Liturgy of the Palms:
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-20
Luke 19:28-40
Liturgy of the Passion:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 22:14-23:56
Two themes seem to dominate the liturgy for me today. The first is the fact that Jesus wanted to make sure people understood that his ministry, his messianic message, was not one of a military conqueror, but a conqueror of the heart. To emphasize this message, he made a "grand entrance" into Jerusalem the last week of his earthly ministry on the back of a donkey, a small colt, and not with a band of soldiers in chariots brandishing weapons.
Psalm 118, the processional psalm, stresses over and over that the Kingdom of God is based on love, and not on a vindictive God seeking to punish and torture. Again and again, the message in this psalm is "God's steadfast love endures forever!"
God's love is unconditional and unbroken. When humanity sinks to its lowest point and gathers together to execute the very Son of God later in this week, even then God's love doesn't falter. Instead, God embraces the depth of humanity, and conquers death, coming back again on Easter morning to prove that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
His love is undeniable, and invincible.
The second theme has to do with how we are willing to receive Christ into our lives. An ancient tradition is to lay down one's outer cloak at the approach of royalty as an act of homage and respect. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, it was reported that some of his followers "kept spreading their cloaks on the road."
The symbolism of this act can be linked to another of the readings for this day, Paul's letter to the Philippians, where he writes about how Christ "emptied himself," taking on the mind of a servant, and not exploiting his equality with God. Paul was urging us to do this very same thing, "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus..."
In today's terms, this means letting go of what is often called the earthly self, the outer self, the small self, or the dysfunctional ego. This is part of the public image we project out to others; it's how we want other people to see us, even if it's not always the truth of who we really are.
This outer self creates a shell that resists wisdom and instruction from God. It's the part that nurtures unhealthy personality traits like prejudice, fear, shame, bias, greed, envy, and the like. It filters facts to fit want the ego desires, but not what the soul needs.
In the presence of God in Christ, we don't need a public image. Our own soul-self, when projected outward, will do just fine. Christ accepts us as we are, regardless of our past or current condition. He only asks that we lay down all the false outer shell so that he can be with us and raise us up in love.
That's what the people on the road to Jerusalem were symbolizing. They took off their outer cloaks, representing their false selves, and laid them at the feet of Jesus. What remained was the true self, the self that God made, the self that is interconnected with everyone else. It is the self that can learn about love from God, as Isaiah wrote, "The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious...he wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught..."
Reflection Questions
1. What was God's entrance into your life like?
2. Can you accept that He is a loving God, and not "out to get you"?
3. Are you willing to lower your outer shell, to lay down your outer cloak, and let Him into your life?
4. Read through the scripture lessons for this Sunday again, and spend some time journaling your thoughts.
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