Audio: https://sites.google.com/site/sktdeaconed/home/mp3/homily%203.24.13.mp3?attredirects=0&d=1
My
wife and I have been meeting with engaged couples for most of the last ten
years, helping to prepare them for their their married lives together. A few years ago we met with the absolute
neatest couple. They were on top of the
world, and they were absolutely crazy about each other. The communication between the two of them
was fantastic, and they seemed to have a perfect relationship. Well within two years that awesome couple had
separated, on the way to divorce.
Sometimes
the most promising things, people, relationships – turn sour. Don’t turn out the way we hoped, or the way
we’ve planned. And sometimes people turn
on us, betray us.
And
so it was for Our Blessed Lord as we see the stark contrast in today’s two
Gospel readings. In honor of “Palm”
Sunday, our first Gospel shows an exuberant crowd, leading their
long-waited-for Messiah into Jerusalem.
Yet we see how quickly things turn south for Jesus. For in our “Passion” Sunday Gospel, we see Our
Lord a week later, arrested, condemned
to death, betrayed by His closest disciple, led out and subjected to the most
painful, and shameful, death imaginable.
Stipped naked and nailed to a cross, left hanging to die. How quickly every one of those who
triumphantly hailed his arrival in Jerusalem turned on him. How tragically sad!
But,
when you and I sin, aren’t you and I turning on Him, too? Is it any different with you and me? I mean, you and I come here to Church week
after week, some of us day after day, and hail our Savior King, proclaim our
faith in Him, partake in the sacred feast of His Body and Blood. And then what? Don’t we go forth from here, and each one of us,
betray Him? To some extent at least, and
in small ways and perhaps large? At
times, we act, we behave, as if we don’t even know him, don’t we?
I
think we’d be lying if you and I said we aren’t sinners, wouldn’t we?
It
happens in all the things we do that we know we shouldn’t. A couple for-instances. Maybe we don’t keep the Lord’s day the way we
should. Or perhaps we take His Sacred
Name, the name that should cause us to fall to our knees, in vain? Perhaps we tell lies, or half-truths, or we
gossip, or slander. And even if we’re
not adulterous, perhaps we have unclean thoughts and unclean hearts. Perhaps it’s movies, TV shows or internet
sites that we know we shouldn’t be watching.
And
we sin in the things we haven’t done, but should have. You and I aren’t killers, but do we speak up,
or do we remain silent, do we do anything, in the face of injustice,
starvation, poverty, or the scourge of abortion? The stones will cry out, Our Lord tells us,
but do we? And in situations that should
cause us to give forgiveness and make peace, rejecting our own pride, do we
instead cling to our grudges and hurt feelings?
These
are just a few of the ways in which you and I, as sinners, betray our
friendship with Jesus Christ, Our Lord and King. But, my sisters and brothers, I am certainly
not standing here to condemn anyone.
Lord knows, I am a sinner! No, I
am standing here to proclaim to you that Jesus Christ gave His very life on
that cross for your sins. And mine. For our forgiveness. Out of his infinite, extravagant love for
you, and for me. God so loved the world
that he gave his only son, and God did not send his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but to save the world through him! Through his suffering, and death. God loves you and He loves me, that much.
So,
myy brothers and sisters, you and I have the opportunity to go to the Lord and
beg His forgiveness for whatever ways we have betrayed him through our
sin. In whatever it is that’s weighing us
down, burdening us, keeping us from being in full friendship with Him.
This
Tuesday, all afternoon and into the evening, in every parish in our diocese, we
will celebrate a day of reconciliation.
A time when we will approach the Lord, confident of his extravagant love
and mercy, and confess our failures, our sins.
A time to tell the Lord of our sincere sorrow for our sins. Not only because of their just punishment,
but because our sins offend the Lord, who is all good and deserving of all our
love. It’s a time to make a sincere
promise to go forth and sin no more. And
a time to hear, through the voice of the priest, the Lord’s forgiveness of our
sins. In those incredible words of
absolution, words that set us free! A
time to walk out filled with joy, and lightness, and peace in our souls.
Even
if you haven’t been to the Sacrament of Reconciliation in years, I invite you
to prayerfully consider taking advantage of this opportunity this year. Let go of what’s holding you back. So that you may draw close to Jesus, and fully
prepared to participate in the Sacred Triduum, our most holy days - following
the Lord to His last supper, accompanying the Lord to the place called the
Skull on Good Friday, and celebrating the great joy of the Easter Feast, the
Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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