Palm Sunday homily - Jesus enters Jerusalem (13 April 2025)

 

PALM SUNDAY HOMILY, LUKE 19:28-40, APRIL 13, 2025 

1. STORY

An Indian tribe was suffering a severe drought.  The wise men said it was because the tribe was selfish.  For years they had taken from the earth but had not given anything back.  To bring rain, there must be the sacrifice of a valuable possession.  No one was willing to give up his valuable possession.  One possessed a useful bow but needed it for hunting.  Another had a blanket but need it for warmth.  Everyone had an excuse to keep what he or she valued most.  Little Mary had a valuable doll given to her by her parents.

One night when everyone was asleep, she went up the mountain and when the little fire she started was burning, she threw the doll into the fire.  She sacrificed her most important possession.  In a few days, a gentle rain began to fall, the land began to grow crops, and the people were saved.  Little Mary saved her people.  Jesus saves us by his death and resurrection.

 

2. GOSPEL, LUKE 19:28-40

A. THE PEOPLE WELCOMED JESUS INTO JERUSALEM.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt as a sign of humility.  The people were so happy to welcome him that they spread their cloaks on the road and began to praise God in a joyful voice. 

B THE PEOPLE SAW THE MIGHTY DEEDS JESUS HAD PERFORMED. Many people were his disciples and had followed him during his three years of activity.  They saw him feed the hungry, cure the sick, raise the dead, and teach them about God.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. WE WELCOME JESUS INTO OUR LIVES.

We also welcome Jesus into our lives not only today as we hold the palms but also every day.  We do this in at least four ways.

i) When we spend time in prayer and attend Mass, we welcome Jesus. ii) When we read the bible and listen to his word, we welcome Jesus. iii) When we receive the Eucharist, we welcome Jesus. 

ii) When we follow his example and help people, we welcome Jesus.

 

B. JESUS CONTINUES TO PERFORM GREAT DEEDS.

Just as Jesus performed great deeds in helping people, he continues to do so today.

i) Through the wonderful sacrament of baptism, we are given new life.  We become adopted children of God and Jesus becomes our brother and we become members of the family of God, the Catholic Church. 

ii) Jesus continues to teach us through the word at Mass and in the bible. 

iii) Jesus continues to feed us with spiritual food, the Eucharist.

iv) Jesus continues to forgive us through the sacrament of confession. v) Jesus continues to comfort us by assuring us of the great gift of eternal life.  We are truly blessed because of Jesus’ care for us.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Little Mary sacrificed her most valuable possession to save her people.  Jesus gave up his most valuable possession, his life, to save us.  We welcome Jesus into our lives as the people welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem.  Jesus performs great deeds today as he did many years ago.  We thank Jesus for his love and care.  We ask his help so that we can continue his work of helping others.

5C Lent Sunday homily -Jesus forgives a sinner (06 April 2025)

 

5C LENT SUNDAY HOMILY, JOHN 8:1-11, APRIL 6, 2025

1. STORY

John was dying and asked to go to confession.  When the priest arrived, John was very nervous for he feared to tell the priest a sin he had committed many years ago but never confessed.  After a word of encouragement, John told the following story.  Many years ago, just a few days before Christmas while he was working on the railroad as a switchman, the crew got drunk.  As the train was approaching, he pushed the switch in the wrong direction resulting in the train slamming into a passenger car killing a young man, his wife and two daughters.  The priest told John, “If I can forgive you, God can forgive you because in that car were my mother, father, and two older sisters.”  God forgives all sins.

 

2. GOSPEL, JOHN 8:1-11

A. A WOMAN WAS CAUGHT IN ADULTERY.

A woman who had committed adultery was brought to Jesus.  By law, she should be stoned to death.  The leaders wanted to know what Jesus would do about the sinner.

B. GO AND SIN NO MORE.

At first Jesus did not respond to the question.  Finally, he told them that the one who had not sinned to throw the first stone.  None dared to throw a stone; rather they left one by one.  Jesus then told the sinner, “I do not condemn you.  Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”  Jesus forgave her and instructed her.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. WE ARE ALL SINNERS.

i) At the beginning of Mass, we admit that we have sinned when we pray, “I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and what I have failed to do.” 

ii) We are greatly influenced by the people around us, the movies we watch, the books we read, the computer we use, and by the power of the devil.

 

B. JESUS ALWAYS FORGIVES US. 

i) Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  He has given us the powerful sacrament of confession.  We should go to confession to receive God’s forgiveness. 

ii) We should avoid the occasions of sin.  Stay away from people who would lead you to drink too much, gamble, take drugs, or go to bad places.  We should be careful what we read and the movies we watch.  We should be most careful in the use of the computer. 

iii) We should forgive others as God forgives us.  We pray in the Our Father saying, “Forgive us our trespasses and we forgive those who trespass against us.”

 

4. CONCLUSION

Through the sacrament of confession, John received forgiveness for his sin.  Jesus did not condemn the woman who had sinned rather he forgave her and instructed her to sin no more.  We are sinners and will receive forgiveness through the sacrament of confession. We should avoid the occasions of sin.  We should forgive those who have offended us.  We thank Jesus for his instruction and ask him for the help to follow his good example.