Hosanna to the King!

Hosanna! Hosanna to the King! Is that how you feel? Are you ready to tell everyone about the King, the Messiah? If you had been there that first Palm Sunday, would you have been in the crowd praising the Son of God, calling him the King of kings, the long awaited Messiah?

What about on Good Friday? Where would you have been: in the crowd shouting “Crucify Him, Crucify Him”, hiding like most of the apostles, or standing up and defending Jesus, even if that meant you too would be killed?

 If we are truly honest with ourselves, the answer would not be the last one. Sadly, I know I couldn’t answer the last one. How do I know? All I have to do is look at the countless times I have not stood up to defend Him in my own life. 

·         How often have I prayed in front of Planned Parenthood or another abortion mill?

·         How often have I joined in peaceful, prayerful protests about things that go against what the Church teaches, whether it be abortion, gay marriage, etc. especially if I know there is a possibility of getting arrested?
·         How often have I told people about the blessing that children are and why the Church teaches artificial birth control is wrong?
·         How often have I told a person about Jesus and His love for them?
·         How often have I said that I forgive someone and yet still hold a grudge?
·         How often have I joyfully lived out my vocation of wife and mother?
·         How often have I followed through with my daily duties?
·         How often have I neglected daily prayers?
·         How often?

Oh, I have failed miserably. I have denied Jesus just like Peter did on that first Holy Thursday evening. I have hidden as the apostles did on Good Friday.

But now, what can I do now? This holiest week of the year I can make a resolution to do better, because unlike the apostles on Good Friday, I know how the story ends…Jesus conquers death, opens the gates of Heaven and is ALIVE!

I know that because of His passion, death and resurrection He forgives me for those times I have failed in showing Him to others. He loves me, died and arose for me. He has given me the Catholic Church so that I can experience His forgiveness and grace in the Sacrament of Penance. He gives me His whole self: His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, every time I go to Mass and receive Holy Communion. He gives me all the graces I ask for…I just need to ask.

What about you? Where would you have been on Good Friday? Even more importantly, where are you now? If you haven’t already, go to confession, tell Jesus how you denied Him, how sorry you are. Ask God for the grace to say, “Yes, this is the King, the Messiah”, not just on Palm Sunday, but on Good Friday, too.  Celebrate this Holy Week knowing that everything He did, He did for you. Then show Him your love. Because after all, you too know how the story ends.