Passageways (2013-03-24, Palm Sunday)

This is my homily for Sunday March 24, 2013 (Palm Sunday).  I am a Catholic chaplain in Teaneck at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association and at New Jersey City University (NJCU) in Jersey City. We celebrate Catholic Mass - during Fall and Spring semester - every Sunday Evening (5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.) at the FDU University Interfaith Chapel, 842 River Road, Teaneck, NJ.

If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to email or call me - ferryjam@fdu.edu, FDU office 201.692.2570. - Father Jim Ferry. READINGS: Isaiah 50:4-7 | Psalm 22 | Philippians 2:6-11 | Luke 

[__Homily-01]   The entrance of a dignitary – a president, or prime minister – or, say, our Holy Father at  St. Peter’s square – into NY, New Delhi, or Rome – is usually a mission of peace, of goodwill.     Peace.

[__02]    But, is this the way we perceive the actual entrance?

How is the actual “mission” and arrival of such a president or leader demonstrated at the UN or in the street?  What happens such a dignitary or governor decides to use the road or airport as we also use?

Is it their stated intention to cause us DELAY to create frozen zones in midtown.

FROZEN ZONES – around which we must travel.   We might think a frozen zone is some kind of glacier – or National Weather  Service advisory.  Rather, the FROZEN ZONE is also about peace, security – not just winter.

[__03]    The “entrance” is a complicated affair - @ JFK, the Holland Tunnel, the Turnpike .

And, the Secret Service and State Police are – in their own official way – laying their cloaks on the ground – and meanwhile checking every square foot of pavement for problems.

[__04]    Is the way – the passageway – clear? Safe ? 

ENTRANCE – the arrival – and peaceful arrival – is an aspect common to both Christmas and Easter, to both Advent and to Lent.  In Advent, we also read / sing – “Prepare ye the way of the Lord / make straight his paths .. every valley shall be filled in …”

This a homeland-security message courtesy of the Gospel from Isaiah and John the Baptist.

We receive “every-10-minute traffic updates” to be on the watch for the Messiah’s arrival.

ADVENT emphasizes – in a sense - the alternate route.  Vigilance is necessary to recognize the Messiah on this alternate route.

Vigilance is necessary in the darkness of winter, in the wild and wilderness.

Bethlehem is not on GoogleMaps. (It is off the, so to say, main roads).

[__05]   On Palm Sunday, on the other hand, there is no alternate route. The way is being prepared right here, right now.

The setting includes a crowd …and the inbound lane to the city of Jerusalem.

A gridlock alert day?

[__06]     The Lord also arrives in our city –

·         The Teaneck side of campus

·         The Hackensack side of campus

·         Rothman / Becton / The Courts

·         The SUB

·         In our office, our home.

On Palm Sunday, we recall that Jesus arrives.  But, Jesus does not arrive in a wilderness requiring us to go out and find him.

Rather, he is here in the urban centre.

 [__07]      Slowing us down during LENT or in Friday are certain practices of prayer and fasting and almsgiving.

Also - Lent is a reminder that Friday is a day of penance for all Catholics 52 weeks a year. We are all called to consider what we can do - as self-sacrifice - every Friday. I encourage you to consider the abstinence from meat as your option. It is easy to remember; it is something we can do as a communally - at table.  

It is a way to say YES, Thank the Lord it is Friday, that Jesus died for me on this day.  I am changing ways - prayerfully - to let his Passion be present in my life.

In this 40-day season – and beyond – Jesus also enters and moves about.

He enters not because the streets are empty.

But, rather because we ourselves empty ourselves – remove our cloaks – our coats .

We receive and welcome him with our palms and with our

·         Repentance

·         Self-sacrifice

·         Dying to ourselves

·         Removing our coats – or our attachment to an object, possession, an agenda item -- out of devotion to another person

·         By taking up our cross each day to follow him

We receive him, in our studies, work, relationships, body and spirit.

[__08]   You and I are called to remove our coats, our cloaks – to welcome him.

We do this when we accept certain inconveniences, sacrifices…. Joyfully.

With joy and gratitude for his arrival, we also enable Christ to move about more freely – in the city,   in the street – in our lives.   [__fin___]      

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