Called to Love You

Fourth Sunday of Easter

April 28-29, 2007
Reading I: Acts 13:14, 43-52

Responsorial Psalm: 100:1-2, 3, 5

Reading II: Revelation 7:9, 14b-17

Gospel: John 10:27-30

Image of sheep and Shepherd
In the Gospel today, Jesus uses the image of the relationship between the sheep and the Shepherd to describe his loving relationship with us all.

Sheep have many interesting characteristics. They are vulnerable animals, they are gentle and they have poor eyesight. It is very important that sheep should always go together in a flock so they won’t get lost when they go on their own. There are foxes and other wild animals out there in the fields that could easily attack them from ambush if they got separated from their flock.

Another quality of the sheep is that they know the voice of their Shepherd. They only recognise and follow the voice of their Shepherd. When he calls out, they simply get up and come to him. They follow him out through the sheep-gate. They make no mistakes.

The shepherd is extremely important to the well-being of a flock. He guides them, makes them safe, lead them to food and drink. The shepherd knows all his own sheep by heart.
He has a special name for each character in the flock.

When Jesus speaks of the shepherd and the sheep, we think of ourselves as sheep, and our Lord, as the Good Shepherd. Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.” Today’s Gospel brings these words of comfort and hope, but they are also words that challenge us. We are each called and gifted for some unique role in God’s kingdom which no-one else can fulfill.

Three Vocations
Vocation Sunday is a reminder for us to listen carefully to the voice of Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Vocation means a “calling”. Jesus is calling us to follow him. Some are called to the vocation of married life, others are called to single blessedness, and while others are called to the vocation to the priesthood or religious life.

The Church recognizes these three “callings” as states of life where we can follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd more closely. These three vocations are all equal gifts of God; one is not better than the other. They are all personal invitations from God to each one of us so we may be able to live happily, meaningfully and holy.

Vocation to the Priesthood
However, today we particularly pray that many young men and women will respond to the calling of priestly vocations and religious life.

In many parishes, seminarians from Corpus Christi College go out and speak at masses around the Archdiocese on this weekend. They speak of their call to follow the Lord; the talk about the Church’s understanding of the priesthood and also their hopes for their future ministry if God willing they too become a priest.

If you can still remember three years ago I came here at St. Andrew’s on Good Shepherd Sunday to share my vocation story, I was hoping to inspire young people then. It’s been three years since then, but still no one from Werribee is joining the seminary. But I will not give up, I will be amongst you for the next three years!

I remember I said in my talked three years ago that I didn’t really have a dramatic experience of conversion or experience God calling me from heaven: “follow me my son”. As a young boy I never thought of becoming a priest. It was my grandmother and my friends in highschool that influenced to join the seminary in the Philippines.

I've been a priest for only seven months. Oftentimes when I get up in the morning I still cannot imagine myself as a priest. It's weird that even my own father calls me Father. People who are old enough to be my grandparents address me Father!

I'd like to thank my family and friends who knows me too well, including my weaknesses, for their support and encouragement during the times when I was down and lonely. Thank you for your company when I felt alone. Thank you for bringing balance in my life. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your love.

Priesthood

Each vocation is special, but the vocation to the priesthood is something unique as priest somehow is a bridge between God and human in every celebration of the Sacraments. In his priestly ministry, he brings hope to the people; he preaches the word of God; he builds up parish communities; he looks after the school; he sometimes makes people laugh; but ultimately the priest brings us the identity of Jesus the Good the Shepherd himself.
Invitation for Inquiry Sunday

On Sunday 20th of May, the seminary in Carlton, Corpus Christi College, will have an Inquiry Day for single men who are curious or open to thinking about the priesthood as a vocation in life. Programs includes Mass, lunch with seminarians and the Archbishop of Melbourne, tours of the seminary by Rector and seminarians, and explanation of entry procedures by Director of Vocations.

If you know someone, perhaps your brother, grandson, nephew (whisper: or even your boyfriend) who is curious about the seminary, tell them to come on that weekend. If you have any question please feel free to approach me or Fr Frank.

Again, my dear friends, let us pray for the increase of priest and religious in our country. Please pray for us priests, religious and seminarians as we do pray for you.

Let us pray for one another that we may all live life to its fullness and love our own vocation, which God has given us.

We may continue to follow the voice of Jesus our Shepherd. Amen.

I love you, I love you, I love you...

Third Sunday of Easter Year C April 22, 2007
Reading I: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41

Responsorial Psalm: 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13

Reading II: Revelation 5:11-14

Gospel: John 21:1-19 or 21:1-14

They catch fish

We’ve just heard the story of the appearance of our Lord to the seven disciples.

After all the drama of Christ’s crucifixion and death, the disciples went on their own ordinary way of living. We imagine their disappointment, frustration and feeling of abandonment after the death of Jesus, their Lord and Master. But, life must go on, they have to move on, so they went back to their old profession, fishing.

When the Lord appeared to them, they didn’t immediately recognise him. They were only able to come to know that it is the Lord after they caught a large number of fish.

The Gospel today tries to show that the Lord never abandons His disciples and His church. Maybe at first, the disciples were frustrated by the death of Christ. Maybe they already lost hope because their leader who preaches eternal life was tried and killed. Maybe they were tempted to think that what they were doing in following the Lord was totally useless. But in His appearance to His seven disciples, our Lord showed that his might and promise endures, that He never leaves His fold and that He continues to call His followers. His death was not the end of His ministry but the beginning and fulfillment of His saving ministry.

Do you love me?

After this event, Jesus had an intimate dialogue with Peter. Three times he asked Peter to answer the question “Do you love me?” And for three times, Peter confessed to the Lord his love. With this, our Lord asked him to express his love by feeding the lamb and tending the sheep. And He concluded, “Follow me!”


Meditate

Imagine. What if Jesus asked you directly the question he asked Peter in Sunday’s Gospel?
“Do you love me?” And Jesus repeated his question the second time. What does the repeated question do to you? Then, yet again, not just twice but a third time, the tender but unnerving question, before you have had time to settle your mind and heart.He asks you by name, “Do you love me?” Let it echo inside you.
Does he suspect that you really do not love him? Consider your daily attitude toward Jesus and toward God. Do not say your answer lightly.

Give your response quietly in prayer to Jesus, or out loud if you wish. Take your time. Pay attention to how it feels to say it. Maybe you will reply, “Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you,” as Peter did. Or do you have another answer? Something like, “Lord, you know everything, you know that I want to love you, I just want to believe in you and live a good life. You see the fear and the running away and the distraction I live by—are you going to condemn me for them? I want to love you but I don’t know how.”Jesus answers, “Feed my lambs.”Stay with it. Think about it. Pray about it.Doesn’t it mean that we who are sinful can be part of Jesus’ mission? We don’t have to be perfect? We are forgiven?

We are called and imperfect

We are all called by the Lord no matter who we are. As we can see from example of the disciples, they were not perfect or righteous persons. Look at Peter, he denied the Lord three times. But the Lord chose him still and made him the leader of the early Church.

Look at me. God has chosen me to be priest despite my weaknesses, imperfection and sinfulness.

The Lord looks at us with mercy and compassion no matter who we are. He is only asking one question, “Do you love me?”

As followers of the Lord, whether you are priest, married person or single, student, every action that we do therefore is always an answer to his question, “Do you love me?” And every “Yes” that we made, must be put into action. When we serve our family, when we work hard for our children, when we are honest in our world and responsibilities, when we are true to our friends.


Jesus, help us love our own suffering, and embrace our weaknesses boldly.

Jesus, help us love you just the way disciples did. Give us sharp eyes to look for you in every person we meet, in every place we go everywhere, always. Amen.




readings: Homily of Bishop Ramon Villena, Bishop of Bayombong; www.liturgy.slu.edu

"Doubt no longer...I love you"

Second Sunday of Easter
Acts 5:12-16

Psalm: 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19

Gospel: John 20:19-31

April 15, 2007

“I love you”
We have a famous saying to see is to believe. We won’t believe unless we can see with our own eyes. Our skeptical minds require proofs, evidence or facts before we believe in something.

For instance, when a guy says “I love you” to his girlfriend or to someone he loves, naturally he has to prove his love not only in words but with his actions. To say “I love you” is so easy, but to make someone believe that you love the person is not easy. You need to prove it by actions. Saying “I love you” needs evidence of truth through ones patience, understanding, acceptance, readiness to bear pains, sacrifices and disappointments.

Christian faith
However, the saying “to see is to believe” doesn’t apply to our Christian faith. Because faith is something you believe the things you cannot see. As St. Augustine says, "Faith is to believe what we do not see; the reward of faith is to see what we believe." Faith does not require proof or material evidence. The words of Jesus in the Gospel echoes what our Christian faith should be.. “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Today’s Gospel reading, like all of St. John’s Gospel, contains several themes. It is not possible to follow up all the themes together; we must focus on one at a time, going deeply into it and allowing it to reveal some deep truth about Jesus, about ourselves and about life.

I invite you to focus on the apostle Thomas. Although the readings includes two of Jesus’ resurrection appearances – both of them are deeply moving… Let us stay with the dialogue of Jesus and Thomas…

Jesus Appears
After resurrection, the apostles were all excited when they saw Jesus, they ran to Thomas later on, as if telling him, “Hey Tom Jesus is alive, he is risen, and we see him with ourselves.” And Thomas says, “I won’t believe until I see the scars my self, until I see the scars from his hands, until I touch the scars at his side.”

We have been calling a doubting Thomas, and kind of picking on him as one who has little faith. Later on in the story Jesus appears to the disciples again but this time Thomas was with them. Jesus says to Thomas, “Thomas, here I am look see the scars on my hands, put your finger on my side.” Jesus doesn’t ridicule Thomas for such having a little faith…he embraces his skepticism.. He encourage him to test and see, and feel for himself.



There is a famous painting by Caravagio. In this painting Jesus is not only showing Thomas the scars but also he is taking his hand. And you could just almost see the love on his face. The disciples look like anything but holy men chosen by Christ. Thomas ashamed of even doubting starts to pull away and Christ has to grab his hand to steady him while the others look on in a kind of morbid curiosity. Jesus is putting his finger into his side, helping Thomas’ skepticism away and restoring his faith back. The face of Jesus seems to be in pain, but it must the pain that comes from Thomas’ doubt. He is please to give Thomas what he is looking for. He challenges him and us to look forward to the day when he will believe without seeing.

The Word of God always gives us hope and confidence. The first reading calls us to overcome our doubts and fear, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever.” The Responsorial Psalm speaks the same message of assurance “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.”

God understands our skepticism. He knows that our human struggles on our faith, personal loneliness and pains. Some people will find it difficult to come into faith in times of trials or death just like the apostle Thomas. But there is one thing that we admire of Thomas. After Jesus shows him his scars and put his finger on his side, Thomas cries out, “My Lord, and my God.” Thomas was the first one to do that after his Resurrection. Thomas was the first one to recognise Jesus as not only Lord but as God himself. We call Thomas, the Doubting Thomas, but when he overcomes his skepticism and doubt, he was the one who truly recognise the Risen Lord!

Thomas’ doubt is also our doubt
Thomas teaches us the important lesson that we must not separate the resurrection from the cross, since we are called to be followers of Jesus. He also teaches us the church and of our individual spiritual growth. We cannot live the life of grace, the ‘risen life; authentically unless we bear in our bodies the wounds of the cross. This means being conscious that we develop to love and to be loved only by dying to ourselves.

Our wounds are also a constant reminder of our frailty, and that is God’s grace that raises us up to new life.

Summary
To see is to believe.
Saying “I love you” is more than words it means readiness to live with a wounded heart.
Faith is to believe that we are loved by Jesus, even in times of doubt, trial, suffering and even separation from our loved ones.

Prayer
"Lord Jesus Christ, through your victory over sin and death you have overcome all the powers of darkness. Help me to draw near to you and to trust in your life-giving word. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and strengthen my faith and my belief in your promises and my hope in the power of your resurrection." Amen.

A Promise of Love

“I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.”

Elizabeth Browning

What Love is About

It was something

I was searching for,

It was something I had found.

It was something I lost,

And it knocked me to the ground.

.

If it's really meant to be,

then it will always last.

If it isn't meant to be,

then it leaves pretty fast.

It makes you get lost,

yet it helps you find your way.

it makes you get tounge tied,

but helps you find the words to say.

.

It gives you butterflies,

hurt you? it may.

but when it's there it keeps you smiling

each and every day.

It brings hope,
and it brings fear.
But you are never afraid,
when that special one is near.

When it's gone,
you'll feel pain.
But learning to love
has just been gained.

It's about giving your heart
without a single doubt.
You're there from start to end...
that's what love is about.


by FC

.

Photos from Rose Garden, Weribee Mansion

Easter 2007

Easter Sunday 2007
April 7/8, 2007

Three fellows went to Heaven on the same day and showed up at the pearly gates. St. Peter looked them over and said, "Well, before you can enter the gates you have to answer one simple question, to show you know something about why you're here."

The first man stepped up to the gates, and St. Peter said, "Now, explain to me, what is Easter?" The second guy replied, "Oh, that's easy. That's the holiday in November, when everybody gets together to give thanks, and eats turkey, and..." "Wrong," replied St. Peter, "You'll have to wait." He turned to the second blonde and said, "What is Easter?" The second blonde replied, "I know, Easter is about Jesus. In December, when we put up a nice tree, exchange presents, and celebrate His birthday."

St. Peter shook his head in disgust at the second woman and sighed. He turned to the third blonde and said, "You look a little smarter than the other two... Now, WHAT IS EASTER?"

The third guy smiled and said, "I know what Easter is. Easter is the Christian holiday that takes place in the spring. Jesus and his disciples were eating at the last supper, and He was deceived and turned over to the Romans by one of his disciples. Then the Romans took Him to be crucified and stabbed Him in the side, made Him wear a crown of thorns, and crucified Him. He died, and was buried in a cave sealed off by a large stone." St. Peter smiled and nodded. The blonde continued, "And every year the stone is moved aside so that Jesus can come out, and play with the Easter Bunnies.”

St. Peter fainted...

(What is the significance of Easter Bunny & Egg?)


The Resurrection of Jesus

The death of Jesus ends up his earthly ministry. However, his glorious Resurrection opens up a new dimension of his identity as both truly human and truly divine. The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our Christian faith. The apostles’ faith did not produce the Resurrection rather the Resurrection produced and strengthen their faith. After Resurrection of Christ, his apostles and followers have witnessed a profound revolution of who Jesus truly is.

To hear someone has risen from the dead is something unusual, unthinkable and beyond our human reason. But this is what the early witnesses of Jesus’ Resurrection had to proclaim to the community they were living—a radical truth that is to be handed down even to our time today. Our access in knowing the truth about Jesus’ Resurrection is not merely the empty tomb, rather the witnessing of men and women “Easter witnesses” who encountered Christ and gave testimonies about his appearances after his death.

The reality of the resurrection is the central fact of the Christian faith. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Lord gives us "eyes of faith" to know him and the power of his resurrection. The greatest joy we can have is to encounter the living Lord and to know him personally. Let us celebrate the feast of Easter with joy and thanksgiving for the victory which Jesus has won for you and I, for the whole humanity over sin and death.

Today, marks the end of our old life, the death of our old self, the forgetting and forgiving of our shameful wrongdoings. Today is the beginning of a new life, the resurrection of a new self, the continuity of living our Christ faith, that gives us hope and live, that leads us to a life everlasting, in the Father’s kingdom.

Let us pray that Jesus triumphed over the grave and have won new life for us, our faith may be strengthened to see his glory, we may grow in great love and victory over sin and death.

Christ is truly Risen!

From darkness comes a new light. May our Resurrected Lord shine in our lives and brings hope to each one of us. Alleluia Alleluia.

Good Friday 07

Good Friday 2007
April 6, 2007
Reading I: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Responsorial Psalm: 31:1, 5, 11-12, 14-16, 24
Reading II: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
Gospel: John 18:1-19:42

Good Friday
Today, Good Friday, is a day of penance, of fasting, of prayer, of participation in the passion and death of the Lord on the Cross. But what Good is there today when our Lord Jesus died. Do we consider this Good? It is as if we are delighted by the death of our Lord Jesus. Is there really something that we have to celebrate? The good news for today is that evil has been overcome by good. Secondly, God’s unconditional love was revealed today and through this love we receive our salvation. And this all happened on the Cross of Christ.

My First Prayer
The first prayer I ever learned was a simple sign of the cross. I can still remember how my mother would gently guide my two little fingers pointing to my forehead, down to my belly and to my left and right shoulders as I say in Tagalog, “In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. ” Every night before going to bed I would often make the sign of the Cross assuring myself that God would keep me away from the ‘monsters’ that might appear in my dreams. And as far as I can remember making sign of the Cross was my earliest memory of my Christian faith. Every time I would make sign of the Cross before and after praying, when I pass our parish church, or when I was afraid, I knew that it is a sign of God’s blessings, his protection, and his loving presence. For indeed the Cross of Christ is the holiest sign there is. On the Cross our Lord saves the whole humanity. It is the sign of the Totality, it is the sign of our salvation.

The Cross
During the time of Jesus, for the Jews and the Gentiles crucifixion is the most shameful form of death which is appropriate only to the most notorious criminal in society. The death of Jesus on the Cross gives us a glimpse of his unbearable pain and horror – both physically and spiritually – it represents the degradation and destruction of his dignity both as God and human.
Commenting on Good Friday, St. John Chrysostom, a 4th century saint wrote: "Before, the cross meant disdain, but today it is venerated. Before, it was a symbol of condemnation, today it is the hope of salvation. It has truly been converted into a fount of infinite goods; it has liberated us from error, it has scattered our darkness, it has reconciled us with God. From being enemies of God, it has made us his family, from foreigners it has converted us to his neighbors: This cross is the destruction of enmity, the fount of peace, the coffer of our treasure" ("De cruce et latrone," I, 1, 4).

Human Sufferings
We, as Christians desiring to be faithful disciples, always remind ourselves that the Cross is very much a part of our life. We make sign of the cross every time we pray individually or communally. We wear it as a necklace; put it on our altars both in churches and in our homes. But the Cross we have as Christians most of the times can be our individual sufferings and pains, experience of the death of our loved ones.

Good Friday celebration reminds us that the Cross, that is our suffering and death, are very much a part of our life and we cannot escape from them. We heard from the Gospel that Jesus himself did not remove his pain, his humiliation, his suffering and death but rather only gave meaning to them. They are opportune moments of his total obedience to the Father, and unconditional love for each and one of us.

Cross is not Only Pain
However, the most important component of the Cross is not that it causes pain, not that it causes suffering. The most important component of the Cross is that it gives life to others. When our sufferings do not give life to others, that is not the Cross of Christ. When our pains do not bring life to others that is not the Cross of Christ because the Cross of Christ always gives life. The Cross of Christ always leads to the resurrection.

When we refer to the cross only as pain, when we refer to the Cross only as suffering, when we refer to the cross only as problems, that is not our Christian understanding of the cross. Carrying the cross of our suffering without Christ in our hearts, only brings us sorrow, pain, disappointment and despair. But a Cross with Christ brings life and salvation.

A Christian without cross is incomplete as Jesus calls us, “Come follow me and carry your cross daily.” The cross that we are challenged to carry in our daily lives is the cross that brings life, happiness, love, peace and forgiveness to others. So, let us not fear to carry our own crosses.

Conclusion
Let us remember that Passion of Christ did not end on the cross. Jesus, hanging lifeless on the Cross, shows us that he did not die in vain, his suffering and death are redemptive fulfillment of his love. A new life and a new spirit are poured out.

So let us not remain in our crosses too – in our Good Fridays, in our deaths. Let our deaths, our Good Fridays be experiences of paschal death!

As described in today’s gospel reading, the death of Jesus on Good Friday was a tragic event indeed. Yet, it becomes more tragic in our eyes when we understand that it was not necessary.

The Cross of Jesus is a blessing. His Cross is life. His Cross is our Salvation. His Cross is Love. This is the meaning of Good Friday. Amen.

.

.

Resources: Love Like Jesus by Bishop Socrates Villegas, Homily Guides For Lent and Easter http://www.rcam.org/pdf/2007_HG_LentEaster.pdf

Holy Thursday 07

The Lord’s Supper 2007
St. Andrew’s Parish
April 5, 2007, 7:30pm

Introduction
As the Lenten journey comes to an end, this evening we begin the celebration of the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. The Church's liturgy invites us to contemplate the mystery of the Cross, to acknowledge our sinfulness and, in faith, to unite ourselves with Jesus in his saving passover from death to life.

Holy Thursday is the night on which our Lord Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples. What went through the mind of the disciples on that night, we will never know. We can only imagine. What we do know is that Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from the world and to go to the Father. While Jesus had been preparing His disciples for some time, hinting to them that He was about to be betrayed and crucified, the disciples did not appear to perceive what Jesus was telling them.

As we now enter into the dramatic atmosphere of the coming days, filled with the remembrance of the passion and death of Christ, and his glorious resurrection on Easter Day, we celebrate this evening the Feast of Holy Thursday. There are three principal mysteries we solemnly commemorate in this Mass: First the institution of the Holy Eucharist; The institution of the priesthood; The New commandment of Christ to love one another.


The Eucharist
In harmony with the readings from the book of Exodus and from the letter of St Paul to the Corinthians, readings, today’s gospel according to John describes how Jesus transformed the Jewish Passover into the Eucharistic celebration. First, he washed their feet - a tender reminder of his undying affection and a quiet plea for them to do the same for each other and reminding us that our vocation is to take care of one another as he always takes care of us. Then he gave them his own body and blood as food, so that as long as they lived, they'd never be without the comfort and strength of his presence. Thus he washed their feet, fed them, and then went out to die.

The Institution of the Priesthood
This was followed by the institution of the priesthood with the command, “Do this in memory of me." An ordained minister who shares the priesthood in persona Christi has an important role in keeping the command of Jesus fulfilled for the people of God. The priests as ministers of the Sacraments and the Eucharist, are called to represent Christ in the community and giving example to everyone how to deepen and celebrate the mystery of the Eucharist with strong devotion. So that the presence of Christ’s paschal mystery pervades our daily lives as Christian community today and until the end of time.

The New Commandment to Love
Jesus began his Passover celebration by washing the feet of his disciples as a lesson in humble service because it was the duty of slaves. Again in the Gospel, Jesus gives us an example of the deepest kind of humility—he stoops to wash the disciples' feet. His purpose wasn't to clean feet; his purpose was to give us an example of relationships based on a pattern of divine humility.
If the divine Son so humbled himself, how much more ought we!

Christ’s example gives a message of humble and selfless service. Our celebration of the Eucharist requires that we wash one another’s feet, i.e., serve one another, and revere Christ's presence in other persons. It means that we become great only by serving others.
Jesus establishes then a close link between him washing the disciples' feet and the disciples washing the feet of others. If the Eucharist is the place where the Lord washes our feet, our daily life, our homes, our workplace, our parish community, is the place where we ought to wash the feet of others. Jesus who broke the bread of the Eucharist also washed the feet of his disciples. We must follow his example both at the altar of the Eucharist and at the altar of life.

Conclusion
But before we wash each others’ feet, as a sign of our humble service to one another, we must first of all allow ourselves to let the Lord wash us. As Jesus said to Peter, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me (John 13:8). First, the Lord washes us clean so that we belong to the Lord. Only then are we qualified and empowered to wash the feet of our sisters and brothers in the Lord. When this truth dawned on Peter, he overcame his reluctance and cried out, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" (v. 9). For this to happen all that the Lord needs from us is simply for us to be there, to present ourselves to him and to let him wash us.
Let us pray in that our celebration of the Last Supper, we may allow us to relive not only in memory of our Lord’s paschal mystery but bring its true message in our actions.

Let us ask the intercession of Holy Mary, who followed Jesus on the path of the passion and the cross, and who embraced him when he was taken down from the cross, let us pray that all of us who will participate fervently in the Easter triduum, will experience the joy of Easter together with all of our loved ones. Amen.





Resources:
1)VATICAN CITY, APRIL 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).- From the address of Pope Benedict XVI he gave at the general audience today in St. Peter's Square. 2) http://www.liturgy.slu.edu/

Let's Begin, A Holy Week of Encounter

Palm Sunday
March 31/ April 1, 2007
Homily

Introduction
Five weeks ago, on Ash Wednesday, our foreheads were marked with ash, reminding us that “you are dust and to dust you shall return.” On that day, the Church began the observance of Lenten season – it is a season marked by prayer, fasting, alms-giving and repenting for failures to focus on the need for God’s grace. Most of all, Lent is a season of the year that helps us focus on Christ’s self-sacrifice and prepares us to celebrate his glorious Resurrection on Easter.

Today we come together to begin a solemn celebration of Holy Week in union with millions of Christians throughout the world as we commemorate the Entrance of our Lord into his own city, Jerusalem, to finally complete his work as our Messiah: to suffer, to die, and to rise again.

On Palm Sunday, we remember the spreading of palms and clothing in Jesus’ path as He entered Jerusalem prior to His crucifixion. People welcomed him with praises and shouts of “Hosanna.” But before it was all over, a tidal wave of manipulated opposition welled up that brought Jesus to the cross. So that Palm Sunday is also celebrated as Passion Sunday anticipating the impending death of Jesus on the cross.

A Close encounter
During the last few Sundays of Lent, we have been hearing and reflecting upon the works of Jesus, his miracles, his parables, his temptation at the dessert, his clashes with the scribes and Pharisees. We may be aware or not, but each time we hear or listen to the Word of God being proclaimed, is always a moment of encounter with our Lord. The passion story we’ve just heard is intended not merely to narrate what happened 2,000 years ago but to interpret it as good news in our time and in our present situation.

Although we are familiar with the Passion of Christ, we’ve heard this every year, we may saw the movie, but there is always something there that always touch and grind our hearts – it could the humiliation of Christ, his torture, and his crucifixion. Whatever it may be that touched us most, the story of the Passion of Christ, we always encounter the basic reality of the love of Jesus Christ to all of us, and his total obedience to the Father.

The Holy Week celebration which we begin today is a moment of close encounter with our Lord, to his love to us. The liturgical celebrations we have in the Church during this week somehow express our Lord’s desire to be near us, to be so intimately closed to each one of us and reveal his love. Jesus wants you and I, to always remember how he loves us, love that caused his own death on the cross.

Abandonment
The Palm leaves and olive branches we use today is a symbol of our glorious welcome to Jesus. The Liturgy of palms and the liturgy of the Passion show the duality of our human response to the love of God to us through Jesus Christ through out history. Sometimes we welcome him in and other times we push him away, left him abandoned.

After the people’s glorious welcome, the waving of their palms, and shouts of joy, at end Jesus would find himself alone and abandoned. Jesus’ experience of abandonment even seemed to extend to his Father: My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Jesus came triumphantly into Jerusalem, but he knew what faced him. The death would be terrible, and the suffering that would accompany it would be excruciating. Worst of all would be the pain of abandonment. Jesus would die abandoned by everyone. His friends and disciples would run away and leave him alone.
In dying his lonely death on the cross, Jesus brought salvation to all those who are abandoned by others: the poor, the homeless, the unemployed, the lonely elderly, those suffering from communicable diseases, the hungry, political prisoners, prostitutes, those who in prison. Jesus died and rose that they might be liberated from their abandonment.

Prayer
Let us pray that as we enter Holy Week, we may allow ourselves to encounter Jesus and not abandon him, but remain in him.

Let us pray that we may receive the grace to die to all of our worldly cares and desires to make space in our hearts for Jesus to enter in.

As we reflect upon the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross, let us pray that we may be healed and restored to his new life.


Prayer of welcome

“Christ, you so loved the worldyou did not shield your facefrom the pounding and spitting andyou did not answer from under the blindfoldwhen they jeered and screamed,”Who struck you?”Humbled and emptied you were,and you taught us how to live.Please open our hearts and minds that we may encounter you more closely, know who you are to us.
Amen.