Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
April 2, 2023 •
Men, as the heads of our homes we have a moral obligation to speak the truth to our wives and our children whether they want to hear it or not. Regardless of the consequences. Now, we should do it in love, but we have to remember that obligation. So often, like Adam in the garden, we let things go on because we don't want to rock the boat. We don't want Eve to get upset with us. That was Adam's first sin.
Adam's second sin, after not speaking up when he should have, after not defending the Lord's teaching, the Lord's laws when he should have; was following his wife.
Think about that ladies, for just a second. Why did Adam eat of the fruit of the tree? because Eve ate it first and offered it to him. Even thought Eve was first to eat of the fruit, it's still called "Adam's sin", not "Eve's sin". Why?
Because Adam was the head of the family, not Eve. . . .
One of the mistakes we men often make is, we'll talk with our wife about what we should do in a situation, and the wife will say: you need to do this, this is the best way, or this is my recommendation. Husband says, good idea, let's do that. And he does it. And it all falls apart. He says: It's not my fault. It was her idea. I was just going along with the plan!
The fact of the matter is, as the heads of our homes, we decided to go along with the plan.
If Eve makes a good choice, it's perfectly fine that Adam take her example. But Adam must lead her in the choice. Never follow her.
There's an order here to things. Adam is always to lead, even when he's leading based on Eve's advice.
What would have happened - think for a moment - what would have happened if Adam didn't eat the fruit but Eve did?
What should have happened if that was the case? You see, Adam became the example of all sinful men. But he should have been, even at that time, a type of Christ.
Jesus is the perfect "Adam". The sinless one. The perfect husband. His bride - His people, the Church - always sins, always does wrong (Ladies, I'm not picking on you, I'm using a metaphor).
The Church - we, the Body of Christ - we always sin. We're the guilty party here. He's the innocent one. He never goes along with our sin. Never. . . . How often does He say: hey, you should be following Me, not Me following you.
It's precisely because of His outspokenness that the Jews hated Him and wanted Him dead.
His own people who should have followed Him, rebelled against Him.
They gave Jesus an option. They said: look if you follow us, we'll let You live. Everything will continue status quo.
And Jesus said to them: I cannot do that. You must follow Me.
They said: Look, if you insist upon this, we're going to kill you.
He said: You must follow Me.
And they crucified Him.
Love inclines one to suffer for the beloved. Even when you are innocent.
Mt 21:1-11; Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Mt 26:14—27:66
Homily begins at 39:15. Edited video link coming soon.