Acclaim Him King
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
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Dear Saints,
Palm Sunday is all about kingship.
Think of the excited crowd cheering, "Hosanna!" Theirs is a cry of exaltation. Jerusalem's liberation from Roman oppression, the people think, is now at hand. "Bring on the rule of Jesus, bring on the victory of Israel!" their voices resound.
But something isn't quite right. Jesus, it turns out, won't give the crowds what they want. Rather than being useful to the people's national and personal ambition, Jesus jeopardizes their plans. Better to kill him, they quickly resolve, than to suffer further humiliation - and total political and military defeat - at enemy hands!
The perennial and penetrating question of Palm Sunday is whether or not we can see ourselves in this crowd. Let's look around a bit to see:
Is our life's focus God and his purposes, or is it the pursuit or enjoyment of wealth, comfort, pleasure, health, entertainment, success, power, or popularity?
Do we think that God exists to protect or promote what we value - our life, health, and wealth (or the life, health, and wealth of people we love)? Is my prayer all about what God can do for me?
Are we angry (with God) when things don't go our way?
In difficult times, do we turn to Jesus or to some other king (popularity, power, pleasure, ourselves, etc.) to give us what we "need"?
If you think of any more, please send them to me!
Jesus is Israel's true King, he is the Lord of all nations, and he is the rightful ruler of every human heart and life. But his rule is not a path to personal prosperity (or even contentedness) for his followers. As our King, we simply entrust ourselves to him and we follow him on the way of self-giving love. The rest of the story is his to write.
This week Jesus walks the path of his passion, death, and resurrection. We join him by dying to ourselves so that we might rise with him to new life, lived totally for God and his purposes. When we cast aside imposter kings for the world's true King, greatness and glory await us!
I love you, my friends, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Christ's Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
PS Join us this Holy Week, live and online:
Holy Thursday
Morning Prayer, 8:00am
Mass of the Lord's Supper, 7:00pm
Good Friday
Morning Prayer, 8:00am
The Celebration of the Lord's Passion, 3:00pm
Stations of the Cross, 6:00pm
Holy Saturday
Morning Prayer, 8:00am
Easter Vigil, 8:00pm (2-hour Mass)
Easter Sunday
Mass: 7:30am, 9:00am, and 11:00am.
Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
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Entry of Christ into Jerusalem
Anthony van Dyck, 1617