Palm Sunday: The Master Has Need of You

Last year Bishop Robert Barron’s Palm Sunday homily was called “The Master Has Need of You.” It is arguably the best homily I have ever heard him preach, and I have thought about it often over the past year. I highly recommend a listen.

What I love about it is the emphasis on your life is not your own. In the homily Bishop Barron asks us to review the special gift or talents God has provided for each of us, and what would happen if we turned those gifts into His service: a passion for the poor, an outgoing personality, a desire for justice. The title of the sermon comes from the scripture passage wherein Jesus asks the disciples to untether a donkey so that he may ride into Jerusalem (Mark 11:3):

When they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately on entering it, you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone should say to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ reply, ‘The Master has need of it and will send it back here at once.’”

We are the “it.” We are the being of which the Master has need, to bring Him into the world. Barron emphasizes the fact of it being a donkey, too - not a marvelous, majestic creature, but an ordinary one.

How did you spend your Palm Sunday? I got dressed up and #BYOB (“bring your own branch”) for CIC’s noon Mass. That meant I ran outside and plucked a couple berry-laden branches off a tree (thank you, tree). I though it fitting that the leaves themselves are thorny: red berries and spiky leaves - blood and a crown of thorns. I have some palms left over from last year’s Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew, which I keep in front of my images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. So, I took them from their altar and held them with the branch. I didn’t feel silly. It felt like exactly what one should do at this time: adapt and persevere.

A note from Fr. Charles’s homily: he reminded us that people threw their cloaks on the ground in front of Jesus as he passed. The donkey walked across them. Fr. Charles said we ought to have the same attitude: to give generously to God without fear of losing whatever we’re giving.

Spatula baseball: L’Arche ‘leans into creativity’ during lockdown

My friend Christine wrote a beautiful piece for Catholic News Agency about how L’Arche Greater Washington, DC is handling lockdown during coronavirus. The article is called, “Spatula baseball: L’Arche ‘leans into creativity’ during lockdown.”

She interviewed our Executive Director, Luke Smith, who raised some good points about the extra-susceptibility of the community during a medical crisis, when sometimes people with disabilities are not prioritized. I am also glad he made a point to recognize the assistants who are always wonderful, but especially in adapting to very new rhythms of life with everyone home (most core family members have jobs, you know).

The wish list he mentions is here, and yes, our fundraising breakfast has been canceled. Please consider donating.

My favorite quotes are at the end:

“I've been sharing with the community that we need to be gentle with ourselves and gentle with others and that it's okay to be frustrated with the coronavirus, but we don't need to be frustrated with each other.”

And of course, this truth, which resonates perfectly with my experience of L’Arche, wherein I have recieved far more than I have given:

“We are praying with you,’’ said Smith. “We are thinking of ways we can support you. L’Arche wants to give, too; we as a community want to be supportive.”

And of course, I am greatly pleased by the knowledge that Charles is still wearing his tie.

I’m having virtual dinner with 6th Street on Saturday. Can’t wait. And if you’d like to join the DC community for virtual prayer on Tuesday, April 7, you can do so here.

Last day of March

Greetings! This morning I joined John and Glenn on Morning Air to discuss my recent article, Praying Our Way through Pandemic. They framed the conversation: how has your prayer changed as a result of the crisis? Highlights were getting to talk about St. Corona, the different Marian devotions appropriate for this time, and hearing a caller’s experience of adapting prayer to a large family at home in lieu of attending Mass or other public devotions. You can listen to the audio by clicking on podcast 199 located in the player here. The conversation starts at 31:46.

Here’s the article I mentioned: Coronavirus worry sparks searches for ‘prayer’ to skyrocket. Not surprising, eh?

And here’s the Relevant Radio prayer vs. pandemic campaign. I’m signed up - please do the same!

Bonus headline of the day that gave me great joy, as I have fondness both for the British and for Our Lady, so it’s the best of all worlds in an article: Britons rededicate England to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Last thought: I am thinking about the virtues needed during a time of pandemic. What got me thinking was watching the Thomistic Instutute’s Aquinas 101 video today, which is Fr. Petri discussing virtue. Watch it here. Courage is the one that pops to mind, but how about prudence? It takes a lot of prudence to stay home when you really want to go run around in the sunshine.

Holy Week is next week!

Actual last thought: this Sunday is Palm Sunday. I have ones from last year that I will hold. I have also been getting dressed up for Mass, and this weekend will be no different.