Homily - Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord homily (02 April 2023) Jesus enters Jerusalem

PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD

MATTHEW 26:14-27:66, April 2, 2023

1. STORY

Among all the animals in animal heaven, the proudest was the horse. One day the horse, while drinking at a stream, met a donkey.  He boasted too the donkey how while on earth he had carried kings and lead armies into battle. He asked the donkey if he had ever heard of the great king, Alexander the Great.  The donkey replied that he had never heard of him. The horse boasted that he carried this great king many times to victory. The donkey mentioned that he too, once carried a king. The horse was in a hurry so did not have time to listen.  As the horse left, there was a little rabbit who was very interested in hearing about this king that the donkey once carried.  The donkey said this event happened many years ago in Jerusalem.  He explained in great detail what had happened.  The rabbit asked the name of the king.  The donkey said it was a man named Jesus.  When the rabbit heard this, he became very excited and happy telling the donkey that he carried into Jerusalem the savior of the world.

 

2. GOSPEL. MATTHEW 26:14-27:66

A) JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM

The disciples prepared a donkey for him to enter into Jerusalem.  The donkey was a symbol of peace, as the horse was a symbol of war.  As he entered, the city was shaken and the people asked who this man was. The crowd answered it was Jesus the prophet.

B) THE PEOPLE WELCOMED JESUS

The very large crowd spread their cloaks while others cut branches from the trees to spread them on the road.  They all cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.”

 

3) APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) JESUS COMES INTO OUR LIVES

Jesus comes daily into our lives because he loves us and helps is to lead good lives.  He comes to us in many ways.

i) When we pray to him during the day.

ii) When we hear his word while reading the bible.

iii) When we receive the Eucharist.

iv) When we go to confession.

v) When we are kind to others by word and deed.

 

B) WE WELCOME JESUS

When we see and hold a palm, it has three meanings for us.

i) It is a sign that we welcome Jesus into our lives and hearts.

ii) It is a sign of victory over death; for as Jesus rose from the dead, so will we too rise from the dead.

iii) It is a sign of love that we have for Jesus who died to save us.

 

4) CONCLUSION

It was a great privilege for the donkey to carry Jesus into Jerusalem and for the people to welcome him.  We also are privileged to welcome Jesus into our lives.  He comes to give us strength to live good lives. When we see the palm, we remember that it is a sign that we welcome Jesus into our lives, a sign of victory over death, and a sign that Jesus loves us and we love Jesus.

Homily - 5A Sunday homily (26 March 2023) Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life

 

5A LENT, SUNDAY HOMILY, JOHN 11:1-45 March 26, 2023

1. STORY

Once there was a monk who longed to discover the secret of immortality.  He heard that there was an elderly monk who lived far away who knew the secret of how to live forever.  He was so excited that he began the log trip to the distant mountain where this monk lived.  However, when he arrived at the destination, he was terribly disappointed to discover that the monk with this secret had died a few days before his arrival.  Upon his return home, he was consoled by his friends who said that if the elderly monk knew the secret of how to live forever, he would not have died.  The lesson he learned was that only God can give eternal life.

 

2. GOSPEL, JOHN 11:1-45

A) LAZARUS DIED

The sisters Martha and Mary were saddened by the death of their brother Lazarus.  The friends of the two sisters were in great sorrow knowing that Martha and Mary’s brother had passed away.  Even Jesus was “perturbed and deeply troubled.” 

B) LAZARUS LIVED

Martha believed Jesus when he said that whoever believed in him would never die.  Jesus went to the tomb where Lazarus was buried and cried out in a loud voice.  “Lazarus, come out.” Lazarus came out of the tomb, a living man.  Jesus had the power to raise the dead to life.  Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) SORROW IN THE WORLD

There is much sorrow in the world.  This is caused by the death of a loved one, illness, discord in the family, unhappiness at work, lack of a descent place to live, and not having enough money to live even a simple life.  It comes from war, hunger, and disease. 

B) JESUS BRINGS US HAPPINESS

Each year at Easter there is much joy and happiness among the newly baptized for they have come to believe in Jesus.  Jesus brings us happiness when we believe that he has the power to give us eternal life, to give us strength to live a happy life, and the truth that there is life after death.  Because he brings us happiness, we should do two things:

i) Thank him for the joy and happiness he gives us. 

ii) We must bring others to know Jesus who will also bring them happiness.

 

4. CONCLUSION

In the story, the monk learned that none of us can give eternal life.  In the gospel, we learned that only Jesus can raise the dead to life and give us eternal life.  He taught us that he is the resurrection and life. We must thank Jesus for the great gift of eternal life and should introduce others to Jesus who will also give them joy and happiness here on earth and happiness forever in heaven.

Homily - 4A Sunday homily (19 March 2023) Now I can see

 

TOPIC: NOW I CAN SEE

1. STORY

John was born blind with cataracts.  When he was three, his mother who was very poor got in contact with one of the few doctors who did eye operations at that time.  She asked him to help her son and promised, if necessary, to pay him a certain amount from her wages each week for the rest of her life.  The doctor performed the operation.   On the day the bandages were to be removed, John’s mother bought him a little wooden horse and placed it in front of him. When the bandages were removed, John reached for the toy and his mother knew that the operation was a success.  A few months later, the good doctor died.  His last gift to the world, as stipulated in his will, was a full cancellation of all debts.  John kept this little wooden horse as a reminder of the debt.  He owed this generous doctor who had given him the ability to see.

 

2. GOSPEL, JOHN 9:1­-41

A) JESUS CURES THE PHYSICALLY BLIND

Jesus met a blind man, put clay on his eyes, and told him to wash them in a nearby pool.  The blind man returned to Jesus and was able to see.

B) JESUS CURES THE SPIRITUALLY BLIND

Jesus gradually helped the cured man to see who he really was.  The blind man first recognized that Jesus was a prophet, a man with divine power.  Then he believed that Jesus was the Son of Man.  Finally, he worshipped Jesus.  Jesus cures the spiritually blind.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) THE SPIRITUALLY BLIND

Today there are many who are spiritually blind.

i) They do not know that God exists, God created them, God cares for them, and God forgives them.  They do not know Jesus came and saved us. 

ii) Many do not know what the purpose of life is or how to live a life that will bring peace, joy, and happiness. 

iii) Many do not know what happens after death.  It is the end or is there something else that follows.

B) JESUS CURES THE SPIRITUALLY BLIND 

i) Jesus teaches us that there is a loving, caring, and forgiving God.  Jesus tells us that he has come to save us and to lead us to eternal happiness. 

ii) Jesus teaches us that the meaning of life is to live according to God’s commandments and to be of service to others.  Jesus teaches us how we must live by loving God, others, and ourselves. 

iii) Jesus teaches us that death is not an end but a beginning of an eternal life of joy, peace and happiness.  Jesus is the light of the world who brings us from darkness to life.  Now we can see.

 

4. CONCLUSION 

The doctor helped the boy, Jesus helped the blind man, so does Jesus help us.

Homily - 3A LENT­ Sunday Homily (12 March 2023) The Living Water

 

TOPIC: THE LIVING WATER

1. STORY

There was a little flower standing alone in the desert.  It dreamt daily of falling raindrops which never came, so it began to wilt.  One day a bird saw this and asked the animals for help.  The big lion was not interested, the fat dog was too lazy, and the noisy blackbird was too busy.  The little bird asked the busy ants for help. They joined hands and built a long chain bringing drops of water to the roots of the flower causing it to flourish.  All came to realize the importance of water for life.

 

2. GOSPEL, JOHN 4:5­-42

Jesus met a woman at a well and a conversation began.

A) JESUS CAN PROVIDE LIVING WATER 

Jesus told the woman, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

B) THE WOMAN WANTS LIVING WATER 

The woman said to Jesus, “Sir, give me this water so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) What is living water?

The living water which Jesus gives us is his teaching, his revelation. Here are some examples. 

i) Jesus tells us that God is our heavenly Father who loves us, cares for us, and helps us.

ii) He tells us to live happily so we must follow the commandments of love God, neighbor, and self. 

iii) At the end of the road of life, God has prepared for us a life of eternal happiness and peace.

B) HOW DO WE OBTAIN THIS REVELATION?

There are many ways to obtain the living water.  Here are a few examples. 

i) During each Mass, we hear the word of God and receive the Eucharist which gives us insights and strength. 

ii) When we pray to God, we are obtaining his comfort and understanding. 

iii) When we go to confession, we receive his forgiveness and consolation.

 

4) CONCLUSION

Just as the thirsty flower on the desert revived because it received water, so do we need the living water which Jesus gives us through his instruction to remain his faithful disciples.  This revelation comes through the Mass, our prayers, and in the sacrament of confession.