Elevating Ourselves to Discipleship . . . Palm Sunday
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Palm Sunday - April 2nd, 2023 (Click Here for Readings)
At first glance, this Palm Sunday’s reading from Isaiah seems to be mainly meant for lectors, priests, deacons and catechists, but it’s also meant for any of us who choose to be disciples of Christ.
Beyond the altar and the ambo are limitless opportunities for average Catholics to speak and minister to “the weary, words that will rouse them." And the best credentials for these challenges are our own experiences of weariness that God has pulled us through in our past lives.
There are no disciples more believable and inspiring to the weary and downtrodden than those who’ve “been there done that” successfully in similar difficult circumstances.
Though many whom we minister to may feel abandoned by God or guilty because of their past sins, we can help assure them that God’s forgiveness and everlasting love will always there for their comfort and relief.
In our endeavors to “speak to the weary” in our communities, parishes and workplaces, we’ll often be opposed, confronted and possibly even threatened. But when we listen for God’s guidance “morning after morning,” we’ll learn to become more obedient and willing to turn our cheeks to those in darkness and disbelief. When our family, friends and acquaintances fail or betray us, God will not.
So let us stay strong in our efforts to comfort the troubled and “set our faces like flint, knowing we shall not be put to shame.” Let us declare ourselves as disciples of Christ with all its challenges, consequences and joys.
Though we may not always be accepted in circles of the weary (they do band together) different from our own, we must avoid the temptations to give up. We must remain confident that God will always equip us with the right “words to rouse them” whenever we’ve exhausted our advice.
Our success in speaking to the weary will largely depend on our humility and display of equality with them. Though we may at times feel that we’re closer to God than those we’re trying to help, it’s no reason to pontificate, patronize or show superiority.
We must always stay on guard to keep our minds empty of self-righteousness, and remain on an equal basis with everyone we encounter. Better yet, in St. Paul’s words to the Philippians, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves.
With Christ as our model of self-sacrifice and self-abasement, let us strive to imitate these qualities to the fullest of our abilities. To become virtually “emptied, taking the form of a slave” as Christ did, we must “throw in” all of the admirable attributes we possess that prevent us from thinking as being equal to or less than others. Do this and God will greatly exalt us with Christ.
Sacrifice and glory go hand in hand.
I consider that the sufferings of the present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)
For more reflections on the Sunday readings, Go Here
