Palms of Victory Give Way to Pains of Death!

April 13, 2025 Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
Daily Readings: Blessing of Palms:Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-1l; Luke 22:14-23:56

The Church invites us to enter into Holy Week, contemplating the triumphant yet humble entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Hear the joyful cries of “Hosanna!”—but contrast them with the looming shadow of the Passion. What makes Jesus, the most popular person on this Sunday, become the most hated by Friday?

The donkey gives us a clue! By making His grand entry on a donkey—with its monstrous head, sickening cry, and ears like errant wings, as described in The Donkey by G.K. Chesterton—Jesus shatters every false notion the people held about the Messiah.

It is fitting to read and reflect on Chesterton’s poem The Donkey. Nowhere in the poem does it explicitly state that it is about a donkey! But in the last stanza, the donkey describes how it was finally recognized—when Jesus sat upon it and received a solemn welcome into Jerusalem. As it heard the joyful shouts of the crowd and saw people spreading palm leaves and blankets on the street, it began to feel a sense of importance. Yes, the donkey had its hour—when Jesus was with it! Likewise, we too will have our hour when Jesus is with us.

Despite knowing what awaited Him, Jesus chose to accept the cross in total obedience to the Father (Philippians 2:6-8). How do you respond to suffering in your life? Do you trust in God’s purpose? Holy Week is an invitation to walk with Jesus through His Passion.

In a few hours, the palm leaves we carried to welcome Jesus will become dry crosses. They will likely be placed behind pictures on the wall or tucked away somewhere in the house. These dry, withered, empty crosses—what do they signify? Do they remind you of the humiliating death of Jesus on a cross like this? Too often, we try to offer crosses without Christ! We don’t want to suffer; we don’t want to face struggles in our lives.

But Jesus’ ways are different. Christianity without the Cross of Christ is unthinkable. No cross—no crown! No wounds—no blessings! Let us take up our cross with Christ in our journey on earth, with the hope that we will share in His resurrection.

Call to Action for Catholic Living:

• As you stand at the crossroads of various conflicts and challenges, move forward with courage and the strength of the Lord to face life.
• True love often involves sacrifice. In what ways are you planning to bring meaning to it?