Homily for Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday 

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The most horrifying words ever written. 

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The most consoling words ever proclaimed. 

On Thursday we will commemorate the institution of the Eucharist,

the great gift of the Body and Blood of Our Lord, 

truly and substantially present 

in the elements of bread and wine consecrated at Mass. 

On Friday 

the Passion will be proclaimed again. 

and we will venerate the cross, the instrument of our salvation. 

All will lead up to the wild joy of the Easter Vigil.  

But today we are weighed down by the words: 

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  

We can only remain in stunned silence.    

___________________________________________________

The challenges of Holy Week are many.  I will be celebrating all of them from today to Easter Sunday at the same enclosed monastery of nuns.  Will post homilies daily. 

I took the two photos below at Campion Center several years ago.  I was the celebrant for Palm Sunday.  The simple arrangement of the palms against a brilliant red table cloth caught me eye.  Will be wearing a chasuble of the same color later this morning.  

 +Fr. Jack, SJ, MD