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Palm (Passion) Sunday
April 17th, 2011

John 12:12-16

When the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him, can cried out:

“Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the
name of the Lord,
the king of Israel.”

John found an ass and sat upon it, as is written: Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see your king comes, seated upon an ass’s colt.
His disciples did not understand this at first, but when Jesus had been glorified they remembered that these things were written about him and that they had done this for him. John 12:12-16

They accepted Him as the Messiah and the Deliverer as He entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. They spread palm branches on the dusty road and sang songs of glory and praise! Yet, just a week later they will be crying out, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.”

We accept each other into our lives as brother and sister and friend and neighbor, as we enter into each other’s hearts with love and trust and forgiveness. We spread out the palm of our hands, grasping to cling to each other so that as we walk together that road to eternal life, should we stumble and fall – we will be picked up. Along our journey we sing together songs of glory and praise!

In the end they scourged him; they put a crown of thorns on his head; they spat on him; they mocked him; and at last they hung him on a cross to die. But still he forgave them. At sometime or another we do the same to him, not only to him, but also to each other; we judge, we criticize, we mock; we gossip; we spread rumors; we kill each other’s spirit, and rob each of our dignity.

St. Paul once said: “Continually we carry about in our bodies the dying of Jesus, so that in our bodies, the life of Jesus may also be revealed. While we live we are constantly being delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.”

Our day to day frustrations, our fears, our loneliness, our temptations, our failures – all of these are ways of sharing in the death of Christ. Our joys, our health, our family, our friends, our successes – all of these are ways of sharing in the Resurrection of Christ. And so it is that every aspect of our lives are joined to the life and experience of Christ!

I DIE when I am conscious of life long limitations in myself . . .
when I am tired, overworked, out of sorts, depressed, not feeling well . . . when I am discouraged by lack of support, when I am fearful and anxious and worried. I DIE when I have turned away from Jesus and to sin, though human may it be to sin, a part of me does die.

I RISE when I experience friendship and support from family and friends . . . when my talents and gifts, no matter how small, are recognized and used . . . when I am joyful, happy, and at peace . . .
I RISE when I put God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, three Divine persons, but one God, first in my life. Many times not so easy for me to do because of my human fragilities. However, if we make that effort each day and try to do our best and repent for our sinfulness, we are then certainly arising to be in union with God.

Perhaps now, more than any time, it would be wise to reach out to all, especially those who are struggling in this world, in this country for reasons most of you already know; to reach out beyond our daily doing, and invite those who are not aware of how important Jesus is in their life, to turn to him. Many are finding the burdens of today more than just a struggle, perhaps getting very discouraged, depressed, angry, feeling hopeless . . . to indeed turn to the only one who can help them. If we are as Christian as we say we are, then shouldn’t we reach out to those who are not believers and invite them to take the risk to come to our Lord.

We RISE when we do that, not causing them fear, but reaching out in love. Come to our Lord folks because he loves you so very much, regardless if you don’t believe in him, He believes in you, and He laid down his life for you as much as for anyone. That is how much God loves even non-believers. Come to him and find out so that you will believe.

The poet Longfellow once observed that “in ourselves are triumph and defeat.” This is, in a since, the pattern of our lives on this earth. I say that "The only triumph is the triumph of the Cross and in following Jesus, and by doing that, we will never be defeated."

May God bless you in this coming week with good health and also in all of your other needs.


Deacon Steve A. Politte
© April 16th, 2011

A Morning Prayer

 Dear Lord,

I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and
to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and
an understanding God.

You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.
Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said,
or thought that was not pleasing to you.
I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.
Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of
gratitude.

Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind
so that I can hear from You.
Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over,
and it's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.
I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.
Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak...
Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for
others.

I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way.
I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.
I pray for those who don't know You intimately.
I pray for those that will read this without sharing it with others.
I pray for those that don't believe.
But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things.
I pray for all my sisters and brothers and for each and every family
member in their households.
I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of
debt and all their needs are met.
I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem,
circumstance, or situation greater than God.
Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.
I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye
that sees it.
"God I love you and I need you, come into my heart, please." Amen!

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