John 12:12-13

"The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!'" (John 12:12-13)

Comment:

Palm Sunday represents, for Jesus, the height of success and acceptance in his mortal life. He is aware that these same crowds will be calling for his crucifixion by the end of the week, but he embraces the moment as an opportunity for yet another spiritual lesson. He could enter Jerusalem quietly, calling no attention to himself. But his spiritual purpose requires a greater openness, a willingness to be both 'in the world but not of it.' And so he carefully stages an entrance to evoke the words of the prophet Zechariah about the arrival of the Christ. In full awareness and infinite love he embraces the demonstration of death and resurrection that the coming days will hold.

It is true for us as well that we can only move forward on our spiritual path without fear, in full confidence that however painful the intervening experience may be, the resurrection is inevitable.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed