpose. It is the risen Jesus who gives our suffering and our death meaning. That is the answer to the question, “so what?”
Homework!
As you journey through Holy Week, think about your woundedness, your fears, your pain. After the Mass of the Lord’s supper on Thursday during adoration, lift up your wounds in prayer. At the Veneration of the Cross on Friday, let it go. As you touch the cross, give your suffering to Jesus, so that on Easter morning, we will awake refreshed by the glory of the resurrection.
Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Through the intercession our diocesan Prayer of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, may we draw closer to Jesus Christ. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. +Amen!
To listen to the homily recorded during mass, click here. If for some reason the link does not work or stops working, in your browser search for St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Round Rock, Texas, and click the link. Once there, in the search bar type “homilies” which should take you to a list of all the homily recordings archived on our website.
Peace!
Notes:
1. Bishop Barron on The Meaning of Easter
2. Diocese of Austin Prayer of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
3. Archbishop Fulton Sheen on The True Meaning Of Easter
4. Pope Francis on Wounds
