PALM SUNDAY THE PASSION OF THE LORD

 

 

“THEN JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, “WHOEVER WANTS TO BE MY DISCIPLE MUST DENY THEMSELVES AND TAKE UP THEIR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME. ^.. 

FOR THE SON OF MAN IS GOING TO COME IN HIS FATHER’S GLORY WITH HIS ANGELS, AND THEN HE WILL REWARD EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.”

Matthew 16:24-27.

JESUS BEGINS HIS HOLY WEEK WITH PALM SUNDAY.  HE CELEBRATES GOD’S LOVE DEMANDING JUSTICE.         (Isaías 53:5-12)

JESUS BEGINS HIS HOLY WEEK WHERE HE WILL ACHIEVE OUR REDEMPTION.  JESUS COMES INTO A WORLD CONDEMNED INTO THE CLAWS AND SNARES OF SATAN AND THE ORIGINAL SIN.

 

1)-JOHN PAUL II IN HIS ENCYCLICAL “THE REDEEMER OF MEN” HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND SOMEWHAT THE INEFABLE MYSTERY OF REDEMPTION. OUR REDEMPTION REQUIRES THAT WE AT LEAST STUDY JUSTICE IN GOD.  WHY GOD REQUIRED ALL THE SUFFERINGS OF THE PASSION, THE SCOURGING AND CROWNING WITH THORNS AND THE CRUCIFIXION OF HIS ONLY SON ON THE CROSS?

May we read the Pope in his own words in #9:

“ The redemption of the world-this tremendous mystery of love in which creation is renewed- is, at its deepest root, the fullness of justice in a human Heart-the Heart of the First-born Son-in order that it may become justice in the hearts of many human beings, predestined from eternity in the Firstborn Son to be children of God and called to grace, called to love. The Cross on Calvary, through which Jesus Christ-a Man, the Son of the Virgin Mary, thought to be the son of Joseph of Nazareth-"leaves" this world, is also a fresh manifestation of the eternal fatherhood of God, who in him draws near again to humanity, to each human being, giving him the thrice holy "Spirit of truth.”

2)-JOHN PAUL II TEACHES US THAT JESUS MADE HIMSELF OUR JUSTICE BEFORE GOD

GOD IN HIS ETERNAL LOVE FOR US CREATED OUR FIRST PARENTS IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.  WHEN ADAM AND EVE DOUBTED GOD’S REVELATION TO THEM, THEY COMMITTED THE GRAVEST SIN AGAINST GOD’S MAJESTY.  THEY YELLED SATAN’S WORDS AT GOD, “WE WILL NOT SERVE YOU!”  THEY TOLD THEMSELVES GOD LIES TO US!  SATAN TOLD US THE TRUTH!  GOD, WITH ADAM AND EVE’S CRIME REQUIRED JUSTICE BE DONE.

May we read the Pope how he clarifies God demanding justice in #9:

“This revelation of the Father and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which stamp an indelible seal on the mystery of the Redemption, explain the meaning of the Cross and death of Christ. The God of creation is revealed as the God of redemption, as the God who is "faithful to himself", and faithful to his love for man and the world, which he revealed on the day of creation. His is a love that does not draw back before anything that justice requires in him.”

3)-EACH PERSON WHO SINS YELLS HIS PRIDE TO GOD: “I AM MY OWN god!”

SIN IS A GRAVE OFFENSE TO GOD REACHING RIGHT INTO THE HEART OF THE BLESSED TRINITY.  MANY BISHOPS LIE TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD WHEN TEACHING THAT SINNING IS ONLY SAYING NO TO GOD.  GOD’S MAJESTY IS OFFENDED AND DEMANDS REPARATION.  JOHN PAUL II TEACHES US  GOD’S REQUIREMENTS FOR REPARATION TO HIS MAJESTY OFFENDED.   GOD DEMANDED HIS SON TO TAKE ON HIMSELF THE SIN OF OUR FIRST PARENTS TOGETHER WITH OUR OWN SINS.  JESUS ACCEPTED TO BECOME BEFORE GOD OURSELVES CONDEMNED IN SATAN’S CLAWS AND THE ORIGINAL SIN AND TO BE SEPARATED FROM GOD FOR EVER IN HELL.

May we read the teachings of the Pope on God’s amendment requirements  in  #9:

 “Therefore for our sake (God) made him (the Son) to be sin who knew no sin". If he "made to be sin" him who was without any sin whatever, it was to reveal the love that is always greater than the whole of creation, the love that is he himself, since "God is love". Above all, love is greater than sin, than weakness, than the "futility of creation", it is stronger than death; it is a love always ready to raise up and forgive, always ready to go to meet the prodigal son, always looking for "the revealing of the sons of God", who are called to the glory that is to be revealed". This revelation of love is also described as mercy; and in man's history this revelation of love and mercy has taken a form and a name: that of Jesus Christ.”

4)-PALM SUNDAY DEFINITLY HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD.

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH, AS FOUNDED BY JESUS HIMSELF, IS TO ORIENT AND GUIDE THE CONSCIENCE OF ALL MEN AND WOMEN TO THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST “IN ALL ITS DIMENSIONS”.  IN SUCH AN ENDEAVOR, THE CHURCH REALIZES HER MISSION IN HER MANDATE RECEIVED FROM THE LORD WHEN SHE TEACHES CATECHISM TO ALL NATIONS

May we read the Pope in Catechesi Tradendae #10.

  “The Church's fundamental function in every age and particularly in ours is to direct man's gaze, to point the awareness and experience of the whole of humanity towards the mystery of God, to help all men to be familiar with the profundity of the Redemption taking place in Christ Jesus. At the same time man's deepest sphere is involved-we mean the sphere of human hearts, consciences and events.”

 

5)-THE HOLY WEEK ORIENTS THE CONSCIENCES OF ALL MEN AND WOMEN INTO THE PASCHAL MYSTERY.

PROPHET ISAIAH HAS PAINTED FOR US A DRAMATIC AND PAINFUL PORTRAIT OF THE SUFFERINGS OF THE PASCHAL LAMB, THE SERVANT OF GOD.

May we read the Prophet in his own words in chapters 53:1-12:

“ He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.  He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

 Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

 He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.
 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.

 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
 After he has suffered,
    he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.
 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.”

 

6)-WE MEDITATE DURING THIS HOLY WEEK THE WORDS OF THE PROPHET  ISAIAH.

THE PROPHET REVEALS TO US THAT JESUS DOES NOT BEAR THE SINS OF ALL  BUT OF MANY.  

“For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.”

OUR FINAL HOUR BRINGS ABOUT GOD’S JUDGEMENT. THIS FINAL JUDGEMENT SHOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE, SINCE IT WILL ONLY BE ABOUT OUR CHOICES DURNG OUR LIFE.  WE SHOULD LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF OUR ASPIRATIONS FOR THE INFINITE ON OUR DEATHBED. 

7)-JESUS MANDATES TO EACH ONE TO LIVE HIS COMMANDMENT OF LOVE.

May we read Jesus’ words in Juan 14:23:

“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

WE MUST NOT WAIT FOR THE LAST MOMENT OF LIFE TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF OUR LIFE.  WE COME TO THE LAST MOMENT OF OUR LIFE WITH THE LIFE WE HAVE LIVED

IN MATTHEW, JESUS INSISTS ON THE REQUIREMENTS TO SALVATION.

May we read Jesus own words in Mat 16:24:

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

8)-THE PASSION AND DEATH ON THE CROSS OF THE PROPHET JESUS IS TO REDEEM US.

JESUS SUFFERS HIS PASSION AND DEATH ON THE CROSS TO REDEEM US FROM OUR FIRST PARENTS’ HORRIBLE SIN TOGETHER WITH OUR OWN SINS.  WE MUST NOT WAIT FOR THE LAST MOMENT TO CHANGE OUR LIFE.  THE TRAGEDY IS TO REACH OUR LAST BREADTH WITH EMPTY HANDS. 

SAINT JOHN REVEALS TO US A BEAUTIFUL TEACHING to be known. 

May we read Jesus  in John 5:29:

“Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice,  and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.”

9)-JESUS WILL JUDGE OUR CHOICES WE MADE IN LIFE.

WE MAY TALK VERY WELL ABOUT JESUS.  WE MAY THINK VERY WELL ABOUT JESUS AND WISH JESUS BE A FRIEND.   HOWEVER, WE CHOOSE TO LIVE IN ADULTERY.  WE CHOOSE TO LIVE IN A GAY UNION.  WE CHOOSE TO STEAL AND TO PROGRESS WITH OUR BOOTY.  WE GO TO CHURCH WITH OUR NEIGHBOUR’S BLOOD ON OUR HANDS, TO DAMAGE A REPUTATION THAT CANNOT BE REPAIRED!  WE MUST READ OUR MEDITATION OF ASH WEDNESDAY TAKEN FROM THE APOSTLE SANTIAGO, ALL CHAPTER 3.

10)-BISHOPS AND PRIESTS ARE CONSAGRATED IN THE PRIESTLY MINISTRY OF JESUS TO SAVE SOULS.

BISHOPS AND PRIESTS, THE HOLY WEEK GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE AGAIN THE PASSION  AND THE SUFFERINGS OF JESUS IN HIS CRUCIFIXION.

HOW DO WE LIVE OUR CONSECRATED PRIESTLY MINISTRY?  DO WE GIVE PRIORITY TO TEACHING CATECHISM TO OUR FAITHFUL, OR SIMPLY WE SAY WE DO NOT HAVE TIME?   HOW DO WE HELP JESUS TO SAVE SOULS WHOM HE REDEEMED AT THE COST OF HIS OWN BLOOD?

SAINT PETER REVEALS TO US A DOCTRINE WE MUST MEDITATE.

May we read saint Peter in his own words: 1Ped 1:17-20 

^“ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.  For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,  but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

11)-BLESSED JOHN PAUL II IN  “CATECHESI TRADENDAE” BEGS BISHOPS AND PRIESTS TO PERSONALLY TEACH CATECHISM TO THEIR FAITHFUL.

OUR CATHOLICS LIVE A CONSTANT BATTLE AGAINST SATAN AND THEIR CONCUPISCENCE IN A TOTAL IGNORANCE OF JESUS PRIESTLY MEANS TO WORK THEIR SALVATION.

ALMOST ALL CATHOLICS IGNORE JESUS IN HIS PASSIONS AND DEATH ON THE CROSS.  NOBODY EVER TAUGHT THEM THE HEAVENLY HELP JESUS IS OFFERING TO THEM TO WORK THEIR SALVATION.  THEY LIVE IN ADULTERY BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THEY KNOW.  THEY DO NOT SEE IN ADULTERY A CHOICE LEADING TO DAMNATION.

12)-WE HEAR CARDINAL OUELLET CLAIMING THAT SOCIOLOGY WILL HEAL THE PROBLEMS OF THE CHURCH IN QUEBEC AND THE WORLD OVER.  THIS IS A SHAMEFUL STAND FOR A BISHOP. HE MUST STAND FOR THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS. 

JESUS ONLY TEACHES US WE NEED HIS PRIESTLY POWERS TO WORK OUR SALVATION.

BISHOPS MUST TEACH THE APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION “CATECHESI TRADENDAE” IN THE SEMINARIES. 

A BISHOP AND A PRIEST ARE TEACHERS OF THE WORD OF GOD.  THEY SPEND THEIR ENTIRE SEMINARY FORMATION WITH ABSOLUTELY NO TRAINING IN THE ART OF TGEACHING AND TO TEACH THE WORD OF GOD.  EN CATECHESI TRADENDAE, JOHN PAUL II LAYS DOWN EXPLICITLY THE METHODS TO BE USED AND THE DOCTRINE TO BE TAUGHT IN THE PRIESTLY MINISTRY OF EACH BISHOP AND PRIEST.   

JOHN PAUL II  BEGS BISHOPS AND PRIESTS TO TEACH CATECHISM TO THEIR BAPTIZED.  HE RECEIVED NO ANSWER.  HIS EXHORTATION FELL ON DEAF EARS.

THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCTRINE IN THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER IS LEFT TO THE LAY PEOPLE WITH VERY LITTLE PREPARATION OR NO PREPARATION AT ALL.

13)-JESUS MADE A PROMISE TO THOSE TEACHING THE NARROW PATH OF JUSTICE TO HEAVEN.

TEACHING CATECHISM DESERVES THE GREATEST PREMIUM GOD MAY OFFER TO THE TEACHERS OF THE WORD.

THE BOOK OF REVELATION REVEALS THE PROCESSION OF THE SAINTS ENTERING INTO HEAVEN.  THE PROCESSION IS BEING LED BY THE WORTHY LAMB WITH HIS CROSS.  FOLLOWING THE LAMB, FIRST IN RANK COME THE APOSTLES.  FOLLWING THE APOSTLES, SECOND IN RANK ARE THE MARTYRS, THOSE WHO SHED THEIR BLOOD FOR THE CAUSE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 

THEN FOLLOWING THE MARTYRS, THIRD IN RANK ARE THE TEACHERS OF THE WORD.

THE PROPHET DANIEL CROWNS  THOSE WHO TAUGHT “EL CAMINO RECTO” TO OTHERS IN THE HEAVENLY GLORY.

May we read  Daniel in his own words, Daniel 12:3:

“And those who teach the many into the path of justice shall shine like stars forever in heaven.”

 

14)-TO TEACH CATECHISM TO THE NEIGHBOUR IS THE GREATEST WORK OF CHARITY.

THE MOST IMPORTANT HELP TO OFFER TO SOMEONE IS TO TEACH THE NARROW PATH TO HEAVEN.

WE PRAY TO JESUS TO SHED HIS LIGHT IN OUR SOULS TO DISCOVER THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE NEIGHBOUR.   WE MUST NOT ABANDON THE NEIGHBOUR.  WE ARE TO ASSOCIATE THE NEIGHBOUR IN OUR STUDIES OF THE PRIESTLY POWERS OF CHRIST IN OUR SALVATION.  THIS DOCTRINE, WE NEED IT TO WORK OUR SALVATION IN  OUR PEREGRINATION TO HEAVEN.

MAY WE SHARE WITH THE NEIGHBOUR OUR TOTAL COMMITMENT TO TEACH THE PRIESTLY POWERS OF CHRIST IN OUR SALVATION.

15)-THE APOSTLE SAINT JAMES SHEDS A GREAT LIGHT ON OUR PEREGINATION TO HEAVEN.

May we read saint James in his own words  James 1:21-25:

^“ Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.   For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.   But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

May God bless our bishops and priests to accept their commitment to teach catechism to their faithful and  to the world.                     The professor.