CHARLOTTE — As we commemorate Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, we should welcome Him as the king of our lives and imitate His example of love, Bishop Peter Jugis preached April 14.
Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week, and St. Patrick Cathedral was filled to capacity with worshippers for the special liturgy that began with the bishop blessing palm branches and leading a procession from the Marian grotto into the cathedral.
Just as people greeted Jesus on His entrance into Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, we are called to “welcome Him with ourselves, with our own lives, with our own hearts,” Bishop Jugis said. “May He continue to reign there as King supreme, our only King, to whom we owe everything that we have, all of our love and all of our allegiance.”
Later in his homily, Bishop Jugis noted, “Holy Week and Easter are the most important celebrations of the year,” because the events commemorate “the decisive, definitive battle in the war between good and evil.”
“We celebrate the complete victory of God,” he said. “Jesus’ death changes everything. Nothing is the same after the events of Calvary.”
By His suffering, death and resurrection, Jesus accomplishes the greatest gift for humanity: the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of the whole world.
Jesus’ ultimate gift of His life, reconciling us to God, demonstrates His love for us, Bishop Jugis said.
“Jesus dies, yes. But His death is not because of any sin He’s committed. His death is, rather, a gift of love,” Bishop Jugis said, and it was a willing gift of Himself to His Father in heaven “for the forgiveness of humanity’s sins.”
We must follow Jesus' example in our own lives, Bishop Jugis preached. He encouraged people to recommit themselves to living holy lives, imitating Jesus, no matter what their status in life.
“As He makes a loving gift of Himself to the Father, we must also make the loving gift of ourselves to God and to others,” he said.
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor
