Homily for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion/Stations
St. Joseph’s Neier/SFBRHS March 23-24, 2013
Rev. Kevin Schmittgens
Central Idea: Christ died for us while we were still sinners, miserable sinners.
I have a catchphrase. A catchphrase is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through a variety of mass media, as well as word of mouth. Some become the de facto "trademark" or "signature" of the person or character with whom they originated, and can be instrumental in the typecasting (beneficially or otherwise) of a particular actor.
This is my catchphrase: You want me to beat up anyone for you.
Everyone at Borgia knows it. I have been saying it for years. The best part about this catchphrase is that I really never have actually beaten anyone up. Never even got close. I am 6'3"! I don’t get into fights. I don’t physically accost people. I am actually a pretty meek and tame fellow. Heck, just this week even Conor Sauer roughed me up a bit.
But if T. J. Lane were here right now, I would punch him right in the face. Several times. You might even have to intervene.
T. J. Lane is a punk. And that word doesn’t even begin to cover it. As a matter of fact, I apologize to all the punks out there for that statement. Mr. Lane is an 18 year old who just pled guilty of a triple murder of three high school students last February. It was a random, senseless, pointless crime. He was sentenced this week to life in prison.
But it was what he did at his sentencing that made me livid, that made me want to beat up Mr. Lane. He walked into the courtroom wearing a light blue shirt which he then removed to reveal a plain white T-shirt with the word KILLER crudely scrawled in magic marker. If that wasn’t bad enough, he then proceeded to flip off the victim’s families. But the worst thing he did, the absolute worse thing, well... It is not appropriate for church. Seriously. Suffice it to say it was very dark, very callous, very spiteful and may be the cruelest thing I've ever read about.
So truly, if he were here right now, I would punch him. Several times. And you might even cheer me on.
Nevertheless, nevertheless, that might be the catchphrase of Christianity; nevertheless, Christ died for us sinners. Christ died while we were still unlovable. Christ died for us punks. Christ died for T. J. T.J. may not know it. T.J. may not believe it. T.J. may not accept it. He may rant and rave against the very notion, but that does not mean it is any less true. And that is what we celebrate in this service, that is what we celebrate in this season.
Lent is a time where we face the Darkness, the TJ., buried deep in our hearts and psyches. It is where we allow the grace and forgiveness of God to touch the cruel, dark, callous side of our natures. We are set free from the ugliness. We are set free from the spite. We are released from the malicious, hate-filled prisons of our nasty selves.
I can only hope T. J. discovers that eventually.
I have a feeling he is going to have a rude awakening in prison.
I can only hope I fully discover it as well. And I pray all of us recognize the grace of God, grace can even reach us, punks that we are.
Have a thoughtful Holy Week. And let me know if I can beat anyone up or you.