+JMJ
I have always loved Palm Sunday. It is the beginning of Holy Week and feels like the home stretch. A brief moment to rejoice during the arduous labor of lent. A tiny drop of hope to say, “We are almost there.” We can almost have what we gave up again…
But that is definitely the wrong attitude. We are *almost* there…. Almost to the moment where we become witnesses to the greatest act of love ever committed on earth. Making this a time to really buckle down and offer our Lord all that we have.
The Lord shared with me the power of His love in the following contemplation. A powerful love that, I know, is fully poured out on the Cross.
Entry Into Jerusalem
And when they drew nigh to Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto Mount Olivet, then Jesus sent two disciples, Saying to them: “Go ye into the village that is over against you, and immediately you shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them and bring them to Me. And if any man shall say anything to you, say ye, that the Lord hath need of them: and forthwith he will let them go.” Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “Tell ye the daughter of Sion: Behold thy king cometh to thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of her that is used to the yoke.”
And the disciples going, did as Jesus commanded them. And they brought the ass and the colt, and laid their garments upon them, and made Him sit thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way: and others cut boughs from the trees, and strewed them in the way: And the multitudes that went before and that followed, cried, saying: “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.” And when He was come into Jerusalem, the whole city was moved, saying: “Who is this?” And the people said: “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth of Galilee.” -Matthew 21:1-11
My Meditation
I walk down the street in Jerusalem. The street is completely empty, which is strange to me. There is, however, palm branches laid down upon the road up the entire road in front of me. I follow them towards the temple.
Many questions come to mind as I walk. What were the palms for? Why are they laid on the street? I could hear the hum of voices ahead and as I came around the corner there was a huge crowd before the temple shouting, “Hosanna in the highest!” Many of them are waving palm branches.
I want to see what everyone is shouting about so I move my way carefully through the crowd. Everyone seems to be making a circle around one man sitting on a donkey. I trip right at the edge of the circle and I almost run into the donkey, who gets startled. As Jesus gently calms the donkey I find myself on my hands and knees in the palms littering the road. He dismounts and comes to help me to my feet. As I take His hand, my heart begins pounding in my chest. It almost hurts as it thuds against my ribs. But I am overwhelmed by the power of Him. The Almighty, loving power that causes me to whisper in admiration, “Hosanna, in the highest…”
All those palms represent to me all of my wants and desires, which I lay at His feet in order to acknowledge Him as King. In this brief encounter I am invited to accept Him as King of my whole self: body, mind, heart, and soul. And His power showers me with all that He is: loving, merciful, and compassionate. I am left in awe of Him as He offers His aid to me, who has fallen repeatedly in my service to Him.
Like I said at the beginning, Palm Sunday should really remind us to buckle down and offer all that we have for our Lord and Savior, who will go on this week to offer Himself completely for us upon the cross.
We rejoice on Palm Sunday, welcoming our King gloriously in the city. But let it be a reminder for us to stand at the foot of the cross on Good Friday, and whisper in awe of His powerful love, “Hosanna in the highest!”
Thrive in Jesus, my Friends!
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