“Today, we remember not only Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem in the past, but also his entry into our future.” ~ Unknown
One of the greatest disservices that we do to ourselves it to place things in the past. We do so quite often for a very particular reason: it is “safer”. If we place things in the past, we can talk about them as they were then and distance ourselves from them. Our words and thoughts and feelings are placed onto people and things that are over and done with. We do not think they belong to us as well.
Ah, but there’s the rub. Those things in the past? They apply to us just as much today. We are not “safe”. We are smack dab in the middle of them.
If we think that the unruly crowd only existed back then, we fail to realize that we are a part of that same crowd. If we think that the people who condemned Jesus to death were all back then, we do not see that it was our sins, as well, that placed Him on the cross. If we think that it was only the people back then who needed to repent, we will not accept the responsibility for our own thoughts and feelings and actions.
Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and is designed to make us uncomfortable. While we begin the Mass with great joy and pomp (the blessing of palms and entry into the church), we soon realize how fickle we can be. The same crowd that shouted “Hosanna” a short while earlier became the crowd that shouted “Crucify Him!” even louder.
We are a part of that crowd.
When we continue in our sins, we shout Crucify Him. When we fail to help our neighbor, we shout Crucify Him. When we do not take the time to draw near to Him in prayer, we shout Crucify Him. That should make us extremely uncomfortable.
Lent reminds us that we do not have to remain that way.
We can change our lives. We can repent. We do have the opportunity to draw closer to God. Our future is not bleak because Jesus did not only walk into the past, He walked into our future. Embracing the cross can bring us the glory and joy of the resurrection as well.
FAITH ACTION: In quiet prayer, ask Jesus to come into your life and the lives of your loved ones more fully this day.