Palm Sunday

Today I'd like to share a reflection from the Sisters of Notre Dame. I've been receiving weekly Lenten Reflections from them on email, and today's meditation for Palm Sunday is especially moving for me. My prayer is that I, all of us, can unconditionally say 'Yes' to what God has prepared for us in our lives, just as Yeshua Messiah did, trusting that our greater good is always in God's mind, even when we cannot see it ourselves.

"Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." (Mt. 21.9) With these words in song or chant Catholics around the world will process into the Church on Palm Sunday waving palm branches which have been liturgically blessed as "sacramentals." The increase in church-going folks on this day, demonstrates how Catholics like to get their palms but more, how this Sunday transitions us from Lent into Holy Week and to a closer focus on the Passion of Christ.

What we recall is Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. There is excitement, proclamation and new hope, as if our king has finally made an open statement, announced himself and all will be well!

But in the historical event itself, we know that Jesus knows better. He comes in the spirit of Zechariah's prophecy. Yes, rejoice...your king is approaching, but he comes, "humble and riding on a donkey." (Zech. 9.9)

Scripturally and metaphorically "Jerusalem" represents our world and all of us sinners, even as we look forward to the "new Jerusalem."The journey theme, woven throughout Luke's Gospel, especially notes in Lk. 9.51 Jesus' critical, last journey to Jerusalem. "Now it happened that as the time drew near, he resolutely set his face toward Jerusalem."

This passage reveals the consistent, self-composed personality and purpose-driven life of Jesus. It is a decision statement indicating his total response to his vocation and to the will of his Father. He will indeed be King! He knew who he was and for what he had come into the world to accomplish. Jesus resolutely decides to go into Jerusalem, not by way of the back gate so as to be invisible, but to make a public statement of who he is. It could have gone either way - acceptance or rejection. He took the risk in order to live out of his core vocation. He knew it could lead to crucifixion, even as he hoped it would not.

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' consistent Yes to the Father; going into Jerusalem which represents all of us who too often reject God's outpouring love. Our response this Palm Sunday is to go up to Jerusalem with Jesus in love and to imitate his unconditional response of love in obedience.

- Sr. Mary Regina Robbins, SND