Sunday Mass Readings
Gospel of the Procession with the Palms: Matthew 21:1-11
1st: Isiah 50:4-7
Psalm 22
2nd: Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel: Matthew 26:14-27:66
Click here for a link to the Sunday readings.
Click here for a link to the recording of the celebration of PALM SUNDAY MASS.
We all have a great question that comes up in our lives. Am I loved? How much am I loved? In his book Rediscover Catholicism that came out in 2002, Matthew Kelly provides the following analogy to this question. He said imagine there’s an incurable virus raging around the world (not that is too hard to imagine) and before you know it, it’s reached the United States. It sweeps from coast to coast and people die in droves. Panic is everywhere.
Then there’s an announcement. They can make a vaccine, but it will take the blood of someone who has not been infected. Everyone goes to the hospital to have their blood tested. You go with your family. They take a few drops of blood from everyone, and then tell you all to wait outside. A few minutes later a doctor comes running out, screaming. He yells someone’s name. You can’t hear it at first, but then your young son tells you “they’re calling my name.” The doctor tells you that your son has the right blood type and isn’t infected. They can make the vaccine from his blood. But there’s a problem. The doctor pulls you aside and tells you, “We weren’t expecting it to be a child…” You ask him, “How much blood will you need?” He responds “All of it.” Your son gives up his life so that others may live.
Today we are reminded once again of what God has done for us. God holds nothing back in his love for us. In Jesus, He pours out His love for you and for me. What is our response back? God has expectations for all of us. He wants us to have that desire to be in love with Him and love others. He wants us to take ownership of our love for Him that no one else can do for us. So is there anything in our lives right now preventing us from moving forward on the journey of love?
There may be a lot of things that are competing with our hearts and minds that are preventing us from moving forward in this love. It could be sin that we don’t want to get rid. It could even be good things that take priority over God. It may be just as simple as responsibilities of family life or the daily tasks of work and ministry. It may be the endless traffic of human communication through social media, TV and internet. These things are real as our busy culture demands constant attention in such a way that blocks us from experiencing God’s love.
We are in a unique situation right now in our country, as in these past few weeks’ life for us has been flipped upside down. Things have moved in a different direction as create new routines. Now is a great opportunity, if we have not done so already, to make room for God like never before. Now is a great opportunity for those who are moms and dads, grandparents, teachers and even priests to do what no one else can. To learn for ourselves and teach the next generation what God has done for us. It is a grace filled time to allow God’s love to overwhelm us, so much so, that it spills out for other people to experience.
I offered this advice at a school mass in February, but I will make the proposal to everyone else about some ways to share God’s love. Being at home is a great time to focus on two stories from the Bible to learn about what God has done for us. First are the first fourteen chapters of Exodus and the second is the gospel accounts of the Passion of Jesus, which we will hear this weekend. I don’t think there is a book in the whole Bible that is more exciting to read, especially to children, than Exodus because it is filled with drama and heroes. It is about how a people who were oppressed and enslaved were dramatically saved. This is our story right now!
My suggestion for all of us during this period of being “locked in” is to spend some quality time thought out the coming weeks reading the book of Exodus. Teach it to your children and to try to understand it more fully for yourselves. Reflect on these stories, be part of them and think personally how He saves you and me from the grip of sin and death of which we can’t escape on our own. After reading Exodus, move on to read the Passion accounts in the gospels. We can also pray the Stations of the Cross, pray the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary, or even watch the movie The Passion of Christ. Give God permission to take charge of this journey and allow Him to show His love for you.
As we begin this Holy week let us reflect about all that God has done for us. Let us be thankful to Him. Let Him transform our minds and hearts, so that we can love Him and others with that same love.
God Bless,
Fr. Windle