Friar’s Corner: Praise and exalt Christ our King

Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR

Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24; Philippians 2:6-1; Luke 22:1-49

We are finishing our Lenten journey. Now we enter the saddest six days of our church year. Meditating on these events in Christ’s life, meditating on his suffering, death and burial, can make us very sad and depressed. I watched “The Passion of the Christ” once. I cannot watch it again.

I want to follow up on my most important direction of last Sunday’s commentary. The joyful point of our Catholic faith life is to get to know Jesus personally. How to do that? Experience the first gospel today as we take palms and walk along with Jesus in procession into the church as he rode a donkey into Jerusalem. The people waved palm branches and welcomed him as their Savior, not knowing what all that meant.

A joyful journey

To get to know Jesus more is rather simple. Put yourself in the procession with the other disciples of Jesus on that Palm Sunday as he rode into Jerusalem as their and our Lord, king and savior. We have probably seen a movie about the life of Christ. Many of us can picture ourselves in the crowd. Catch the excitement of the crowd as Jesus rides along. People are crying out “Hosanna, Glory to God on high and to the King of kings.” And we can add, “who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen!”

I want to keep that focus in my mind as I go through this week. We look at the body of Jesus on our crucifixes to remember what price the Son of God paid to forgive all the sins of humanity, from the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden, until now and until the end of life on earth. We can joyfully journey with Jesus into the Upper Room at the Last Supper. Jesus continued to teach his followers, wash their feet and change matzah and wine into his own living Body and Blood. They didn’t understand then.

Thank you, Jesus

We have a greater understanding now after reflecting on the extreme value of the Mass, all over the world each day (except for Good Friday). We have been celebrating this great meal for about two thousand years. This prayer, remembering Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is the most powerful prayer God gives us. As we pray in the Lord’s prayer, “give us this day our daily bread.” And Jesus offers this to us.

We do think of Christ’s death on Friday. Yet, remember his judgment, scourging, crowning with thorns and only 3 hours on the cross happened only once almost two thousand years ago. It is finished and past but the value and power of what Jesus did for us live on powerfully each day if we plug into the great value of what Jesus did for us. Our response can make us more and more grateful to Jesus. We continue to thank him for all the wonderful blessings he continually offers us.

We want to get closer to Jesus, and daily thank him for all he did and continues to do in his great love. “Thank you, Jesus; I love you.” I went to see the movie, “Unplanned,” Friday afternoon. I urge you to see and reflect on it. I beg you to pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy every day to completely de-fund and close all “Planned Parenthood” death facilities across our country.

Have a hopeful week and great Easter celebration next Sunday.

Peace,

+  Fr. Bob Hilz
fbhilz@gmail.com

(© 2019 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)