DAILY- HOMILY

20 March 2016 

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION

Blessing of Palms

Cycle C.   Red.  

Blessing and Procession of Palms: Lk 19:28 – 40

Mass:  Is 50:4 – 7 / Phil 2:6 – 11 / Lk 22:14 – 23: 56  

1st Reading: Is 50:4 - 7

The Lord Yahweh has taught me so I speak as his disciple and I know how to sustain the weary.  Morning after morning he wakes me up to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear.  I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn. I offered my back to those who strike me, my cheeks to those who pulled my beard; neither did I shield my face from blows, spittle and disgrace. I have not despaired, for the Lord Yahweh comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced.

2nd Reading: Phil 2: 6 – 11

Though being divine in nature, he did not claim in fact equality with God, but emptied himself, taking on the nature of a servant, made in human likeness, and in his appearance found as a man.  He humbled himself by being obedient to death, death on the cross.  That is why God exalted him and gave him the Name which outshines all names, so that at the Name of Jesus all knees should bend in heaven, on earth and among the dead, and all tongues proclaim that Christ Jesus is the Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel Reading: Lk 22:14 – 23: 56   

The Passion of the Lord according to Luke. 

Reflection

I clearly recall the last retreat I attended as a College student, sometime in the nineties.  Our retreat director showed us a drinking glass filled with dirty water.  He asked whether we could replace the dirty water with clean water without emptying the glass. We all said yes:  by letting clean water flow continuously into the glass, the dirty water will eventually be replaced with clean water.

Later the retreat director showed us another drinking glass filled with rocks. He asked if we could replace the rocks with clean water. Clearly the rocks will have to be removed first before the glass could be filled with clean water.

The same holds true in our spiritual life.  Though God's grace is always effective in cleansing us and filling us up with inspiration and light, at some point he needs our cooperation by emptying ourselves of our own sinful and inordinate attachments and deeds.  Unless we do so, like the rocks in the glass, God's grace cannot work in us.

In today's second reading from Paul's letter to the Philippians, Paul summarizes Christ's self-emptying for our salvation.  We are all encouraged to somehow imitate our Lord's self-emptying:  it was through Christ's self-empting that this "sin-full" world is saved.

On Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, one of the Synoptic Gospel accounts of Christ's Passion and Death is read as the Gospel: this year we have the account according to Luke.  At the Good Friday liturgy the account of Christ's Passion and Death according to John is read. The accounts are the longer version of Paul's summary in his hymn to the Philippians.

I would like to suggest a very simple ritualization of this "self-emptying" to be "filled-with-grace" in our lives:

1) Get two cups of drinking glasses: fill one with clean water, the other with stones.

2) Find a suitable place for private prayer: a crucifix may be helpful.    

3) Place yourself in God's presence.

4) Imagine that the stones are your inordinate attachments and sinful habit  and actions. One by one remove the stones: "I empty myself before the Lord," . . . until the cup or glass is empty. 

5) Slowly pour clean water into the empty cup or glass: "Lord, Fill me up with your grace." . . . until the cup or glass is full.

6) End with the Our Father or the Anima Christi.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Chaelda M. Del Carmen

     Ernest James Yu

     Thelma N. Factoran

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     Yu Tiong (1921 – 2002)

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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