• Every man’s soul is like a universe unto itself. Eternal in nature and capable of transcending time and space, our souls are mysterious and limitless.
• Within each soul are both light-giving stars and beautiful planets, as well as ice- shrouded moons and black holes.
• Each of us is capable of great good, of beautiful acts of virtue. We see this today in the steadfastness of Mary and the other women, in the fidelity of St. John, in the generosity of Joseph of Arimathea, and even in the repentance of the good thief.
• Yet each of us is also capable of unspeakable evil. We see this so clearly today in the betrayal of Judas, in the murderous rage of the chief priests, in the cowardice of Pilate, and in the cruelty of the Roman soldiers.
• And yet Christ makes a gift of Himself nonetheless for all of us, saint and sinner alike: a gift of redemption of which all men may partake – if only we are humble enough to ask for it, and contrite enough to receive it.
• In considering the Passion narrative, we may try to content ourselves with the belief that we’re not as bad as those angry people who clamored for Barabbas’ release and screamed for our Lord’s crucifixion – and maybe we aren’t as bad as they were.
• But even if we aren’t as bad as we could be, can we honestly say that we are as good as we should be? Do we truly measure up to the demands of Christian discipleship?
• Of all the deaths this world has ever witnessed, Jesus’ death on a cross is the most extraordinary. This is so not because of the unjust brutality in which it was carried out, but rather because of the love with which Jesus accepted and allowed it.
• In dying as He did, Jesus shows us what true love is. Though completely innocent and without sin, Jesus willingly sacrificed Himself, suffering the most cruel, inhumane, and unjust of deaths.
• In so doing, Jesus shows us that true love is, by nature, both sacrificial and long- suffering. True love gives all of itself. And honestly, a love of this type demands a response. To remain unmoved in the face of such love is to deny a part of our humanity!
• If we are to be good disciples of Christ by imitating Him in all ways, then we must be willing to give Christ and His Church the fullness of our love and devotion, seeking complete union with Him, and begging pardon for the times we fail to love as we should.
• Ultimately, as we ponder Christ’s love for us poured out in His passion, we must realize that Christianity is a not a religion that can be practiced well by half-measures. Our Christian faith demands that we give Christ our all.
• This is done not so much by great works on our part as it is by great love.
• Over the course of Holy Week, we will see in beautiful detail just how much our Lord
loves us as He becomes for us both priest and victim, offering Himself for our sins.
• We will see Christ’s love shine forth as He gives us the twin gifts of the priesthood and
the Eucharist; as He endures His agony in the Garden, in His arrest, trial, and crucifixion,
and we will see His love pour out of His wounds in all it’s crimson glory as He dies.
• And as we see this, we must ask ourselves this week: How will I love Him in return?
• May we each be given the grace this Holy Week to love our Lord with all our hearts, all
our souls, all our minds, and all our strength – for His glory, and for our own salvation!

© Reverend Timothy Reid

Fr. Reid is the pastor of St. Ann Catholic Church, Charlotte, NC

Homilies from June 17, 2012 onward have audio.
To enable the audio, lease go directly to Fr. Reid’s homily homilies and select the matching date.

Link to Homilies:
http://stanncharlotte.org/content/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=8&Itemid=61