Palm Sunday

As I sat down to contemplate Palm Sunday and what it means to me, of course many things went through my mind. My thoughts moved quickly from the standard, traditional thoughts about Palm Sunday to my current “pandemic-view-of-the-world” perspective.

I immediately wondered if I would be at my parish for Palm Sunday Mass. Would I be online and feeling the loneliness of celebrating Mass without being present, without receiving the Body and Blood of Our Lord? I thought about the reading of the Passion and how it engages the entire congregation and helps us truly feel like one.

To be honest, I did think about how some years I do not look forward to the lengthier Mass on Palm Sunday. I realized that I have probably had that attitude about Palm Sunday more than I should admit. So, that prompted me to go a little deeper.

What does it mean that I would actually think this holy day liturgy is too long? I arrived at the conclusion that it means I am taking it for granted. Taking my faith for granted, taking the rich traditions of my faith for granted, taking so much for granted. If I have learned anything this year of sheltering in, I have learned I can enrich my life by ensuring I don’t take anything for granted. 

Over the years I have learned that when I am taking things for granted, it is because I am moving too fast, doing too many distracting things, tasks, and activities that are not drawing me closer to Christ. These things may fill up time; however, they do not help bring peace to my life.

These are unusual times and I’m not even sure why or about what I am anxious, but that I am. There is no specific situation causing it, which only makes it more difficult to resolve. What I am forgetting is that many things in life are not to be resolved, they are to be prayed through. I have missed many opportunities for deeper prayer this past year. So now, today, I have an opportunity to change that. To change my anxiety to trust. Trust in the Lord. To change all those tasks and activities to prayer. Pray to the Lord. Change the busyness to peace. Peace in the Lord.   

Today, as I reflect on Palm Sunday differently than I have before, I noticed something that I never noticed. Of course, I’ve read and heard the story so many times and I know that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey; however, I never thought about that donkey. Imagine that. All these years and I never considered what that meant or how that came to be. 

As I prayed, read, watched videos, and reflected on Palm Sunday, I focused on the quiet moments leading up to the procession to Jerusalem and all the accolades of the crowd. I learned that Jesus asked two disciples to go into the village that they were approaching and find a donkey’s young colt. Of course, those disciples were probably puzzled about this as we often are when Jesus calls us to do His work. However, they went, found the donkey, and brought it to Jesus. Jesus then proceeded through all the crowds that were praising Him. They were rejoicing about the miracles He had done and were joyful that their Messiah had arrived to set them free.  

I wonder about that simple moment when He asked the disciples to go and get the donkey for Him. I wonder how that day would have progressed if they, because of their doubts, did not get a donkey for the Lord. I wonder.   

Today, I wonder if I would have said, “yes,” to the Lord if He had asked me. I know sometimes I feel the Lord asking me to do something for Him and my doubts make me think, “Nah, that can’t be the Lord, that’s crazy.” Have I missed an opportunity to do something great for the Lord and His people? Have I missed an opportunity to “get a donkey” for God? 

I know if I am too busy and not spending sufficient time in prayer, I can’t hear the Lord’s call clearly and as a result I miss awesome opportunities to do His will. I know the Lord has “things” for me to do that are much more important than all the things I have been doing. While it may still be Lent, I am beginning to feel the joy of Easter. Joy that today I feel a little closer to Christ, today and a little deeper in prayer.   

So, with a joyful heart, a reconciled heart, I will continue my journey of faith and I will pray, listen, and learn as I move toward Easter with hope. Hope in the Risen Lord.