Preaching among the Palms

Jesus sends out 70 apostles to go ahead of him on the road to Jerusalem. Fr. Jeff describes the significance of this number and the mission that these apostles have been given.

Jesus begins his journey to Jerusalem and says that anyone who looks back or to either side while plowing is not fit to follow him on the way. Fr. Jeff accounts for what this means and how it applies to our own lives.

Fr. Jeff reminds us on the feast of Corpus Christi that the body of Christ is both given to us in the eucharistic feast and that we just are the body of Christ. Because Jesus rose bodily from the dead, we encounter him today just the same way his disciples did: by touching him in the bread and wine and greeting one another in the passing of the peace.

Jesus teaches on the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John, which associates the feast of Pentecost with the giving of the law on Sinai and the feast of Booths, which commemorates the provision God makes for his people Israel in the wilderness. Fr. Jeff traces out these interconnected symbolisms and what they have to do with the founding of the church.

Fr. Jeff discusses what the Bible means by "peace" in contrast to what the world usually thinks of by this concept. Jesus promises peace to his disciples, which he says will come with the Holy Spirit, whom he also promises. We look forward to the giving of the Holy Spirit and the peace of Christ next week at Pentecost.