27 March 2010

Homily - 28 March 2010

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion(C)
At the Blessing of Palms

Dear brothers and sisters,

With these sacred rites we have entered into the most holy and solemn week of the year as we commemorate the Passion of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The crowds welcomed Jesus into the city of Jerusalem with great joy and gladness, crying out, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest” (Luke 19:38). Today we make these cries our own and acknowledge Jesus as our King and pledge our loyalty to him by carrying palms and laying down our cloaks before him.

The palm has been, from ancient days, a symbol of victory and triumph. We carry them today in honor of the Lord’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem and to honor him as the conquering King of glory.

We prepare the way before him by spreading our cloaks on the road. We spread not physical cloaks but the cloaks of our pride, that the Lord might trample them and clothe us with himself.

Ages ago, the Psalmist exclaimed: “Lift up, O Gates, your lintels; reach up you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in” (Psalm 24:7)!

Today, my friends, the king of glory, Christ Jesus, has come to enter into our gates, to enter into our hearts. Let us heed the cry of the Psalmist and lift up the gates of our hearts to the Lord this Holy Week. Let us fling wide the doors of our hearts by casting aside our pride that we might know and be known by him who is peace in heaven and glory in the highest. Amen.

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