Palm Sunday

Today we remember a DEAD MAN WALKING.

Today we remember what happened to Jesus almost 2000 years ago.

Today we pay attention to what is happening to so many others crucified in our times.

This week, we re-enact, symbolically, what really happened to Jesus.

This week, in and thru our liturgical re-enactment, what really happened to Jesus, really happens to us.

Now, we enter into the mystery of Holy week.

Now, God calls us to be with Jesus as Jesus goes to the cross for us.

Now, God calls us to continue Jesus' work of bringing forth the Kingdom of God in our times and places.

Now, God calls us to cry for a creation bent and blurred and beaten by sin and suffering.

Now, God calls us to heal a world filled with people who have been crushed by cruelty and intimidated by intolerance.

Now, God calls us to prophetically cry out and resist those who hate and hurt others.

Now, God calls us to convert those whose hearts are hardened, those who are blinded by desires for revenge.  An "eye for an eye" mentality leads to a world gone blind.

Now, God calls us to Love in Word and Deed; Truly Love to the point of no return; Truly Love to the point of going where Jesus is going, to the cross.

Now, with Jesus we must go to stand on the side of those who throughout history, have been and are and will be butchered and beaten by the powerful and oppressive. 

Today we remember a DEAD MAN WALKING.

Today we remember what happened to Jesus almost 2000 years ago.

Today we pay attention to what is happening to so many others crucified today.

This week, we re-enact, symbolically, what really happened to Jesus.

This week, in and thru our liturgical re-enactment, what really happened to Jesus, really happens to us.

EXHORTATION

Pay attention to the readings this night.  LET THE SAME MIND BE IN YOU THAT WAS IN CHRIST JESUS.  Pay attention to these readings, for they describe our God for us, this God who became a victim of human greed and intolerance and hate, our Lord who suffered at the hands of oppression.  Our God came and went to the cross to save us.  To save us from all the sin and horror of our human existence.  To save us, and free us from all the pettiness and selfishness that irritates and bugs us.  To save and free us from all that addicts us, and afflicts us.  To save us and free us from all that destroys human persons and human community.  To save us and set us free to believe, free to love, free to hope free.

The readings today are long.  These readings describe Jesus, our Lord, for us.  In these readings, we see Our Lord.  We watch Jesus and learn by imitating him.  The readings today are long.  Holy Week is the World Series of the Liturgical year, the March madness of the Church.  Easter is the real Super Bowl Sunday.  Let’s give some time this week to Jesus….

We need to give time to Jesus so we can become Jesus in our World today.  More than 25 years ago, Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated in El Salvador for being the voice of the voiceless, for speaking out against the oppression of the poor and powerless.  Who speaks for the voiceless today?

We learn by imitating others.  Whom will you imitate?  Bernie Madoff?  Tiger Woods?  Paris Hilton and other celebrities?  Or those who follow Christ?

The guys and gals playing in the NCAA March Madness learned how to play by observing others.  This Week we observe and contemplate Jesus.  We have the love of God our Father and the example of Jesus and the power of The Holy Spirit, in and through the church, supporting us, as we become great followers of Christ.

But to Follow Christ, we have to know him and love him, and pay attention to him.  Especially this week, this Holy Week, as he goes to the Cross yet again for us.  Listen.  And Pay Attention.

Peace,

Fr. Rick Malloy, S.J.