Today, the Church celebrates the beginning of Holy Week with the celebration of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. Christ’s entry into Jerusalem was a public event, but its meaning was completely mysterious and misunderstood to many who witnessed it. Many of the Jews in the crowd who greeted Jesus enthusiastically thought that he was a secular savior, a political victor who would overthrow the Romans and lead the Children of Israel to independence.

Jesus overthrew not the Romans but the people’s expectations. Later this week, we will hear on Good Friday that Jesus tells Pilate his kingdom is “not of this world” (Jn 18:36). The king who enters Jerusalem today to the shouts of Hosannas comes not to rule over the city, but over our hearts. During this Holy Week, the Savior who empties himself out on the cross completely reforms our earthly notions of power.

As we lift our palms today at Mass and sing Hosannas and hymns, let us ask ourselves: how can we allow the Savior to conquer our hearts this week?

As the events of Jesus’ passion unfold, it is easy to identify with the disciples
because their reactions are so human: they are tired and fearful. Reflect on your own spiritual life going into this Holy Week: are there areas of your spiritual life in which you are tired or fearful? Form an intention that you can carry with you throughout the week with Christ—what fears or sorrows do you need to surrender to God, and in what places of your life do you need his strength?

Jesus’ suffering and death is not simply a story that lives in our memories, but it is a path for each of our pilgrimages, a pattern for our lives today. Even the palms we carry today, which decorate our churches and which we wave in celebration of Christ the King, will be burned into the ashes of Ash Wednesday, a reminder that our lives on earth end in death. But that is not the end of our story. As we prepare to walk with Jesus this week, where do you see the way of the Cross, Christ’s own passion, playing out in your life? What parts of your life need to be transformed by surrendering to love or forgiveness?

On Palm Sunday, let us celebrate Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem and into our hearts!

Image: Entry of Christ into Jerusalem, Anthony Van Dyck (1617) Public Domain.