Saint Frances Cabrini Parish

Father Kleppner - April 1, 2007

Lenten Meditation
for Palm Sunday
When God Enters Our Picture
“A Time For Celebration””

Is Palm Sunday a bitter-sweet occasion? There is pleasure, to be sure, but joy touched by a foreshadowing of loss and suffering. Here is a challenge to every human being. When the problems of our world press in upon us, can we still feel free to celebrate? We know that few victories in life are permanent; can we still enjoy them? Palm Sunday tells us, “Yes! Life itself is to be celebrated, and when Jesus arrives in our midst, it always a celebrative time.”
The word, “Hosanna”, that people cried out to Jesus as he entered Jerusalem, is more than an exclamation of praise. Literally, it means, “Save now!” This becomes part of the celebration, because it speaks of a conviction that Jesus indeed will save, bringing deliverance and new hope.
Things seldom work out exactly as we expect them to. Christians in the early Church expected that Jesus would soon return and live among them again. Yet, centuries later we still have not seen this kind of “second coming”. Jesus comes in many ways at different times. He came as a child at Christmas, as a deliverer on Palm Sunday and a resurrected hope on Easter morning. Jesus comes anew into our own lives, when we realize that he saves us from sin and aimlessness.
All of Jesus’ comings are times for celebration. Celebrating does not mean that all is now complete and perfect. The birthdays that people celebrate each year, do not mark an ending, but a milepost along the way. We do well to celebrate Palm Sunday with expectancy and heartfelt anticipation that Jesus’ coming to us will make a difference.

This Day
I may never see tomorrow, there’s no guarantee and the things that happened yesterday belong to history.
I cannot predict the future, I cannot change the past. I have just the present moment. I must treat it as my last.
I must use the moment wisely, for it will soon pass away and be lost to me forever as part of yesterday.
I must exercise compassion. Help the fallen to their feet. Be a friend to the friendless. Make an empty life complete.
The unkind things I do today can never be undone. Any friendships that I fail to win today may never ever be won.
I may not have another chance on bended knee to pray. So I’ll thank God with humble heart for giving me this day.

Irish Catholic Humor
Fr. Murphy walked into a pool hall and says to the first man he meets, “Do you want to go to Heaven?” The man replied, “Yes I do Father.” Fr. Murphy responded, “Then stand over there against the wall.”
Fr. Murphy then asked a second man, “Do you want to go to Heaven?” The second man replied, “Certainly, Father.” Fr. Murphy once again said, “Then stand over there against the wall.”
Then Fr. Murphy approached O’Toole and said, “Do you want to go to Heaven?” O’Toole responded, “No, I don’t Father.” Fr. Murphy was stunned and said, “You mean to tell me that when you die, you don’t want to go to Heaven?” O’Toole responded, “Oh when I die yes. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now.”

A Quote To Think About
“There is within every soul a thirst for happiness and meaning.”
- St. Thomas Aquinas

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