St. Dominic Catholic Church

Pastor's Corner

March 25, 2018

We begin Holy Week with the reading of the Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to the acclamations of the crowds.  They were longing for a Messiah who would deliver them from the Romans who had occupied the holy city and the land promised to the Chosen People in a covenant God made with them.  They turned against Him when it became clear that his kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36).

How much we are like the people whose voices we take up in the reading of the Passion this weekend.  We become disappointed and complain to God when our lives are difficult, when tragedy strikes our family and someone we love dies too young, or when we lose our jobs, or people presume bad intentions on our part instead of the good intentions we have.  These challenges are simply part of life in a fallen world.  Jesus does not promise us freedom from pain and sorrow.  In fact, if we truly do the Father’s will, like him, we should expect to be treated even worse! He tells us in John 15:20, “‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”

What he promises us is peace. “My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.  You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.”

This peace is ours when we remember the lengths God has gone to redeem us through His Son.  It is a peace that comes when we keep in mind that Satan is defeated, death is defeated, and the troubles of this world are nothing in comparison to the love and power of God.  It is a peace that comes to those who cultivate gratitude for what they have, instead of focusing on what they don’t.  It is a peace that comes to those who are able to break free from their ego and pride and who are able to humbly recognize their own weakness, their sin, how they have hurt others, and are able to forgive those who have hurt them. These people can beg God for mercy and the grace of conversion and expect Him to answer.

Jesus accepted the cross as the human response to God through the ages: disappointment, rejection, and complaint.  What is your response this week?