Children’s Prayer to their best friend Jesus

Dear Jesus, you said, let the little children come to you, for such are the kingdom of heaven. Our best friend Jesus, we have come to you today like those children who first came to you during your earthly ministry. The gospel tells us that when they came to you, you laid your hands on them and blessed them. Sweet Jesus, bless us as you blessed those children. We are your friends. We love you! We need you!

Dear Lord, you are our best friend. Please watch over us. Hide us in the secret place of your shelter. Do not let any harm come to us. As we grow up, help us to grow up like you- in wisdom and knowledge. Help us to obey our parents, our teachers, our Church, and our elders. Help us to be nice to each other, to respect each other, and to respect our seniors.

We know you love us so much. You died for us. Help us not to waste your grace and your gifts. We pray that we will grow up being useful to ourselves, to our families, to our Church, to our nation, and to the world. Bless us today, bless us tomorrow, and bless us everyday. Amen.

Written by Father Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

April 20, 2011

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara’s Prayer for Revival

Our Father and our great God, your Son, our Redeemer Jesus Christ tells us that the time has come when the true worshippers must worship you in Spirit and truth. Gracious God, we have come here today to be revived and renewed. We have come to be inspired so as to honestly aspire to serve you in Spirit and in truth; for if we do not aspire for you, we would expire.

Holy Father, your Word says that all have sinned and have fallen short of your glory. Because we have sinned against you, against our neighbor and disappointed ourselves, we ask for your mercy and forgiveness. Let the innocent Blood of your Son Jesus Christ profoundly wash and purify us so that the Accuser of the Brethren would have nothing to accuse us of before your holy throne. This revival would not be powerful and efficacious if our sins are not first forgiven by you. For all the wrong we have done, and for all the good we failed to do knowingly and unknowingly, we are sorry dear Lord. Forgive us! Let your mercy reign down and heal us of our brokenness.

Faithful God, you have been so good to us. For your many blessings, we thank you. We thank you for the gift of life. We thank you for all the material and spiritual blessings we have received from you. We thank you for this revival because in this place, you are going to bless us even more. We thank you for the gift of one another. We thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus Christ; we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, our reviver. For all we have, we thank you, because from and with all we have, we worship you. For all we don’t have, we still thank you, because from the things we don’t have, we are reminded of our cross which we need to carry daily and follow your Son Jesus.

Dear Lord, as you revive and renew us today, give each of us a spiritual hunger for you. Fire us up to always yearn for you. As the deer yearns for running stream, let us also daily year for you our good and faithful God. Fan into flame the gifts of our faith. Fan into flame the spiritual gifts we received from you. Grant us a genuine faith and the fervent desire for prayer. Move in this gathering O Lord. Heal the brokenhearted. Touch and transform lives. Comfort the sorrowful. Heal the sick. Lighten the burden of those suffering. Let us experience divine breakthrough in their lives.

In this place O Lord, let your blessings reign. Let your glory reign down. We have come longing for you. We have come longing for spiritual awakening. We have come yearning for renewal. We have also come with our problems. Faithful God, do not let us go home with our problems. Do not let us go home empty handed. Transform us. Change us. Heal us. Open our eyes to see each as brothers and sisters of the Lord.

Everlasting King of glory, pour out your Holy Spirit on us like a mighty purifying flood. Purify our motives. Reawaken us. Wake us up from the sleep of the soul and from the sleep of holiness and virtues. Revive us greatly. Purge us from selfish or ambitious reasons. Let our motives be solely for your glory O God and for the increase of your Kingdom. Pour out your Holy Spirit in a fashion even greater than you did on the first Pentecost. May this three-day revival be our modern day Pentecost. We ask all these in the name of your Son, our Redeemer and Liberator Jesus Christ. Amen.

Psalm 22: 'My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?' - April 2004 Issue of St. Anthony Messenger Magazine Online

Psalm 22: 'My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?' - April 2004 Issue of St. Anthony Messenger Magazine Online

Homily for Good Friday 2011 in St Peter’s Basilica

	“TRULY, THIS MAN WAS SON OF GOD!”  Father Cantalamessa Homily for Good Friday 2011 in St Peter’s Basilica In His passion – writes Saint Paul to Timothy – Jesus Christ “has given his noble witness” (1 Tim 6,13). We ask ourselves: witness to what? Not to the truth of his life or the rightness of his cause. Many have died, and still die today, for a wrong cause, while believing it to be right. Now, the resurrection certainly does testify to the truth of Christ. “God has given public proof about Jesus, by raising him from the dead”, as the Apostle was to say in the Areopagus at Athens. (Acts 17, 31). Death testifies not to the truth of Christ, but to his love. Of that love, in fact, it is the supreme proof. “No-one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15, 13). One could object that there is a greater love than giving your life for your friends, and that is to give your life for your enemies. But that is precisely what Jesus has done: “Christ died for the godless”, writes the Apostle in the Letter to the Romans. “You could hardly find anyone ready to die, even for the upright; though it is just possible that, for a really good person, someone might undertake to die. So, it is proof of God’s own love for us that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. (Rm 5, 6-8). “He loved us while we were enemies, so that he could turn us into friends”, exclaims St Augustine. A certain one-sided “theology of the cross” can make us forget the essential point. The cross is not only God’s judgment on the world and its wisdom; it is more than the revelation and condemnation of sin. It is not God’s NO to the world, it is the YES God speaks to the world from the depths of his love: “That which is wrong”, writes the Holy Father in his latest book about Jesus, “the reality of evil, cannot simply be ignored; it cannot just be left to stand. It must be dealt with; it must be overcome. Only this counts as true mercy. And the fact that God now confronts evil himself, because men are incapable of doing so - therein lies the “unconditional” goodness of God”. But how can we have the courage to speak about God’s love, with so many human tragedies before our eyes, like the disaster that has struck Japan, or the shipwrecks and drownings of these last few weeks? Should we not mention them at all? But to stay completely silent would be to betray the faith and to be ignorant of the meaning of the mystery we are celebrating today. There is a truth that must be proclaimed loud and clear on Good Friday. The One whom we contemplate on the cross is God “in person”. Yes, he is also the man Jesus of Nazareth, but that man is one person with the Son of the Eternal Father. As long as the fundamental dogma of the Christian faith is not recognized and taken seriously – the first dogma defined at Nicea, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and is himself God, of one substance with the Father - human suffering will remain unanswered. One cannot say that “Job’s question has remained unanswered”, or that not even the Christian faith has an answer to give to human pain, if one starts by rejecting the answer it claims to have. What do you do to reassure someone that a particular drink contains no poison? You drink it yourself first, in front of him. This is what God has done for humanity: he has drunk the bitter cup of the passion. So, human suffering cannot be a poisoned chalice, it must be more than negativity, loss, absurdity, if God himself has chosen to savor it. At the bottom of the chalice, there must be a pearl. We know the name of that pearl: resurrection! “In my estimation, all that we suffer in the present time is nothing in comparison with the glory which is destined to be disclosed for us”. (Rom 8, 18), and again: “He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness or pain. The world of the past has gone.” (Ap 21, 4). If life’s race ended here below, we would have every reason to despair at the thought of the millions, if not billions, of human beings who start off at a great disadvantage, nailed to the starting line by poverty and underdevelopment, without even a chance to run in the race. But that is not how it is. Death not only cancels out differences, but overturns them. “The poor man died and was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s embrace. The rich man also died and was buried …in Hades” (cf. Lk 16, 22-23). We cannot apply this scheme of things to the social sphere in a simplistic way, but it is there to warn us that faith in the resurrection lets no-one go on living their own quiet life. It reminds us that the saying “live and let live” must never turn into “live and let die”. The response of the cross is not for us Christians alone, but for everyone, because the Son of God died for all. There is in the mystery of redemption an objective and a subjective aspect. There is the fact in itself, and then awareness of the fact and our faith-response to it. The first extends beyond the second. “The Holy Spirit – says a text of Vatican II – offers to all the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery”. One of the ways of being associated with the paschal mystery is precisely through suffering: “To suffer”, wrote John Paul II in the days following the attempt on his life and the long convalescence that ensued, “means to become particularly susceptible, particularly open to the working of the salvific powers of God, offered to humanity in Christ”. Suffering – all suffering, but especially that of the innocent and of the martyrs - brings us into contact with the cross of Christ, in a mysterious way “known only to God”. After Jesus, those who have “given their noble witness” and “have drunk from the chalice” are the martyrs! The account of a martyr’s death was called “Passio”, a passion, like that of the sufferings of Jesus to which we have just listened. Once more the Christian world has been visited by the ordeal of martyrdom, which was thought to have ended with the fall of totalitarian atheistic regimes. We cannot pass over their testimony in silence. The first Christians honored their martyrs. The records of their martyrdom were circulated among the churches with immense respect. In this very day, in a great Asian country, Christians have been praying and marching in the streets to avert the threat hanging over them. One thing distinguishes genuine accounts of martyrdom from legendary ones composed later, after the end of the persecutions. In the former, there is almost no trace of polemics against the persecutors; all attention is concentrated on the heroism of the martyrs, not on the perversity of the judges and executioners. Saint Cyprian even ordered his followers to give twenty-five gold coins to the executioner who beheaded him. These are the disciples of the one who died saying: “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing”. Truly, “Jesus’ blood speaks a different language from the blood of Abel (Heb 12:24): it does not cry out for vengeance and punishment; it brings reconciliation”. Even the world bows before modern witnesses of faith. This explains the unexpected success in France of the film “Of Gods and Men”, which tells the story of the seven Cistercian monks slain in Tibhirine on the night of the 26th and 27th March 1996. And who can fail to admire and be edified by the words of Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic politician in Pakistan who was recently killed for his faith? His testament is a legacy to us, his brothers and sisters in the faith, and it would be an act of ingratitude to allow it to be quickly forgotten. He wrote: “I was offered high government positions and asked to quit my struggle but I always refused to give up, even at the cost of my life. I do not want popularity; I do not want any position. I just want a place at Jesus’ feet. I want my life, my character, my actions to speak for me and indicate that I am following Jesus Christ. Because of this desire, I will consider myself most fortunate if - in this effort and struggle to help the needy and the poor, to help the persecuted and victimized Christians of Pakistan - Jesus Christ will accept the sacrifice of my life. I want to live for Christ and I want to die for Him”. We seem to hear again the martyr Ignatius Antioch, when he came to Rome to suffer martyrdom. The powerlessness of the victims doesn’t however justify the indifference of the world toward their fate. “The upright person perishes –lamented the prophet Isaiah - and no one cares. The faithful is taken off and no one takes it to heart” (Is 57: 1). Christian martyrs are not the only ones, as we have seen, to suffer and die around us. What can we believers offer to those who have no faith, apart from the certainty our own faith gives us that there is a ransom for suffering? We can suffer with those who suffer, weep with those who weep (Rom 12, 15). Before proclaiming the resurrection and the life, with the weeping sisters of Lazarus before Him, “Jesus wept” (Jn 11, 35). At this time we can suffer and weep, most of all with the Japanese people, now recovering from one of the most devastating natural disasters in history. We can also tell those brothers and sisters in humanity that we admire the example of dignity and composure which they have given to the world. Globalization has at least this positive effect: the suffering of one people becomes the suffering of all, arouses the solidarity of all. It gives us the chance to discover that we are one single human family, joined together for good or ill. It helps us overcome all barriers of race, color or creed. As one of our poets put it: “Peace, you peoples! Too deep the mystery of the prostrate earth”. But we must take in the teaching contained in such events. Earthquakes, hurricanes and other disasters that strike the innocent and the guilty alike are never punishments from God. To say otherwise would be to offend both God and humanity. But they do contain a warning: in this case, against the danger of deluding ourselves that science and technology will be enough to save us. Unless we practice some restraint in this field, we see that they can become more devastating than nature itself. There was an earthquake also at the moment when Christ died: “The centurion, together with the others guarding Jesus, had seen the earthquake and all that was taking place, and they were terrified and said: ‘In truth, this man was son of God’” (Mt 27,54). But there was an even bigger one at the moment of his resurrection: “And suddenly there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled away the stone, and sat on it” (Mt 28, 2). This is how it will always be. Every earthquake that brings death will always be followed by an earthquake of resurrection and life. Someone once said: “Only a god can save us now”. (“Nur noch ein Gott kann uns retten”). We have the sure and certain guarantee that he will do exactly that, because “God loved the world so much that he gave His only-begotten Son” (Jn 3,16). Let us, then, prepare to sing the ancient words of the liturgy with new conviction and heartfelt gratitude: “Ecce lignum crucis, in quo salus mundi pependit: See the wood of the cross, on which hung the saviour of the world. Venite, adoremus: Come, let us worship.
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Because he lives…

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Holy Names Church

Easter Vigil Homily

April 23, 2011

Moments before Jesus died on the cross, he made a brief comment that is interpreted as an address to his Father, to his audience and to generations after. The brief comment is a three-worded statement "It is finished."And after that, he addressed his Father specifically, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” With that, the Lord bowed his head and died. “It is finished” are not the last words of Jesus on the cross, but they seem to be the most important and blessed words that our Lord spoke on the cross.

Remember, when Jesus cried, “Eloi, Eloi, lama Sabachthani” his mockers thought he was calling Elijah. They totally misunderstood what he said. When he also cried, “It is finished” they too misunderstood him. They thought and rejoiced that they have finished him. They mistakenly thought that he has been finished. But Jesus was not in any way finished by his killers and by death itself. Easter that tells us he triumphantly came back.

When Jesus cried “It is finished” he meant all our sins are taken away. All our guilt that should have been imputed to us but was rather imputed to him has been taken care of. And Jesus announced it on the cross. He declared that our salvation is won, our sins are forgiven. And we believe that because Jesus said so on the cross and the beloved disciple recorded it.

“It is finished” was not a cry of being finished. When Jesus declared “It is finished” he was not saying, “I’m finished. I’m done. I’m ended. My life is gone. I tried but was not able to do it. I can’t do it.” That is not what the Lord meant when he said that. With a victorious confidence, Jesus addressed his Father and to us. To his Father, he says, “It is finished,” which means the work that you gave me to do is accomplished. The mission that you sent me to accomplish is finished. “It is finished” therefore is a shout of victory. It is a cry of obedience, God-centered obedience. And it is a word that you and I claim by our faith in Jesus Christ. To us, the Lord also says, “It is finished” which means I have given you everything. I have told you everything. I brought you the most beautiful message of all: God is love! God loves you! There is nothing left behind. I have emptied the bag. I have told you everything you need to know to gain salvation. I have given you everything you need to have to gain salvation. The complete message of love, the message of salvation and deliverance has been preached completely.

“It is finished” therefore means there is nothing I have not done or said for you to achieve salvation. I have emptied myself completely for you. My love has been given out to you unreservedly. My entire life has been poured out completely for your liberty. Nothing remains!

“It is finished” does not mean the Lord is finished. It rather means that the enmity between us and God is over. The enmity between us and God is finished. The sin that separates us from our loving God is erased. The barrier of sin has been finally destroyed. “It is finished” means that Satan’s power and victory over us is finished and over. He can no longer win the battle. “It is finished” means “I have finished the evil one.” Jesus was not finished; instead he finished his enemies and our enemies as well.

“It is finished” therefore does not mean that our Savior’s life is finished and ended; it means rather that eternal death is ended for those who would believe in him. New life therefore has been won! Jesus’ mockers misunderstood what he said and thought that he was finished. But Easter tells us he rose. Easter tells us he has risen. Easter tells us he lives to die no more.

And because Jesus lives, because he lives we can face tomorrow.

Because he rose and lives, the fearful and timid Apostles could no longer hide in a locked upper room. Because he lives, they were no longer afraid of the Jewish authorities.

Because he lives Peter who denied him three times would make a three time confession of love, “Yes Lord I love you.”

Because he lives, three thousand people would believe in him in one single day.

Because he lives, Stephen would later shed his innocent blood for the sake of the Risen Lord.

Because he lives, Saul of Tarsus who later took the name Paul would abandon crucifying him and his disciples and became a strong defender the Christian faith, and towards the end of his life said, “I have been crucified with Christ” “I have fought a good fight of faith.” Because he lives, St. Paul would say, “For me, to live is Christ Jesus and to die is gain.”

Because he lives, fishermen would become fishers’ of men and women. Because he lives, Peter and Paul would shed their blood for him.

Because he lives, the Western and the Eastern martyrs of the Church would run to martyrdom just to demonstrate how much they love him.

Because he lives, a holy priest Maximilian Kolbe would volunteer to be killed in order to save another man who had a family to cater for. Father Kolbe died in hope of the new life in the Risen Lord.

Because he lives, African martyrs- St. Charles Lwanga and his companions would give their young lives in witness to the power of the Risen Lord.

Because he lives, the young preacher from Georgia, Blessed Martin Luther King Jr. would lay down his life so that the true freedom won for us by Jesus on the cross would be enjoyed by everyone- the oppressed and the oppressor alike.

Because he lives, St. Alfonsus Maria Ligouri would abandon his famous profession, his noble status, and his family’s wealth in order to follow the Lord and to bring his beautiful message of salvation to the poorest of the poor that lived in the mountain of Naples.

Because he lives, Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador would refused to be intimidated by the political leaders, instead he pitched his tents with the poor- the friends of Jesus, fought for their freedom and rights and was eventually assassinated while celebrating the Eucharist. Because he lives, Archbishop Romero would refuse to obey the government when they asked him to stop preaching, but like St. Paul said, “I doomed if I do not preach the gospel.” And in words and deeds, he preached. He died defending the dignity of those created in the image of God.

Because he lives, you have become his followers; I have become his follower too. Because he lives, you have given your time, talent and treasure in the service and work of the Lord. Because he lives, we have all gathered here tonight. Because he lives, we can face tomorrow. We don’t know what tomorrow holds for us, but we know who holds tomorrow. Since the one who holds tomorrow is the one who loves us so much, we can live without fear of the unknown. The unknown is only unknown to us, but not unknown to the one who loves us so much, the one whom death could not hold in the grave.

Dearest beloved, the silence and the emptiness of Holy Saturday remind us of the silence of the world, our own silence in the face of the suffering of another. It reminds us of the silence of others, and sometimes our friends and family in the face of our own suffering. The emptiness of Holy Saturday reminds us of the emptiness of a life without God. It reminds us of the emptiness of a life of sin. Sin tends to be satisfying. But in the end, it is utter emptiness. Life without Christ is crisis. Life lived without an honest and profound relationship with God is emptiness. But Easter tells us that the emptiness and the silence of Holy Saturday is not the final word or the final day. Easter is the final word. Easter is the final day. Easter tells us that he lives. And because he lives, we can face tomorrow.

The seeming silence of God in the face of our difficulty does not mean we have been forgotten by God. Easter tells us that he lives. Because he lives, we can rejoice and be glad! We can be hopeful that after all the silence and emptiness of life, a new life, a new day, a new beginning would emerge. That’s what Easter tells us!

It tells us that every difficulty has an expiring date. Our pain, sorrow, loneliness, depression, illness, joblessness, lack, hardship etc have an expiring date. When that day comes, not even the devil can stop you from rising from that grave.

Because he lives, we too who believe in him would live!

Happy Easter!

‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani”

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Good Friday Homily

Holy Names Church

Memphis, TN, USA

April 22, 2011

Crucifixion was invented by the Persians, the Romans only perfected it. It was a crude way of killing criminals and breakers of the law. It was a method of carrying out capital punishment in the days gone by. On the day of the crucifixion of a criminal, people were asked to vacate the main streets and stand by the road side as the criminal was led on a crucifixion procession accompanied by two judges. The reason why two judges accompanied the criminal on this crucifixion procession is in case there is any onlooker who might have a genuine reason why the criminal should not be crucified. If there is any spectator who has a cogent reason (or reasons) why the crucifixion about to be carried out should not go on, he or she will be heard. The case of the criminal will be tried again immediately on the spot. If he is found innocent, he will be freed immediately. If not, he will be killed by crucifixion.

Sisters and brothers, Jesus too, like all other criminals was subjected to this process. He had his own crucifixion procession as he was being led to Golgotha. The fourteen Stations of the Cross is the summary of the Lord’s crucifixion procession experience. There were two judges following him to retry his case if there was any sympathizer with genuine reasons. Like other crucifixion processions, there was a huge crowd of people watching Jesus as he carried his heavy cross and walked the streets. But incredibly unbelievable, no one from the crowd came out to speak in his favor. There was no one with genuine and honest reasons in favor of the Lord. Nobody! No single individual spoke out to defend him. Meanwhile, some of the five thousand and four thousand people he fed were there, but none found any reason why the Son of Man should not be killed. Some of the lame he made to walk, some of the blind he made to see, some of the dumb and mute he made to talk, some of the deaf he made to hear were all present. But none condemned the killing of an innocent and righteous man. Some of those he healed their illnesses, those he liberated from the grip of demons, those who he comforted, those he forgave their sins, those he saved, those he raised from the dead and their family members were present. But none said, “This man is innocent, and I can prove it.” Some of those who received all sorts of miracles from him were there, some of those who listened to his message, a message with a difference where there. Of course his disciples had deserted him. Peter who was the only one present denied him. No one was courageous enough to condemn the killing of a righteous innocent man.

Jesus was rejected and treated like a common criminal. It was as if he incurred public hatred. Even some of those who believed in him and shouted, “Hosanna” when he entered Jerusalem were present during his crucifixion procession. But none spoke out on his behalf. They remained silent and probably died in their silence. Jesus was despised as if he had committed an abominable act. But the Acts of Apostles 10:38 says he was going about doing good and healing all those who were under the power of the devil.

Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem with his cross, and with no one to declare that he was innocent. When he got to Golgotha, a place of skull, they cruelly crucified the Redeemer of humanity. Before he expired, Jesus experienced serious bodily and psychological pain. Psychological pain is more painful because it is a pain within a pain. The Lord felt this pain as a result of the abandonment and rejection he received. Therefore, “At three o’clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is translated, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46).

The Lord’s cry on the cross was quoted in Aramaic, and that was why those standing near did not understand what he said. The gospel says, “When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’”(Mark 15:35-36; Matthew 27:47, 49). They misunderstood! They were not quite sure exactly what it was that Jesus had said.

Each year during the Holy Week, specifically on Good Friday, we Catholics stand once again near the cross and hear Jesus cry again, “Eloi, Eloi, lama Sabachthani.” Unlike the people who first heard Jesus cried out, we know exactly what he said, and we too recognize it as the opening verse of Psalm 22. But do we really know what it means? Did Jesus despair on the cross?

It is said that those crucified the way Jesus was crucified usually last up to 24 hours before giving up the ghost. But Jesus lasted just for three hours and then died. Why? Some argue that he suffered so much before he was eventually crucified. He was scourged at the pillar; he fell thrice on the way; he had sharp crown of thorns on this head which made him loose so much blood. Another reason given why Jesus lasted for only three hours before giving up the ghost is because of the weight of sin of humanity. A holy priest once said that immediately Jesus screamed, “Eloi, Eloi, lama Sabachthani” all the sins ever committed and that will be committed rushed into him. All these sins weighed him down and he died. Love for us was responsible for this great pain, sorrow and agony.

Jesus did not come to save himself. He came to save humanity. Sad enough, those he came to save killed him. But good enough, his death has brought life to us all. His death is the beginning of our life. He died that we may live. He became the guilty one that we may become innocent. His death has brought the end of everlasting sorrow.

The death of the Lord has given a new meaning to death. Through his death, the meaning of death has, as it were, been changed from the inside. Instead of representing the ultimate separation, it is now the path to greater union. Jesus does not bring us deliverance from death but deliverance through death. We also need to realize that Jesus suffered and died because of his fidelity to God’s will in his life. His preaching was good news for the poor; he ate with publicans and sinners. Many, including both political and religious leaders, found this offensive and threatening. If we show fidelity to the teaching and example of Jesus, we can face similar reactions. We may not face actual death. But we can face opposition and mockery in lesser, more subtle ways that are still painful.

“Eloi, Eloi, lama Sabachthani” is a cry of abandonment. It is a cry of rejection. The Lord cried that cry not because his Father has abandoned him. He lamented because he did not experience the Father’s love in the world. He did not find love. He did not find compassion. He did not find mercy. He did not find true friendship in the world. Jesus in his divinity knew that his Father has not abandoned or rejected him. After all, in John 14: 10, he had testified that he is in the Father and the Father is also in him. But he cried “Eloi, Eloi, lama Sabachthani” because he was abandoned and rejected by all. Though the Father has not abandoned him, but he has been abandoned by his disciples and by all those who received one favor or the other from him. Even those who tried to crown him their king were no where to be found. The people who previously shouted “Hosanna” have all left him. In his humanity, Jesus felt alone and abandoned.

When confronted by suffering, evil, and abandonment, we usually ask the question why. This difficult question about the reality of evil in the world is never asked or put to the world, even though it is from the world that suffering and evil often come from. The question is put to God because God is the creator and Lord of the world. When we suffer, we usually don’t question the world. We question God. “Eloi, Eloi, lama Sabachthani” therefore is not a cry of rejection of God, rather a cry of rejection of the world. It is a human cry. It is a cry familiar to all of us. Jesus cried to his Father asking not why his Father abandoned him, but why his Father let the world abandon him. He asked not why his Father abandoned him but why his Father allowed him to be abandoned. It is a similar question of why usually asked by those who suffer, “Who O Lord do I suffer?”

Jesus cried “Eloi, Eloi, lama Sabachthani” because he was rejected and abandoned by those he came to save. How is the Lord rejected and abandoned today? Like the people of Jesus’ time, many still reject him today. The world has not embraced the peace and the salvation he brought. We still live in a very hostile world where human life is recklessly abused, violated and butchered. Christians who are supposed to be the salt of the earth have become tasteless. Christians who are supposed to be the light of the world are turning their lights dim. Today, we abandon the Lord by the thoughts we love to entertain, by the things we love to see, by the actions we love to indulge in, by the words we love to speak, by the places we love to go.

Today we abandon Jesus by abandoning virtues, moral living, and holy lifestyle. We abandon Jesus by abandoning good deeds. We abandon the Lord by abandoning charity, by not fanning the flame of our faith, by not hoping in the Lord. When we abandon compassion, we abandon Jesus. If we abandon helping those in need, we abandon Jesus. If you want to abandon the Lord, then abandon striving to live in peace with all people. If you want to abandon the Lord, then abandon holiness. If you want to abandon Jesus, abandon striving for righteousness and upright living. Those who refuse to acknowledge their sinfulness and their need for confession and reconciliation are being in denial of themselves and in denial of the Lord. Pride abandons the Lord, but humility embraces him. Only a humble person has a real need of the Lord. Pride says you don’t need him.

The only thing God expects us to abandon is sin, not his Son!

Homily for Palm Sunday, Year A

Who is this?

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for Palm Sunday, Year A

Holy Names Church

April 17, 2011

Matthew 21:10 says, “And when Jesus entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?”

Mark 4: 14 says, “The disciples were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? That even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Today we celebrate the Palm Sunday. Today we gather together to celebrate Christ’s entry into the city of Jerusalem. Today we celebrate Jesus as the king who enters our own personal Jerusalem- our hearts. Today’s celebration is a momentary celebration of joy and triumph, because few days from now, the joyful mood will be turned into sorrow. Today we join the crowd to shout “Hosanna!” But few days from today, we will decide whether we are going to join the same crowd to shout, “Crucify him!” “Crucify him!” Today we are cheering him asking him to “Save us” for that is the meaning of Hosanna. On Friday, we will decide whether to join in jeering him. The same crowd that cheered “Hosanna” which means “Save us” on Friday jeered “Crucify him!”

It was the Passover time, and Jerusalem and its environs was crowded with pilgrims. The Passover law stipulated that each family must slaughter a lamb and throw a party. There was also a law that mandated every adult male Jew who lived within 20 miles of Jerusalem to come to Jerusalem for the Passover; but it was not only Jews who lived within 20 miles of Jerusalem that came to Jerusalem for Passover. Jews from every corner of the world also came to Jerusalem to celebrate their greatest national festival. There were more than two million people who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. It was this spectacular moment that Jesus chose to make a bold statement about himself and his mission.

Today’s gospel from Matthew 21:1-11 begins with “When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem….Jesus sent two disciples saying to them, ‘Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me.” With the donkey and the colt Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The crowd received him like a King. They spread their clothes in front of him. They cut down palms and waved their branches, and greeted him as they would greet pilgrims as they came to the Feast: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Then they shouted “Hosanna” which means “Save us.” Hosanna was the cry for help that a suffering and distressed people addressed to their king or their god. When we sing or recite “Hosanna in the highest” we mean, “Let the angels in the highest heights of heaven (help us to) to cry unto God, ‘Save us.”

With the singing and chanting of “Hosanna” the entire city of Jerusalem was shaken to its foundation, prompting onlookers to ask, “Who is this?” With the drumming and the dancing for the arrival of “he who comes in the name in the Lord”, onlookers asked, “Who is this?” The cutting down of palm trees and the waving of their branches prompted people to ask “Who is this?” The spreading of clothes on the ground for Jesus to match on prompted observers to ask “Who is this?” The noise that followed the arrival of Jesus made people to ask, “Who is this?” The city was already crowded. People were eating and drinking. They were in a jubilant mood. But here comes Jesus with his teeming fans, disrupting the enjoyment, disrupting the flow of fun. This led people to ask, “Who is this?”

“Who is this?” “Who is Jesus?” This question helps us understand the fickle reactions of people who were present at the first Palm Sunday. Every one of them was looking for something different in Jesus, and Jesus disappointed most of them.

Who was Jesus for the crowd? They wanted a miracle Jesus. They were attracted to him because he was a vigorous and a dynamic leader. They liked him for putting the Pharisees in their place. But of all the qualities that the crowd loved about Jesus, the most loved is his ability to perform miracles. The multitude followed him when they saw the lame walk, the blind saw, the sick healed, the dead raised, the lepers cleansed. They yearned for more miracles. They cheered him. In one occasion Jesus resisted their quest for more miracles and said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign. Truly I say to you, no sign shall be given to them, and he left them” (Matthew 8:11-12). The crowds wanted miracles. But Jesus sometimes refused to heed to their clamor.

Who was Jesus for the Pharisees? They wanted a Ritual Messiah. They believed that what constitute a true religion is how the adherents dressed, washed and ate, and not how they believed or prayed. But Jesus through his preaching said that the true way to God was by having faith in God and living a morally upright life. To demonstrate his rejection of the Pharisees’ lifestyle, Jesus willfully broke the rules set up by the Pharisees. He broke the Sabbath, had a chat with a Gentile woman, went to a Gentile neighborhood, ate their food, drank their water, slept in the homes, offered them salvation which Jews claimed to be exclusively theirs. Jesus also defied the laws of purification. The Pharisees wanted a Messiah who will keep their ritual laws and other laws, but Jesus disappointed them.

Who was Jesus for the Zealots? They wanted a military leader, a military Jesus. The Zealots were the radical nationalists who were ready to use force, even terrorism to overthrow oppressive Roman government. These wanted Jesus to call for a confrontational revolution. They wanted Jesus to take up arms and swords and declare war against the Roman government. They wanted a Messiah who would head their resistance movement. When Jesus entered the Temple in Jerusalem and forcefully cleansed the Temple, these Zealots were so impressed. But Jesus disappointed them when he said “Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” in Matthew 22:21. Jesus disappointed them when again he said, “…those who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).

Who was Jesus for the disciples? They wanted a victorious Jesus. They wanted a triumphant leader. They were elated to see Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. They relished being around him. Each of them wanted to sit beside him when he enters into his kingdom. Even James and his brother John in Mark 10: 37 asked Jesus, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” The disciples wanted a triumphant and victorious Messiah, but Jesus spoke of himself as the Suffering Servant. The disciples wanted earthly glory, human praise, but Jesus promised them persecution here on earth. The Lord made it clear that following him means taking up a cross. Jesus disappointed his disciples. They wanted a victorious Messiah but Jesus showed himself a humble servant of the Lord.

All these people were present at the first Palm Sunday, each with their own personal view of Jesus. As they waved the palm and shouted “Hosanna”, they happily thought that the revolution has finally started. The crowd assumed he would perform more miracles in Jerusalem. The Zealots were excited that Jesus has finally started the revolution that would unseat the Roman government. They were thrilled that he had come to Jerusalem, which is the seat of the Roman government. The disciples of Jesus expected this week to be their greatest week of popularity and glory. They expected this week to be the beginning of their reign when they would begin to associate with the elites and the most powerful in the city. But Jesus disappointed them all.

Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem was not the beginning of a revolution that the people expected. In fact, it was a funeral procession. The people thought that the Palm Sunday was the beginning of a revolution that will overthrow the Roman government. But Jesus knew it was a funeral procession; only him knew that it was the beginning of the end. On that day they were cheering him with the shout of “Hosanna.” But he knew that in few days the cheering would stop.

So the real meaning of Palm Sunday can be found in the question “Who is this?” “Who is Jesus?” Who is Jesus to you? In John 18:7, Jesus asks, “Who is it you want?’ A celebrity Jesus? A Ritual Jesus? A Military Jesus? If you are looking for any of those, you may be disappointed because you are looking for the wrong kind of Jesus. Jesus had already played the identity game with the Disciples at Caesarea Philippi when he asked, “Who do people say that I am?” They responded that some think he is John the Baptist. Others say Elijah the prophet. Some say Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Then Jesus asks the most pertinent question, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter declared “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.”

Whatever view you hold about Jesus, do not forget that he was a man who lived and associated himself with the common people of the society. He did not limit his compassion to people he knew. He associated with everyone regardless of their class and status. His caring for others was not limited to family and friends. He was not bound by pride or obsessed with success and riches. He was all things to all people. The people wanted a hero, a military leader, but he chose to be a humble suffering servant. While kings sit on the table and wait to be served, Jesus was on the floor washing the feet of his disciples. Though he was in the form of God, he did not count himself equal with God. He became a humble servant, emptied himself for others. While some of us want to be served, Jesus says that “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). And he truly served! While the preachers of today look for fame, while they are driven by self aggrandizement, Jesus begged people not to tell about the miracles he had done. While preachers of today are obsessed by sensationalism and human applause, Jesus was running away from being made a king. While some of us yearn to sit and hang out with the topnotch people, Jesus was avoiding being made a king. His friends were the no-bodies in the society.

The Palm Sunday event is a lesson in humility. After his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, guess what happened? There was no party, no coronation banquet, no awards ceremony, no prize, and no photo op. Jesus and his disciples quietly went away, and went to Bethany and rested for the night. The crowd who thronged during the day wanted to make him their king, but he slipped away. He did not come for earthly glory. He did not come for fame but to be shamed.

Following Jesus is not always glamorous. It’s not just about preaching to a huge crowd of people and telling them what they should do and shouldn’t do. Following Jesus requires a great deal of humility. Humility marks a Christian. Humility distinguishes a Christian. Humility keeps a Christian in check. Humility tells a Christian she is not better than any one else. Pride says you are better and above every one else. Humility seeks for no recognition, pride longs for human applause. Remember the story of the Poet and the Monk.

“Who is this?” It’s Jesus! Though he was the humble servant, but he is the bright morning star. “Who is this?” It’s Jesus! Though he was the suffering servant, but in him we have found the light that lightens our darkness. “Who is this?” It’s Jesus! Though he emptied himself totally and became a slave, but he is the way that leads us from death to life. “Who is this?’ It’s Jesus! Though he fasted for forty days and forty nights, but he is the bread of life that nourishes us. “Who is this?” It’s Jesus! Though he was the humble servant, but he is the Word and the Wisdom of God. “Who is this?” It’s Jesus! Though he was the suffering servant, but he is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, the one who weeps when we weep.

What kind of Jesus are you looking for? An elite Jesus? A top-notched Jesus? The Jesus who lives, eats and dines in the White House? Or the Jesus who paraded himself with the poor, with the no-bodies? Palm Sunday tells us to be humble! Be humble if you are not. Remain humble if you are. Jesus did not say, “I am the good celebrity.” He says, “I am the good shepherd.” The shepherd is usually a poor servant who watches over the sheep. That’s who Jesus was! That’s the Jesus I serve! Jesus did not say, “I am the glorious King, the best there is.” He says, “I am the suffering servant.” He did not come to be served, he came to serve. That’s who Jesus was and is. “Who is this?” It’s Jesus!