HOMILY FOR PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION YEAR C

HOMILY FOR PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION YEAR C
1.Isaiah 50:4-7
Phil2:6-11
Gospel:Lk22:14-23:56

" what is the name of your donkey?"
With regard to a donkey Jesus asked his disciples to be brought to him from the unknown owner, what different story would we be telling today if the unnamed owners of the donkey had refused to give it up? May be we would have no story of the triumphed entry, at least not in the way Jesus wanted it. No matter how unknown a person is, he she can still play a crucial role in the unfolding of God's plan. The Lord needs each one of us as He needed the unnamed owners of the donkey in the reading. We have not been given the explanation about who were the owners of the donkey, yet they understood the fact that " the Lord" refers to Jesus and voluntarily gave up the donkey shows that they could be his secret disciples or admirers. Otherwise one would have expected them to answer, " But who is this Lord who needs my donkey?"

Donkey was a very big thing in those days. The donkey was the equivalent of a car, a truck and a tractor all in one. It was a car because people used it to move around and to do their shopping, a truck because it was used to carry load, and a tractor because it was used in cultivating the land. Add to the fact that the donkey had never been ridden, that means it was a brand new and in fact had a very high market value. As we can see giving up the donkey just because the Lord needed it was a very big sacrifice. It was a generous and heroic act of faith.

Pastorally, compare the faith response of the owners of the donkey to that of many of the faithful in our Christian communities and our Churches today,
Once a time it happened that a visiting preacher was really getting the congregation moving. Near the end of his sermon he said, " This church has really got to walk," to which someone in the back yelled, " Let her walk preacher." The preacher then said, " If the church is going to go it's got to get up  and run," to which someone again yelled with loud voice, " Let her run preacher." Feeling the surge of the church, the preacher then said with even louder voice, " If this church is going to go it's got to really fly," and once again with ever greater gusto, someone yelled, " Let her fly preacher, let her fly." The preacher then seized the moment and stated with even loud voice, " If this church is really going to fly it's going to need money." This time there was total silence. Then someone in the back seat cried, " Let her walk preacher, let her walk."

Dear brothers and sisters we are being reminded that each one of us has got a donkey  that the Lord needs. Let us have a reflection on using our donkey for the service of the Lord:
Being in a mood of recollection sometimes I get the impression that God wants me to give Him something and sometimes I don't give it because I don't know for sure, and then I feel bad because I've missed my chance. Other times I know he wants something but I don't give it because I'm too selfish. And other times, too few times, I hear him and I obey him and feel honored that a gift of mine would be used to carry Jesus to another place. And still other times I wonder if my little deeds today will make a difference in the long haul.

Maybe you have such questions in your mind too. All of us have a donkey. You and I each have something in our lives, which if given back to God, could, like the donkey, move Jesus and his story further down the road. May be you can sing or hug or program or speak or write a check for the well being of Christ's church. Whichever, you have and belongs to you, it also belongs to Him. Your gifts are His and the donkey was His. The original wording of the instructions Jesus gave to his disciples is proof : " If anyone asks you why you are taking  the donkeys, you are to say, ' Its Lord is in need!" So then what is the name of your donkey? The Lord has need of it.


Dear brothers and sisters, during this passion Sunday, we have a palm branches or coconut leaves blessed, brought home and kept in altars and doorways. Soon they are going to wither. But let those brittle and dried up leaves in our homes reminds us that our love and loyalty to Christ should not wither and fade just like the enthusiasm of the pickle-minded people on the first passion Sunday. Also, we have to be competent in all things that we do. We ought to pray about it and talk to God about being good and loving.

Related Posts:

0 Response to "HOMILY FOR PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION YEAR C"

Chapisha Maoni