Commit to Remembering Jesus

By Steve Martin

Palm Sunday is here. It’s time for us to join together with palm leaves in hand rejoicing as we say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest."¹ As we participate in this Sunday’s liturgy we not only join with those who gather with us today, we add our voices to the many who have come before us. We echo their words of expectation and hope.

Throughout the centuries many generations have gathered in faith praying these words. We remember that day when Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem. Just as God had foretold through the prophet Zechariah, the Messiah had come humbly to his people. “Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, Meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass.”²

The people of the Covenant gathered to meet their long awaited Messiah for his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, God’s holy city. They were full of enthusiasm as they threw their cloaks on the road and cut branches from the trees to lay them on the path before Jesus as he approached. The Gospel tells us that “when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken.“³ This was a crowd full of excitement. They recognized Jesus Christ, their Savior King, and they were shouting his praise for the whole world to hear.

Not long after his entry into Jerusalem the tone of many throughout the city changed. No longer were there people flooding the streets proclaiming the arrival of their great king. Soon we find Jesus betrayed by one of his closest followers, dragged off by Roman soldiers, and on trial before Pontius Pilate. Instead of shouts of joy and exultation, we now hear the crowds crying out, “Let him be crucified!”⁴

Where is the sound of voices raised in praise and adoration? Where is the great crowd of people rejoicing in the arrival of their heavenly king? How many in the crowd now shouting a death sentence were once in the streets exclaiming, “hosanna in the highest?”

How many Catholics will gather at Mass this Sunday to wave palms and say these words with passion, only to forget them as they return to their daily lives? Being a disciple of Jesus means more than just faithfully attending Mass on Sunday. We must come to receive Jesus in our hearts with the intention and hope of bringing him to a world in great need of a Savior. We must pray for the Holy Spirit to make us a source of grace and mercy to all we encounter. We must speak the truth in love even when it’s not politically correct to do so.

Our Lord said, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.”⁵ On this Palm Sunday let’s commit to remembering Jesus and go in peace to serve the world around us. May God grant us the grace to continue our cry of hope as we exit the Church doors and enter our mission fields.

¹The New American Bible, Zechariah 9:9

²The New American Bible, Gospel of Matthew 21:9

³The New American Bible, Gospel of Matthew 27:23

⁴The New American Bible, Gospel of Matthew 21:10

⁵The New American Bible, Gospel of Luke 10:2