Look at the Cross - Palm Sunday Homily, April 13, 2025

 

Homily for Palm Sunday

April 13, 2025

Look at the Cross

 

            Having just read the Passion and Death of Our Lord, I would like to draw your attention to that most visible sign of His love – the crucifix.

            Look at the Cross, and see the ugliness of sin. Christ hangs disfigured, because sin disfigured you. His face swollen, flesh torn, dripping with blood – because He has born in His flesh what sin has done in your soul. Look upon the ugliness of sin, and sin no more.

            Look at the Cross, and see our example of how to love. From the Cross, those haunting words echo: “Father, forgive them.” On the Cross, His exhaustion gives us strength to love to the end. Behold the greatest example of self-giving love in human history, and hear His words: “Love one another as I have loved you.”

            Look at the Cross, and see the purpose of human suffering. Which one of us has not suffered physical pain, betrayal by friends, mockery, humiliation, rejection, and even felt abandoned by God? Gazing upon the Cross, we see that Christ has suffered all these things before us, and He invites us to unite our sufferings to His for the salvation of the world. Look at the Cross, and help Christ save the world by uniting your sufferings to His.

            Look at the Cross, and see your value and the price paid for your salvation. That which costs the most is always the most valuable, and see how much your soul cost! You are precious in His sight – so precious that He would rather die than spend eternity without you. In those dark moments when you wonder if your life has any meaning, look at the Cross, and see your value to God.

            Look at the Cross, and see the depths of God’s love for you. This is unheard-of – not only does a God take flesh, but a God who dies for the very slaves that spat in His face? A God who adopts those ungrateful slaves and calls them His sons and daughters? His arms stretched wide to embrace humanity, His side opened by a lance to allow you access to the Heart of God – behold the incarnation of St. John’s words, “God…is…love.”

            Our entire Catholic Faith, the ultimate meaning of our life, the mystery of human history, the intimate Heart of God, is revealed to us – if we look at the Cross.