I have received the great gift of being able to relive the Gospel story we will hear next week over and over for the last few days. The school musical this year is Godspell, a show I fell in love with many years ago when my wife was part of the performance as we were dating. Once again, I have received a gift through this play as I get to hear the story of God's word made flesh over and over again at each practice. I can't help but think of how this play influenced the way I preach.  The play takes the gospel of Matthew and acts it out in a more modern way. My goal in preaching has always been to link the gospel with daily life.
   If we can not see how living the gospel will change our lives, we are lost. This goal was presented to me as more of a challenge by a fellow parishioner. As I studied for ordination, Beatrice once told me how she would leave the church after mass and get more out of listening to the non-Catholic sermons on the television or radio. She said to me, "When you preach, give me something I can take home and use till next week." I have never forgotten that statement. So each time I am preaching, I carefully read the scripture for that day,and wait for God to send me an idea about what the message should be.
  So this weekend, we hear the glory of Jerusalem, and the passion of The Lord. What does it mean for our daily lives. Maybe you've heard a few of  the themes. There is a glorification at the end of every suffering. Jesus suffered death to give us life. Both true and correct. But I like to focus on Christ's own words, "Father, forgive them." I pray and hope that he can use them every time I do a misdeed, or have a poor thought, or ignore what should be done or said. And I hope, that Jesus can fill my heart with that same wisdom. To be able to forgive in spite of how I may feel.. If we can take this with us this week, every week, we will be better people, better Christians, and a better world.