Homily: Palm Sunday, YR C
“The Passion is Now!”
by Fr. William Holtzinger
April 4, 2004

How amazing it is that we celebrate the passion, the suffering and death of our Lord this weekend. The word “passion” means “to suffer.” How amazing it is that we celebrate the passion today when so many people are suffering in the world. The suffering of Jesus becomes even more powerful as we continue to hurt and kill each other. It confirms, once again, that we need God to heal us. Our Lord wants to walk with us and live with us, even if that means walking and living through suffering.

This past week in Iraq, four civilians were murdered while trying to provide security for a convoy delivering food. It was a horrific scene. But that wasn’t enough for them. The charred remains of the victims were then dragged through the streets after their killers ambushed their vehicle. Two bodies were hung from a bridge and people beat them with shoes and a pole. The Oregonian published a photo on its front page of a man celebrating with his hands in the air. Whether you agree with the politics surrounding Iraq, this event, my friends in Christ, was pure evil. Pure evil! It comes from the same source of darkness that wanted Jesus dead at any cost.

It is in this moment that Jesus’ passion comes to life again. He died for us all. He suffered torture so that we could know that our loving God loves us so much that he is willing to suffer with us This is called compassion - he suffers with us.

But, there’s more. His suffering heals us so that we do not have eternal suffering. His passion takes suffering and turn it into an opportunity for mercy for all of us all. Jesus told us that his own death would end all death. And so it has. These deaths, these acts of murder, all acts of evil are overcome through joining our suffering with his.. Because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we can be like Christ. We can overcome hatred with love. Even if our bodies are tortured and burned, our faith and love in Christ will prove us right. This world is corrupted by evil, but Christ has overcome this world. And because of that, we can too. Given all the death, tragedy and evil in the world, what do we choose? Revenge or forgiveness? Your answer will either continue the evil or triumph over it. So what do you choose