Palm Sunday
Note: Inspired and expanded from an unidentified note in my journal.
This Palm Sunday we are the two friends, sitting on angel wings, waiting for the unfolding of 2000-year old story. Iit unfolds each year during what earthlings call LENT. We are watchful, attentive, waiting.
We, you and I are aware that the ministry of Jesus has not been a secret ministry, but a public one. People constantly surround him. Today the crowd is particularly exuberant.
All morning, the people kept coming in droves to laud his praises: to sing and wave branches, to spread their cloaks on the street. They shouted with joy at his arrival. But only days later, we know the story, and their shouts change. No longer do they sing, “Hosanna in the highest.” Their shouts that day are cruel: “Crucify Him!” Then, just like that, there is no crowd. There is only the tomb and Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, who “remain[ed] sitting there, facing the tomb.” In the end, there is only the Lord, placed in the tomb, and his two friends, still there, with Him.
This Palm Sunday we are two friends, sitting watchful and attentive. Mystified. How heavy our hearts, and yet we would not be separated from our Jesus. We recall that He had promised, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” So, we stay here together, watching and waiting.
Reminiscing about the wonders we have seen (even still see around us) binds us all the more to Him. Now is not the time to abandon Him. Now is not the time to turn from faith. Now is the time to cling to Him!
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arrive at the tomb on the morning of the third day. They bring with them spices to anoint the Lord’s body in an attempt to preserve, to keep death at bay. And yet, the Lord has so much more in store for them. The Lord will not be beholden to death!
And so we will stay, two friends, seated beside the tomb, at a loss and shaken by what the Lord is doing. We could not yet see all that would come to pass.
This Holy Week, 2025, may we not leave Him. Let us revel in this time alone, which can be time alone with Him. May our thoughts and prayers always turn to Him. May our hearts reach out to Him – and to each other. Let us give each other time, quiet and space to ponder the mystery about to unfold. If we remain with Him, watchful and waiting, we will not miss the glory He intends to reveal.
~by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
Continue Reading