Sermon by Rev. John Paul Shea
Palm Sunday, March 29, 2015
Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Tucson, AZ
"'Then what do you want me to do with man you call the kind of the Jews?' They shouted again, 'Crucify him.'" (Mark 15:12-13)
On this day we welcome our Lord. We wave our palm branches, accompanying our Lord, walking with Him into His Calvary so that we can be given the grace of new life in the resurrection.
On this day our Lord enters into a showdown between good and evil. He takes up this battle not with weapons of destruction, but with humility and obedience right up to His death and surrender on the cross.
Today we heard the passion narrative from the Gospel of Mark (Mark 14:1--15:47). What we just heard should move our hearts to thanksgiving! This passion narrative should drive our hearts to conversion! Everything that our Lord Jesus went through was real! The very fact that our Lord Jesus Christ came down from heaven and suffered and died this most extreme death for us should bring us down on our knees begging Our Lord for forgiveness of our sins!
My brothers and sisters, today we enter into the most holy and sacred week of the year for Catholics. In one week, we will celebrate Easter, the glorious resurrection of our Lord from the dead.
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| Fr. John Paul Shea |
Our Lord loves us. He wants us to live with Him in the final resurrection. Yet, we are reminded today, as we enter into Holy Week, that if we want to share in our Lord’s resurrection, we must first enter into our Lord’s passion. We must die to ourselves and offer our bodies and souls to our Lord. We must make sacrifices, not just during the season of Lent, but throughout our lives. May we seek true contrition for our sins, and may we pray desperately for the salvation of souls. Praised be Jesus Christ! Now and forever!
Did you enjoy this homily? There are more. Try this one also by Fr. John Paul Shea: Climb Aboard the Ark of Our Salvation!
