A Secular Heart Betrays: The Call to Remain Faithful – Mar 29 – Homily – Fr Isidore

 

Fr Isidore gives the homily at New Bedford, on Mar 29, 2026, contrasting the joyful Palm Sunday welcome of Jesus with the Passion's betrayal and crucifixion, urging listeners to remain faithful like Mary at the cross amid personal and societal tendencies to abandon Christ during Holy Week.

In his Palm Sunday homily, Fr. Isidore reminds us how crowds cheered Jesus as King with palms and "Hosanna," but soon shouted "Crucify Him." He says this shows our own hearts: we love Jesus when life is easy, but turn away when suffering or sacrifice comes. Drawing from the Passion reading, he highlights betrayal by Judas and Peter, abandonment by followers, and Jesus' death on the cross—not defeat, but saving love. These pains happen in our families, friendships, and even with God through sin, secularism, and ignoring faith. Holy Week isn't a vacation for beaches or shopping; it's for prayer, confession, and staying close to Jesus like Mary did at Calvary. Fr. Isidore calls us to decide today: will we stay faithful through the cross to Easter joy?

Zechariah 9:9 – Triumphal entry prophecy – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/zechariah/9?9
Isaiah 53:7 – Suffering servant silence – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/53?7
Philippians 2:8 – Obedient to cross death – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/2?8
Psalms 22:2 – Cry of abandonment – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/22?2
CCC 559 – Jesus enters Jerusalem – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a2p4.htm#559
CCC 603 – Freely accepts Passion suffering – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a2p5.htm#603
CCC 964 – Mary at cross faithful – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p4.htm#964
CCC 1169 – Holy Week sacred observance – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#1169

00:00 - Introduction: The Joy and Pain of Palm Sunday
00:59 - The Human Heart: Why We Turn Away from the Cross
01:39 - The Suffering Servant and the Call to Remain
02:53 - The Paschal Mystery: Betrayal, Abandonment, and Death
04:30 - Our Personal Stories of Betrayal and Forgiveness
05:56 - Modern Challenges: Secularism and the Death of God
07:34 - Holy Week: A Sacred Journey, Not a Vacation
09:56 - The Example of the Blessed Mother and Final Exhortation

Ave Maria!

Mass: Palm Sunday - Sunday
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032926.cfm
1st: Isaiah 50:4-7
Resp: Psalms 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
2nd: Philippians 2:6-11
Gsp: Matthew 14, 27:66

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1838

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0_HxCKltm8