Homilies

March 16, 2008
Palm Sunday
Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26: 14-27
Abbot John Denburger, OCSO

As Catholics, we have a long-standing tradition of expressing our faith in word and in gesture; we are body and spirit. Our belief, our life of faith involves both body and spirit.

Therefore, in this Palm Sunday liturgy, during a very sacred pause which we just did, some of us prostrated, some of us knelt, some of us bowed our heads in silence - not a long pause but long enough to silently celebrate our faith. The account of the Passion of the Lord penetrates our hearts and the moment is too precious, too sacred - we need to stop. The event, the love is beyond comprehension.

“But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice
and gave up His spirit.”

...so we make our act of faith, we express our belief in this mystery of redeeming love - a gesture in silence of heart and body.

Then we stood and heard the conclusion - such miraculous events, wondrous happenings. How could the heavens, the earth not be affected by the death of the Son of God? It could not be just another death! It was never just an execution of a trouble-maker on a hill top! What took place as He gave up His spirit was the redemption of the world down to its depths.

The Roman soldiers, these hardened men, experts at crucifixion, pagans, feared greatly when they saw, felt the earthquake and they said, to a man;

“Truly, this was the Son of God! Truly!"

Everyone of us can and do say the same:

“Truly, this is the Son of God!
Truly! You are my Lord and my Savior!"

Truly! Because of You, Lord Jesus, I am redeemed; my life has been changed at its depths. My life is being transformed so that I can and do live in hope. Because of the Lord’s redeeming grace, we see life as a journey into the Lord, with Him, by Him a journey into the freedom to believe, to hope, to love, in a words, a life of tremendous purpose, of divine meaning Truly!! Or Truly??

Before we pat ourselves on the back or worship our word, it is good to remember that others also proclaimed belief, before the Romans had their say. A man named Nathanael, soon to be among the apostles, at first meeting with Jesus exclaimed:

“Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”

Then there was Peter, at Caesarea Philippi; Jesus asked him;

“Who do people say that I am?”

Peter’s immediate answer was:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!”

They believed what they professed but then came the arrest, the trial, the sentence and Peter denied the Son of the living God. Nathanael and the others were not to be found.

The crowd filling the street, holding branches, spreading cloaks, cried out:

“Hosanna to the Son of David.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

By Friday, the mood will have changed drastically, no more Hosannas, only condemnation:

“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"

In a matter of minutes, in the Creed, we, here, will profess:

“I believe in Jesus Christ....our Lord!”

At the time of Holy Communion, we will pray:

“Lord. I am not worthy to receive You.
Only say Your word....Lord!”

Truly, You are Lord - Truly!! Or Truly?? To what degree, what depth is that true in my heart, in your heart?