Saturday, March 28 @ 4:00 PM
St. Matthew Church

So, my dear sisters and brothers,

It was the highest sign of honor. It was mandated by Caesar himself, who made the audacious claim to be divine. And so he decreed that everywhere in the empire where he or his ambassador would go, their feet would not touch the ground.

Palms and branches—and whatever the crowds could find, even their cloaks—would be laid at his feet as a sign of the dignity and power he claimed as ruler of all things.

Today, we gather here in faith to recall that the people of Jerusalem, the City of David, gave that same honor to Jesus. They hailed Him, “Hosanna to the King,” desperately hoping that He would unseat Caesar and become their leader and liberator.

And my friends, as you and I know, He came to liberate in a way the crowds could never have expected—and sadly, in five days, did not want.

For as we walk with the Lord in these days, it is sobering, is it not, to consider that the same voices that cried out “Hosanna” are the ones who, on the Via Dolorosa, would be jeering at Him, mocking Him, spitting in His face—and the vast majority completely indifferent to what they believed was a broken promise.

And on the day of His death—the day we call Good Friday—with only His mother, His aunt, a few other women, and the youngest of the Apostles there to witness it to the end, the rest of the world was blissfully unaware that their King had truly come.

You and I come here each year—each Sunday—to proclaim Him King.

A King who has come to unleash the power of love—divine, perfect love—that He shares with you and me. A love that this world cannot give and does not understand. A love that frees us from sin, breaks the chains of slavery, and puts death itself to death.

A love that nothing and no one can stop—if only you and I allow our hearts, minds, and wills to be filled with it.

He dwells within us—our King—and each day invites us to be His ambassadors. Not because palm branches are laid at our feet, but because we walk in His footsteps—the humble Shepherd—and dare to love sacrificially, by choice, for the good of those around us every single day.

My friends, the world has not learned its lesson, has it?

The world is still seeking liberation in all the wrong places. You and I have found it, and we are asked to live it and to share it with our broken world.

But allow me to ask you a question: as we walk with Jesus in these days, how often have we chosen the wrong king?

How often have we returned hurt for hurt, wounds for wounds? How often have we answered silence with silence, or turned a deaf ear to those who would not listen to us? How often have I—or you—chosen something other than what the Lord has come to give?

And so I invite you to walk with Him.

Not because this Lord will condemn us—because He never will. Not because He will judge us—but because He will allow us to rediscover the power of these sacred days.

So that when we look upon the Cross, you and I can say, “Lord, You did this for me?”

And on the day of His Resurrection, as we fill our hearts and minds with Alleluia, we will look upon the empty tomb and say, “Lord, You made a place here for me?”

The only reason our King did this—and continues to do this—is because of His love for you and for me.

And the mystery of this week is this: to ask for the courage of our King to do unto others what He has done for us.

So I ask you: are you willing to walk in the footsteps of the only King who truly matters?

And if in your heart you say yes, then let us walk together this week and discover who our King truly is.