Why
do we come here every Sunday? Why do we feel especially devoted to
the Lord in this week that we call Holy?
We
come to hear the greatest story ever. The center of history. The
cross transcends time, transforms the face of the world and the shape
of our own stories.
The
story is our story. We are present in so many ways in that story,
just like God is present in so many ways in our daily life.
St.
Gregory Nazianzus
Let
us sacrifice ourselves to God; or rather let us
go on sacrificing throughout every day and at every moment. Let us
accept anything for the Word's sake. By sufferings let us
imitate His Passion: by our blood let us reverence His Blood:
let us gladly mount upon the Cross. Sweet are the
nails, though they be very painful. For to suffer with Christ and
for Christ is better than a life of ease with others. If
you are a Simon of Cyrene, Mark 15:21 take up the Cross and
follow. If you are crucified with Him as a robber, Luke
23:42 acknowledge God as a penitent robber.
If even He was numbered among the transgressors Isaiah 53:12 for
you and your sin, do you become law-abiding for His
sake. Worship Him Who was hanged for you, even if you
yourself are hanging; make some gain even from your wickedness;
purchase salvation by your death; enter with Jesus into
Paradise, Luke 23:43 so that you may learn from what you have fallen.
Revelation 2:5 Contemplate the glories that are there; let
the murderer die outside with his blasphemies; and if
you be a Joseph of Arimathæa, Luke 23:52 beg
the Body from him that crucified Him, make your own that which
cleanses the world.1 John 1:7 If you be a Nicodemus,
the worshipper of God by night, bury Him with
spices. John 19:39
We
are called to fuse the two together, the past and our present, by our
prayerful life: our faith, hope, and love.
Thomas
said last week: Let us go to die with Him.
This
is what we say on this Palm Sunday, looking into the Easter Triduum.
Let us take up our crosses, whatever form they are for us this year,
and carry them right beside our Lord to Calvary. And there, faithful
to the end, let us repeat to our Lord the words of faith spoken by
the Good Thief: “Lord, Remember me when you come into your
kingdom.”
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