Palm / Passion Sunday B’18
“Here We Go Again”
March 25, 2018
{Processional Gospel Homily}
Liturgically we only do this re-enactment once a year, but its fingerprints are on every Mass we offer. Just after I summon your undivided attention telling you to “lift up your hearts to the Lord,” when we are about to enter the Eucharistic Prayer by which the miracle of God’s Presence will again take place, we become like these crowds welcoming Jesus into their midst.
Echoing the Prophet Isaiah’s angelic vision of the heavenly liturgy in chapter six of his writings, as if with a huge exclamation point we will cry out “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Hosts!” Then, echoing the words of the Four Living Creatures in the Book of Revelation who bow down in worship before the Lamb, we will say “Hosanna in the highest, heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest!”
In this way at every Mass we welcome the coming of Jesus anew. Let us now join with the crowds hailing the coming of our Savior…
{Passion Gospel}
Preachers of prosperity would have us escape the cross. Knowing our fear of it, they dangle all kinds of enticing promises before us like the words of Peter after Jesus’ first prediction of his own cross (“Surely it cannot be that way for you.”) You’re too special for a cross; too loved; too unique… GET BEHIND ME SATAN!
Jesus clearly teaches that if we want to be his disciple we must take up our cross and follow him. Jesus no more promises to save us from the cross than he was saved from it. Rather, Jesus saves us THROUGH the cross. Through the cross our suffering is transformed from being our downfall into being our means of salvation through our communion with God who is Emmanuel, that is, “God with us.”
And how does He do this? By offering himself as the sacrificial lamb. Jesus is the Prophet Isaiah’s Suffering Servant who will shed his blood for the many who will in their freedom embrace God’s New Covenant.
As the Book of Revelation, chapter 19 attests, Jesus is the sacrificial lamb who comes to us on our altar as our bridegroom. Echoing Revelation’s angelic invitation, “Blessed are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb,” I will shortly call you to walk this aisle as the bride ready to become one with the Lord in communion.
Thus, just as ancient Israel would sacrifice an animal and then partake in a communion meal so as to seal a covenant union with one another and God, so you and I will do so again today. Offering the sacrifice of the Lamb Jesus, and partaking in this communion meal, we will know the marital union of the two being one - Jesus and you - the groom and the bride… one.
Think of this image as you walk the aisle today. And in the silent prayer following, share with Jesus your most intimate thoughts for you and He will be one.
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