Father Thomas Welbers' Homily	Jump back to Homily Index
Sixth Sunday of Lent, April 13, 2003 (Palm/Passion Sunday) Mark 11:1-10 (Procession) Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Mark 14:1-15:47 (Passion)	Listen to Audio

(Note: because of the length of the Passion narrative, the reading of the Gospel is not included in the audio of the homily.)

We have been signed by the cross of Jesus Christ. As we entered the Church in baptism as infants, or when adults enter the catechumenate in the rite of acceptance, we are signed with the cross. In the waters of baptism, we die with Christ on the cross, and we commit ourselves to a life in union with the cross of Jesus Christ, as he commanded us, “Anyone who wants to be my follower must take up his cross daily and follow me.” We know that salvation is that we are freed from sin and death, and share in the risen life of Christ. And yet, we also know that our lives as Christians walking on this earth now is lived in union with the cross of Jesus Christ. We do not yet experience the fullness of the resurrection. That still awaits us.

The words spoke most deeply to me in this passion narrative, were the words of expectation of the people around Jesus when it was obvious that he was not the kind of savior they were looking for, saving himself from the pain, the suffering, and the tragic death on the cross. “He saved others, himself he cannot save.” “If you are the king of Israel, the Christ, come down from the cross so that we may see and believe.” And he didn’t say, “I’ll come down to make it easier for you. Now, do you believe?” Instead, what he did was to challenge their faith in him as crucified savior.

The real mystery of faith is that our salvation comes through apparent defeat, not obvious victory. That’s the way God works. That’s the implication of God the Son becoming fully one with sinful and suffering humanity.

If we examine our own attitudes, how often is it like the attitude of the bystanders. When we pray, do we often echo their words, “If you really are all powerful, God, save me from this suffering.” And yet we, as did Jesus, often face the reality of a silent God, who chooses to reveal his presence to us and save us in and through our suffering, rather than delivering us from it.

The bystanders said, “Come down from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Yet the message of the cross is that the road to God is to believe without the need to see first. And then, when we believe and when we accept, we can allow God, in his good time and plan, to give vision and understanding, after we have said yes in faith.

It is only in faith that we can accept the mystery of the cross as the principle by which we live our lives. And then we can, in joyful hope, await the Third Day.

© Thomas Welbers, 2003