The Sunday Sermon Archive

Dear Friend,

Today we celebrate Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, but we also read of Christ's profound suffering and His ultimate Sacrifice.

Christ our King is superficially welcomed, but then is repulsed by these very same people who torture, crucify, and murder Him. There is a very profound lesson in all this for every Catholic to consider.

How do we receive Jesus Christ?

We are offered the opportunity to receive Him every time we are privileged enough to be able to approach the Communion rail.

But, to the shame and perhaps damnation of many these opportunities are ignored and passed over without a second thought. Too many refrain from welcoming Christ in the Holy Eucharist because they love their sins which torment them, more than they love Christ who offers them peace and consolation in all their trials and sufferings. They refuse to cleanse their souls in the sacrament of Penance, so unworthy they stay back choosing to be slaves to sin and enemies of God when it would be so easy to repent and be showered with God's many graces.

But, then there are others who regardless of their sins receive Our Lord without a second thought. These outwardly appear good. They are like the multitude that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem. They sing His praise and honor today with their lips, but tomorrow betray Him with their continued sinful lives and cry out for His blood _ revealing the evil in their hearts.

In this Holy Week we are once again given the opportunity to put things in order. It is time to put away all the worldly considerations. We must convince ourselves that it does not matter what the rest of the world thinks of us. The only thing that should concern us is what God thinks of us. Let us put aside all human respect as we take up the task of preparing ourselves and ultimately receiving Jesus into our bodies and souls.

Let us not be concerned with how "unbecoming", "unmanly", or "hypocritical" it might appear for us to weep over our sins, humbly confess them and sincerely repent with a firm purpose of amendment. The only one that we must please is God, and this is what He requires of us. There is no need for excessive display either. God does not need theatrics or a show. Theatrics and shows are for others whom we hope to deceive. God looks into the heart and soul and cannot be deceived.

And still our posture and comportment are important because they help impress upon us the necessary sentiments that are required. Kneeling up straight with head bowed is much more productive in correctly examining our conscience as opposed to sitting or slouching and allowing our eyes and minds to wander all over the place. We should maintain an appropriate posture not for others to see (even though this can be a positive grace for them) but, because it is necessary for us in disciplining ourselves and putting us in the proper and respectful position so as to be better prepared to receive forgiveness.

Likewise when we approach Christ in the Holy Eucharist, we should maintain a proper position and posture. We are unworthy servants before our King. Our hands should be properly folded (not with fingers intertwined but with hands joined and fingers pointing upward). We should never approach or return from Communion with our hands by our sides or in our pockets. We are not receiving an equal or a lesser one; we are receiving God! Our eyes should be cast down and not wandering all over the place.

Our lips should be quiet. This is not the time to speak. It is not the custom of the Catholic Church for the people to even say "Amen". This was started by the Modernist Novus Ordo Church. The priest distributing Holy Communion says all that needs to be said: "May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve your soul unto life everlasting. Amen" This is the time for simple, humble, respectful silence. We open our mouths and put out our tongues to welcome Jesus into our bodies and souls. Let us receive Him into our mouths there to purify and sanctify our tongues so that only that which pleases Him will ever leave our lips again. Let Him enter our bodies so that we will only do that which is pleasing to Him. Let Him enter our minds so that we will only think of pleasing Him. But most of all let Him enter our hearts so that we will only love Him. And as we humbly and devoutly return to our places let us cherish this moment and be reluctant to leave this most holy moment pass.

In this way we may avoid the terrible sins of those whom we witnessed today praising Him at one moment then crying out for His blood in the next.

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