Palm Sunday

Picture it, Jesus comes riding on a donkey into Jerusalem.  This wasn't Jesus' donkey.  Jesus had told two of his disciples to "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it.  If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?'  just say this, "The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately."  So, the two disciples did as they were instructed to do and the bystanders allowed them to take the donkey.  In honor of Christ there was a crowd that was throwing cloaks on the path as well as leafy (palm) branches.  The crowd shouted, "Hosanna!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"  After Jesus visited the temple he went out to Bethany with his twelve disciples. Christ (though he was in the form of God) did not use his status to exploit others, instead he humbled himself and was a slave for the sake of the world.  He was obedient even to the point of death on the cross.  When morning broke the elders and chief scribes (religious folks) led tied Jesus up and led him away to Pilate.  The Chief Priests accused him of many things.  Pilate was amazed Jesus did not reply when questioned.  There was a longstanding tradition of releasing a prisoner during the festival and the crowd would get to choose to have someone freed.  Pilate inquired, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"  The chief priests stirred the people up and had them ask for Barabbbas (a convicted murderer who caused destruction with his gang of outlaws).  Pilate knew Jesus had done nothing.  Pilate even asked them, "What evil has he done?"  The soldiers led him to the courtyard and mocked him and spat upon him.  They placed a purple cloak (the color of royalty) on him along with a crown of thorns.  This story seems to be so well known but what does it tell us about human nature?  The chief priests might as well have been you and I.  Although we were not present Jesus had the entire world on His mind when he decided to take on the request of God to live, be crucified, die, be put in a tomb, and be resurrected for our sakes.  We are just as jealous of one another at times as the chief priests were of Jesus.  A blameless man who was God in the flesh full of compassion was put to death.  Perhaps we should remember this when we think we are too tired to go and do as we feel led to help someone else.  Maybe next time we have worked overtime at work we will decide to relax on Sunday afternoon instead of sleeping in on Sunday morning.  There are a lot of people that believe you can do as you wish and you can 'worship' God anywhere.  I agree, but without support and guidance you will not continue.  Life gets in the way and you need other warriors (a.k.a. fellow Christians) to be in the race with you.  Would it take a miracle for you to really trust God?  Jesus could have very well stopped suffering at any moment.  He could have not suffered at all and instead came and lived among the people to see what it is like to be human and then could have went back into heaven.  Jesus could have came and forced the whole world to live by what he taught and give no choice to do anything differently.  However, part of the beauty of the life of Christ is that he did not flaunt his divinity.  Jesus instead chose to come into the world to a mother, our Blessed Virgin Mary, in a barn.  He could have came and lived in a palace.  He could have came and ruled a kingdom on earth.  Imagine Mary at the foot of the cross with tears in her eyes.  Can you imagine seeing your child tortured and literally hung to die?  These images are heard to imagine.  We don't want to think about them, but they are necescsary for us to understand our salvation and the love God has for us.  Ita is also necessary so we can take the Holy Eucharist every week with the knowledge Jesus is truly present and is feeding us in the elements his body and blood, soul and divinity.  No matter who you are, or who the world thinks you are, how bad you've been, how many wrongs you have committed, or how many times others tell you God hates you don't believe it.  God loves you.  He really does love you.  Saint Paul gave us one great description of how God's love works.  "I am convinced that neither life, nor death, principalities, things present, or future, nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus."  For that give thanks.  Claim the love God has for you and share it with others.  After all God calls the broken.  Jesus said, "I come not for the righteous, but for the sinner."  Thank you God for loving sinners like us.  For that, Thanks be to God.  Amen. 

Collect:

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Announcements:
**Holy Baptism of the Webb twins Saturday April 6, 2012 at 4PM
**Easter Sunday -- Holy Mass at 10:30AM with an Easter egg hunt to follow for the children. Everyone is welcome.