Homily: Wednesday of Holy Week

Wednesday of Holy Week (Isaiah 50:4-9) “Practice What You Preach”

Jesus spoke a lot about forgiveness and turning the other cheek. Forgiving others is one of the hardest things that we must do. We all probably know Christians who can quote the teaching of Jesus, who know that they aren’t supposed to lash out when they are wronged, but who do, nonetheless.

Henri Nouwen once wrote that he often was given complements from other people about his profound writing. He was told what an inspirational preacher he was. Because of his writing and preaching many put him up on a pedestal.

He walked away after many presentations thinking that he was the biggest hypocrite. He knew that in his personal life he could never live out the ideal he presented. The old cliché is, “Do what I say, not what I do.” Nouwen was uncomfortable with this philosophy. He felt that he was laying out an ideal life that everyone could strive for including him.

The ideal that Jesus strove to live was laid out in the Songs of the Suffering Servant in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. The servant turned his back on those who insulted him. He forgave those who physically tortured him.

Jesus lived out what he preached in his passion experience. He was mute in the face of insult. He suffered in quiet. At the end of his passion as he hung on the cross dying, we remember his words, “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do.” He did not call down fire from heaven. He did not pray that his enemies would be punished. No, he prayed that all would be forgiven.

After he rose from the dead, he carried that forgiveness even farther. He found the apostles who deserted him. He continued to teach them. He left the church in their hands. Jesus practiced what the preached and that is what we see during Holy Week.

Reflection Questions:

1.    Have I ever given advice that I did not follow myself? What was it?

2.   Do I need to stop teaching others about Christianity since I can’t be exactly like Jesus? Is it all right to lay out the ideal?

 Dear Parishioners,

           Tomorrow is the beginning of the Easter Triduum. We celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 p.m. I have attended the Easter Triduum since I was a child. Thursday has always been especially poignant. The Eucharistic celebration can be the center of our life if we choose to make it so.

          It was especially gratifying to see so many people at our Palm Sunday services. Since COVID our major religious feasts have been somewhat muted. Now we can interact, sing and commemorate our feast days without fear. I encourage everyone to make this Holy Week special by coming to the whole Easter Triduum. It is a wonderful way to review our faith commitment.

          May Our Lady watch over our troubled world this Holy Week,

          Fr. Mark