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Homily for Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
(Apr 1, 2007)

Intro: How am I going to handle my death and the suffering which goes with it ?
Will I be ready to give my spirit over to God? 

       I cant know for sure what I will do, but I know what Jesus did at the very end
He said: “Father into your hands I commend my spirit.”
       And with his last breath he sent his spirit back to the Father, as he breathed his Holy Spirit out upon the whole earth.

   Some thought Jesus was a fool for going to Jerusalem when they were trying to kill him, but Jesus was not a fool who accidentally got caught in a trap. He saw what was coming as he approached the gates of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. And he boldly went to face it. He freely chose to go confront those who would beat him and put him to death on the cross
   In Isaiah, we hear God’s Suffering Servant  proclaim: “I gave my back to those who beat me. I did not shield my face from their buffets and spitting.”  

Jesus died the way he had lived – freely and mercifully giving his life for others.
  As he had forgiven so many other sinners, including the woman taken in adultery, this Man For Others looks down upon the crowd taunting and mocking him and then prays:
Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”

    As he had shared so much love during his life,  while he hung on the cross, Jesus provides one last act of charity,  the final gift of salvation to the thief crucified next to him:
       “Amen, I say to you,  Today you will be with me in Paradise .”   

     Jesus had been sent into this world on a mission form his Father. As a man on a mission nothing was going to deter him. Both in life and in death Jesus was quite willing to give his all for the Kingdom of Heaven . No army, no crowd, not the devil, not even his own fears were going to stop him. Jesus had the courage and the faith to do what he had come to do.

Conclusion: How will I handle my death and the suffering which goes with it?
 Will I face suffering and pain with bravery?
    Only if Jesus gives me the strength.               
But if I put my faith in God and follow Jesus, I will  be able to hand over my spirit to God.