The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, April 8, 2001
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Luke 19:28-40
Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm 22:8-9,17-20,23-24
Philippians 2:6-11
Luke 22:14--23:56
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." (Luke 23: 42)
Of the countless battles fought throughout history, the greatest
victory was won by Jesus Christ who single-handedly defeated man's
greatest enemy--SIN. For it is "sin" that spawns wars and prompts
every horror humans commit against one other.
Christ's only weapon was LOVE, a love so merciful that He offered
Himself in our place as the definitive sacrifice to expiate our sin,
satisfy God's justice. Jesus, on the cross, paid the penalty of death
we deserved for having sinned against our Creator, the all-holy God.
What is sin? It is the willful disobedience of God's Word causing a
corruption of our minds and hearts that breaks the stream of love
meant to flow between God and man. He created us to be vessels of His
love, filled to overflowing, bathing one another with God's goodness.
Instead, many choose, like Satan, to serve only "self" and practice
all the vices springing from that selfishness. Deliberate refusal to
serve God Who is Love results in spiritual death, unleashes upon us
every conceivable abuse and perversion. The innocent suffer with the
guilty.
When Christ died, He did not leave us orphaned. He offers us today
the same weapon He used to conquer sin. If we accept and live in the
love the Holy Spirit ministers to us, we gain new life. Salvation is
assured when by faith we freely choose to die to self, as Christ did,
and lovingly obey God's Word. Our greatest victory is won only by our
surrender to God's love as personified in Christ.
Blessed Redeemer,
You poured your loving mercy upon us.
May we drink deeply of Your living water
and share its saving grace with a needful world. Amen.
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