Palm Sunday Reflection

Dear People of Our Lady of Divine Providence Family of Parishes,

As we rejoice with the crowds that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem, it is good for us to learn from their example and improve upon their mistake. Within a few short hours of Jesus’ triumphal entry, the crowds dissipated. Instead of remaining within the city as the conquering king, Jesus left the city that had welcomed him so boisterously that same morning and spent the night in a suburb. The next morning, he curses a fig tree that does not bear fruit.

It is easy to follow Jesus and proclaim our faith at moments of ecstasy. It is harder to remain faithful in silence and doubt. If we are to be fig trees that bear fruit, we must not abandon Jesus when the contagion of experience is over. Rather, even in boring times and in doubt and darkness, we must still acknowledge Him as King. Then, we can follow Him to the Cross. And like the Good Thief, we will not ask to be taken down from the Cross. Instead, we can learn to see the Cross as the entry into the Kingdom.

Though we face difficulties ahead in our parishes, we should not lose our faith or stop practicing our faith, even if the things we are used to and find comfortable are no longer there. Even when we share the Cross, we must keep in mind the Kingdom and the Resurrection. To turn away from the Cross is to turn away from Heaven. Let us follow Jesus through good times and bad, in joy and in sorrow, and into eternity.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Henry