April 10th, Mr. Bradley Gibson: President School Board

April 10, 2022: Palm Sunday
Mr. Bradley Gibson: President School Board
Lk 19:28-40 (37)/Is 50:4-7/Phil 2:6-11/Lk 22:14—23:56 or 23:1-49 (38)
Palm Sunday Reflections

There are several things that always come to mind when I think of Palm Sunday & the readings
which focus on the passion of Jesus.
1) The mass will be a long one. From the procession into the church with palms, to a gospel
reading that has everyone involved from the speaker to the narrator, to the priest who
reads Jesus’s words, to the parishioners in the pews who respond as the crowd did. This
mass is generally lengthy, but it is one of exceptional beauty and is chock full of meaning
and symbolism for us as faithful Christians. I will try to challenge myself to allow the
deeper meanings and beauty to touch my heart, rather than let my own impatience spoil
the blessings and grace God has for me.
2) I am always struck by the dichotomy of the crowd hailing Jesus as the Christ when he
enters the holy city on the back of a donkey, and a short few days later sees the same
crowd calling for his crucifixion. We ourselves proclaim Jesus as Lord of our lives, but
our shortcomings and sins are actions which see our proclamation ring hollow. I pray
that I can live out my own proclamation of Jesus as Lord of my life better than I have in
the past.
3) There is also a message in the readings which provides a lesson in how God calls us to
behave and the things we should value. Jesus processed into Jerusalem as a peasant or
poor person. He did not have soldiers who accompanied him. He did not ride on a horse
or a chariot. He was not dressed in finery. His entry into the holy city is a stark contrast
to the Roman “triumph” which is arranged for conquering heroes who return with power
and might. The Roman triumph sees an entry into the capital city that is nothing short of
majestic. Soldiers, slaves, wild beasts, gold, silver, stolen goods which are the spoils of
conquest, & and an ultimate display of earthly power. The followers of Jesus are called
to be different. Earthly power, wealth, the spoils of aggression, and violence are not our
call. Instead, we are called to humility, peace, & love. Our treasure is stored in heaven.
Our triumph is when we join the heavenly saints with our Father. As followers of Jesus,
we are called to reject the Roman concept of triumph and accept the path of Christ (the
peasant).
4) Finally, Palm Sunday signals the start of Holy Week for me. It is a time when I will be
challenged to accept Christ into my heart in an ever deeper and more meaningful way.
That acceptance means a call for me to accept the cross. Accept the way of peace and
humility. Accept the way of suffering and trials. Accept God’s direction in my life with
love and obedience. I should accept all of these with an eye toward the resurrection and
the hope it provides for greater things to come.
May God bless each of you & may your Holy week be filled with grace, mercy, & the love of
Christ.
Brad Gibson