Homily April 2, 2023, Palm sunday

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 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They answered, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified."

Why did they choose Barabbas? Who was he?

If you were there in the crowd, who would you choose?

The name Barabbas literally means ‘son of the father’ in Hebrew. ‘Bar’ means son, ‘abba’ means father. Tradition says he was a zealot, and his father was a Jewish leader.

According to Mark and Luke, "He had been imprisoned for an insurrection that had occurred in the city, as well as for murder." He was rioting against the Romans, and they locked him in, but Barabbas was a hero to the Jews. They had wanted a savior to liberate them from Roman oppression.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on a colt, the Jews hailed Him as king, but within a few days, they wanted to crucify Him. He was the Savior to liberate them from their sins, but that was not what they wanted.

They chose Barabbas, son of the father and rejected Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Do you also desire an easy, comfortable life, indulging in worldly pleasures, more than a humble, graced and forgiven life?

Do you wish to go with Barabbas for prosperity and power, or do you want to carry your cross and follow Christ?

Which of the two do you want to be released to you?


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Homily, Wednesday,January 5, 2022, Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop

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