PALM/PASSION SUNDAY

PALM/PASSION SUNDAY 2007 5:30 PM 12:15 PM A young Polish boy wanted to play piano, but his teacher told him that his fingers were too stubby and that he would never play well. The boy was advised to try the cornet, but was later told by an expert musician that he did not have the lip to ever be good. Then one day he met the great pianist, Anton Rubinstein. The famous musician gave this young boy the first bit of encouragement he ever received. “Young man,” Rubinstein said, “you might be able to play the piano. In fact, I think you can...if you will practice seven hours a day.” That was all the encouragement he needed! The great Rubinstein had told him he could do it! He would have to dedicate his life to practicing piano, but he could do it! He could be good! Anïton Rubinstein said so! He did practice for many hours a day and his hard work was rewarded; for years later, Jan Paderewski became one of the most famous pianists of his time. An encouraging word carried within it the power to ignite a young boy’s eager spirit, which burned brightly for decades From the cross Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” Not finished like closing the cover on the last chapter of a book. But finished like bread in an oven is finished and ready to be eaten. Like wine is finished and ready for drinking. Like a child is finished in the womb and ready to live his or her own life. Jesus’ earthly work is finished and ready to be continued by us, his followers. And we have Jesus’ puzzling yet wondrous promise, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do even greater works than these.” If only you would believe in this promise, what power for good you would have! Never again would you feel helpless like a sliver of wood swept along on a tumultuous river. Never again would you complain, like a bleating lamb surrounded by ravenous wolves, But what can I do? You have Jesus’ power in you. And Jesus said, “All power in heaven and earth has been given to me.” This is now your power. Think about it! Meditate on it! With Jesus’ power in you, there is no interpersonal obstacle you cannot overcome, no emotional difficulty you cannot vanquish, no cross you cannot carry. I ask you to join me as we fix our gaze today and all during Holy Week on the image of Christ crucified, holding in our hearts Jesus’ suffering love, as glorious as a ruby, as precious as a diamond. I ask you to join me in feeling the power of Jesus coursing through us like a pulsing blood stream. Let us return to our daily lives, confident and mighty and daring in the power of Christ crucified. Let us together live St. Paul’s mystical insight into this Jesus-power: “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.”