GOSPEL POWER I APRIL 10, 2022 - SUNDAY

Passion of Our Lord (Palm Sunday)

Gospel: Lk 22:14–23:56  …

33When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they  crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on  his left. 34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know  what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And  the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying,  “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God,  his chosen one!” 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and  offering him sour wine, 37and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews,  save yourself!” 38There was also an inscription over him, “This is the  King of the Jews.” 39One of the criminals who were hanged there kept  deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself  and us!” 40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God,  since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And  we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we  deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then  he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  43He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” 

Can there be a more graphic demonstration of the  teaching “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate  you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse  you” (Lk 6:27-28) than the tortured and crucified Jesus asking  God, his Father, to forgive his aggressors? The cross shocks us, not  because of its violence, but because of its demonstration of utterly  incomprehensible love — which is the revelation of what God truly  is like. Saving love is self-sacrificial. This is the folly of the cross! At  his weakest, while hanging on the cross, Jesus is most powerful, for  he is accomplishing God’s will of saving the world. 

We adore you, O Christ and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Amen.