I love Palm Sunday. When I was a child, I imagined myself racing along Jerusalem’s streets waving palm leaves and shouting, “Hosanna!”. That image adapted as I got older. I was a teenager or a young adult running along the street, and then, as an adult, I no longer ran in my imagination, but I stood on the sidelines, cheering and shouting my praise for the Son of David who rode through the streets as the royalty He was.
I used to wonder how the people of Jerusalem could turn so quickly from adoring adherents to an angry murderous mob in the course of just a few short days. I was so relieved to learn that it wasn’t the same group at all. Those who shouted their Hosannas and those who screamed for Barabbas to be released and Christ to be killed were two completely different groups. It’s quite possible that the first group never even learned of the actions of the second group until it was too late. Even if they had learned, I can understand the fear they must have had of angering the ruling elite and the overly zealous Zealots. Even the great apostle Peter knew fear and denied Christ thrice on that fateful Thursday night of illegal proceedings.
The Sundays of Passion Week joyfully bookend the most fateful week in all history. Christ was joyfully greeted by crowds on the first Sunday and then He joyfully greeted His grieving believers the following Sunday. What occurred in between – the sorrow, the suffering, the sacrifice – began and ended with joy.
I think of my own life. So many of my own hard times come on the heels of a period of great happiness. Ultimately, I have seen most of those hard times end with a change of circumstances that lead to deep happiness. Joy is greater appreciated because of the sorrow. This is usually not recognized, however, until the events are viewed in hindsight. We recognize the richness of Palm Sunday largely because we know the rest of the story.
At Christmastime it is popular to think of gifts that we can give to the Savior as we commemorate His birth. I would like to start a new tradition this year – looking for ways to wave my palm leaves and shout “hosanna” as I go through Passion Week and beyond. How can I show my devotion and love of the Son of David, the King of Israel, for the boundless and most merciful atonement that is focused on during this week? What are the figurative palm leaves that I can excitedly strew along the path?
One palm leaf can be in using my time to focus more diligently on the powerful impact of the atonement, leading me to a change of heart as I allow Christ’s grace to heal where I feel broken. It would entail dropping my burdens at Christ’s feet and striving to let Him help me root out anger and hurt. It would include seeking to understand others instead of issuing snap judgments.
Along those same lines, perhaps another palm leaf I can figuratively wave this week is in slowing down, learning to more fully accept God’s plan for my life, and seeking greater guidance for my life moving forward. Trusting in God and all His ways is definitely a way to show my gratitude, love, and devotion.
I’ve thought about how Christ’s entire ministry was about love. Another palm leaf I can wave can be the myriad ways that I can reach out and show love to those around me. I can pray more fervently to understand who needs reaching out to, and I can make sure I show Christlike patience and caring in all interactions with others.
I think that I can best sum up how I can show gratitude to the Savior by quoting the aspirational and inspirational words of St. Francis of Assisi. He wrote:
Lord make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand.
To be loved. as to love
For it’s in giving that we receive
And it’s in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it’s in dying that we are born…
To eternal life.
Making this prayer my mantra for daily living would be better than any public display of devotion I could participate in. Becoming a full-hearted disciple of Jesus Christ would be the best way to show my love for Him. Rather than waiting for the very rocks to cry out in praise of Christ (Luke 19:40, kjv), I need to cry out in praise both in word and deed. It is time for me to pick up my palm leaves and shout “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9, kjv). It is time for me to live my dream of participating in Palm Sunday by becoming the disciple that can spread Christ’s love to all within my sphere. Hosanna!
Look to God and Live... Joyfully! 