As March departs, signaling the beginning of this year's second quarter and the entry of April, we are also aptly reminded that soon, the Lenten Season will be over. We can look forward to Easter Sunday beyond the passion and the cross borne for us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is a beautiful period for contemplation.
What did the first three months of this new year bring for us, personally, as a family, as a nation, as a global community? Is our personal, local, and global world closer to peace, prosperity, and unity? Or do we still have a long way to go before we can reap the promise of Easter in our midst, in our world? Are we still in the midst of much earthly challenges, dissention, and division? How far are we moving on together to make our present earthly dwelling place a divine home and offering for our people and our God?
Palm Sunday this April 9th reminds us how leaders should be as Christ Himself demonstrated in His words and in His deeds. As our heavenly King, holy, almighty, and immortal, He could have chosen to enter Jerusalem, as earthly leaders are wont to, in the grandest fashion, with an entourage of guards, trumpets heralding His arrival and clothed in the finest and most expensive robes. Instead, He humbly rode a lowly donkey but nevertheless, people recognized Him as the promised Messiah.
Waving and covering His path with palm branches, "the crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" (Matthew 21:9, NIV). As noted in Zechariah 9:9: "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (NIV).
When we prepare our palms to be blessed during Mass, do we remember the deeper meaning of the humble entry of God's Son into our lives for our redemption and do we wave our palms to joyfully say "Thank You, to God the Father and to Jesus Christ His Son" for bringing us back into Their heavenly kingdom, "on earth as it is in heaven?"
Our period of contemplation that is highlighted this Lenten Season and Holy Week especially allows us to review our lives, our past and present, and to look forward to moving on, perhaps, to change, towards a renewed heart, deeper faith, brightened hope, expansive love?
Just as the first quarter of the year ends with cold winter giving way to bright spring in countries that experience four seasons of the year, will this contemplative period of Lent bring us beyond winter in our lives to flower-filled spring?
Contemplation leads to change just as change leads to contemplation. April sees more sun taking over snow bringing warmer, more comfortable weather and allowing abundant beauty all around, with flowers and plants strewing their colors and fragrances all around. In our country, many look forward to April and May as vacation months, to relax, to enjoy reunions, to pick and offer flowers to Mama Mary for the Flores de Mayo. Then there is the beach and the sea to visit, beyond the malls and noise of the cities.
So much beauty, joy, peace, promise and redemption if we allow contemplation and change in our hearts, in our lives as we leave March to move on to April and the rest of the days, months, and years.