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[v.1] Homily – April 13, 2025 / Palm Sunday ● Passion Gospel of Luke ● ● ●
Title: [__01_] Welcome to Our Lady of Lourdes … as we enter into Holy Week, we reflect on the journey of our Lord toward His Passion. This journey is not just about Jesus; it is about us as well. It is about our struggles, our sufferings, and our hope in God. Today, I want to share a story about a family member, someone in my extended family who is facing a serious illness. He feels well physically and mentally now, but the future is uncertain. Recently, he asked me a question that many of us have probably asked ourselves at some point:
Turning to God in Our Need
He
said, "I have lived a pretty good life, but I haven't always been serious
about going to church or my Catholic faith.
Now, in my hour of need, I turn to God. What kind of Christian or
Catholic does that make me?"
It is a humbling question, that he didn’t necessarily expect me to to
have an answer for….
Have you ever asked yourself a similar
question?
It reminds me of 2 Gospel readings we have
recently encountered: the Parable of the Prodigal Son and the story of the
woman caught in adultery.
The
Prodigal Son and the Woman Caught in Adultery
The
Prodigal Son only returns home in humility after he has lost everything. If he
had been more disciplined, perhaps he would not have found himself in such dire
straits. Likewise, the woman caught in adultery found herself in a desperate
situation, facing immediate punishment while the man involved seemingly escaped
justice. Both of these individuals turned to God in their hour of need. But in
doing so, they also entered into a new relationship—not only with God but with
themselves. They came to understand their own dignity and worth, not because of
their past failures or successes, but because they were beloved children of
God.
The Reality of Limited Time
The
Prodigal Son’s empty bank account and the woman's criminal charges symbolize
something we all experience—limited time and resources. Whether we are facing
illness, financial struggles, or personal uncertainty, none of us can escape
the reality that life is fleeting. Even Jesus, in His human nature, experienced
this limitation. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed, "Father, if it is
your will, let this cup pass from me. But not my will, but Thine be done."
Following Christ in
Sacrifice
As
Catholics, we are called to follow Jesus, to live out our baptism, which is a
dying and rising to new life each day. Of course, we all wish to avoid
suffering—"Let this cup pass from me"—but true discipleship means
embracing our cross. This is the sacrifice we bring to the altar at every Mass.
When the priest says, "Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and
yours may be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father," we respond together,
acknowledging that our lives, our struggles, and our hopes are all part of this
great sacrifice of Christ.
Conclusion Palm Sunday reminds us that Christ entered Jerusalem knowing what lay ahead: suffering, death, and ultimately, resurrection. We, too, are called to walk this path with Him. Whatever trials we face, may we not only seek God in our need but also recognize that He is always seeking us. May we offer our sacrifices, great and small, in union with Christ, trusting that in Him, suffering is never the end of the story.
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