Sunday, April 13, 2025

 Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

(Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23:56)

The Passion of Jesus in the Gospel according to Luke stands out for several reasons. Among others, it has what one biblical scholar calls “the most beautiful sentence in the Passion Narratives.” It has practical lessons as well. We can extract from the narrative a way of dying that is peaceful and perfect. Here we will try to name the elements of a happy death in Saint Luke’s version of Christ’s Passion.

As he goes to his death, Jesus never stops thinking of others. The women weeping by the side of the road desire to show solidarity with Jesus. But knowing that their children will experience injustices similar to his, Jesus comforts them. “Do not weep for me,” he says, “weep for yourselves and for your children.” Even more magnanimous, Jesus promises the criminal who admits his sin a place in eternal life.

We too should desire to die helping others. If we have possessions, we could leave some to charity. It will also be eminently helpful to share our affection with our loved ones. Once a dying mother called to her deathbed each of her nine children one by one. She told each of her love and hopes for him or her. Of course, we don't have to wait until we have a fatal diagnosis to tell our loved ones of our affection.

In dying on the cross, Jesus not only rewards those who respond favorably to him but also blesses his executioners. Without a doubt, his words, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," command our attention. They are both the most beautiful and most quoted of the Savior's "seven last words."

We must be just as noble when we are about to die. Forgiveness is what defines God's love. A poet wrote, "To err is human; to forgive divine." Jesus insists that we will not be forgiven for our sins if we do not forgive our offenders. If they do not ask for our forgiveness, we should at least pray for them. We could ask the Lord to move them to repentance. At the time of our death, we should also confess our sins to a priest if possible.

Finally, we want to die placing our trust in God. Jesus does this with the metaphor: "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit!" He is certain that the care the Father gave him through the angel on the Mount of Olives, as at every step of his mission, will not dry up at his death. Quite the contrary, it will raise him to glory.

In our secular age, doubts can crowd our minds like clouds in the sky on a spring day.  Atheists and materialists are everywhere, challenging those who believe and pray. However, especially when death approaches, we want to dispel our doubts with an act of faith. God exists, and he loves us. Let us be clear and firm about this. Then, we can die in peace.

Sunday, April 10. 2022

 PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION

(Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23:56)

Sixty years ago, a university researcher published a study that astonished the world. Dr. Stanley Milgram tested people from various backgrounds for their willingness to carry out orders contrary to their consciences. Test takers were instructed to give "learners" electric shocks when they made mistakes. In reality, the "trainees" were actors, and the shocks were faked. But still the results were worrying. The vast majority of those tested would shock the "learners" enough to kill them. in other words, they would sin rather than disobey authority. We see something similar in the reading from the passion of Christ today.

At Jesus' trial before Pilate, the Jewish leaders insist that Jesus is guilty of a capital crime. Soon all the Jews present demand his death. Although both Pilate and Herod find no offense, the mob calls for Jesus' execution. Under the authority of the high priests and the scribes the people are willing to ignore their own reasoning. These people are not evil by nature but easily led to do evil. We are inclined to make the same mistake.

We are influenced by cultural leaders to sin. These leaders can be politicians, athletes, actors, priests or others. Our sins can be lies or theft, sexual offenses or blasphemy. We see people whom in one way or another we admire and imitate their vices. As a grace, the voice of God calls us in our conscience to repent. The appeal to conscience takes places in the gospel but in a different way. After seeing Jesus die on the cross the people return beating their chests in contrition. They acknowledge that they have shared in the death of an innocent man.

What exactly did they see? They saw Jesus showing God's mercy at every turn. On the way to Calvary he comforts the women of Jerusalem. He tells them that it is not necessary to cry for him but to cry for their own children. When he is nailed to the cross, he asks God to forgive the executioners of him. Finally, he promises the criminal who recognizes his crime a place in paradise. We too can count on Jesus to show us mercy. Jesus shows himself as the true Son of God. He will get us the Father's forgiveness when we acknowledge our sins.

We sin by insisting on putting our will before the will of God. We seek first of all pleasure, power, prestige, and money. Although God has always been good to us, we still want more to satisfy our every desire. However, the passion of Christ shows that God's mercy is greater than our sins. We just have to acknowledge them – whether they are deadly like abortion or small like “white lies.” God will forgive them because of Christ.