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April 13 is Palm Sunday, Holy Day that many Christians have kept around the world. This day marks the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem Some 2,000 years ago.
For Jesus, it was the beginning of a dramatic week to see him crucified and later from the dead. This day, Palma Sundayindicates the beginning of a big week. For those Christians who guard the Holy Week, we remember dramatic events as said in the gospel: suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.
In the Gospels, we read that Jesus entered Jerusalem in a procession that had to resemble both a parade and a protest. People have covered the way of throwing clothing and palm branches as Jesus entered the holy city. They yelled “Hosanna!” That means, “Save us!”
Everything you need to know about Palm Sunday: What do the palms represent?
The ancient Jerusalem was then under the Roman occupation and was led by the Puppet Government. People wanted freedom and hope. They wanted what all people want: the ability to flourish as God God did us. But the military occupation needed people to first be loyal to the government over everyone else.
When people began to call Jesus their king and their Lord, it was a threat to the established order. The tension of the first palm tree on Sunday had to be tangible. Hope and fear, freedom and power, righteousness and sin all mixed.
Palm Sunday indicates the beginning of a big week. (East)
Not so different today. All around us the world seems more and more divided against ourselves. I think people across the political spectrum can agree on that. Chaos seems to increase. Violence rules. Where is our peace?
Like those people a long time ago, we who follow Jesus might want to yell with fervor: “Hosanna! Save us!” Maybe we like it Jesus Enter and clean our mess. But I think Jesus expects us to clean the mess we have made. We need to reverse the new newspaper. This is the definition of repentance itself.
When we shout “Hosanna!” Today we should not think that Jesus will “save us” by repairing the clutter we have made without expecting to change. Quite the opposite. Managing the world happens one by one life, starting in our hearts.
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Holy Week events show us that God loves us more than we can imagine. Jesus was willing to die for us, to suffer, to open the door of eternal life to all who believe in Him. On the cross he asked his father to forgive his executors. The whole story – from beginning to end – is the story of sacrifice, generosity, forgiveness, mercy and, above all, grace.
If you go to church this Sunday, you are likely to experience a collision of two moods. Taking your palms and singing energetic anthem, you may feel hope and joy. Then hearing the story of Jesus’ suffering and death, you may feel sad. I love this contrast.
Hope, joy and sadness merge so often in our world. Read the titles. Talk to your neighbor. Look around. If we can understand this collision of hope and sadness on Palm Sunday, we have a good start to do it every day of our lives.
You see, we people regularly mess up regularly. We need a redeemer. We can’t get out of the clutter ourselves. And, yes, we also have to own ourselves to our failures and be willing to change our lives. This is exactly what Palm Sunday is doing.
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Jesus enters the chaos of our lives and our world. Please salvation. Jesus will always hear us and it is ready to forgive our sins. And he is ready to travel with us through life challenges.
This will not make the problems of the world of magic, but it can give us the courage to be the bearers of grace and mercy in this world.
