“Return to the Land of Your Soul”; “Next year (I hope to celebrate) in Jerusalem.”
Each a familiar prayer that a devout Jew would be praying at Passover time. No matter where you live, you can always return with Jesus to Jerusalem, which is home not only for the Jewish people, but for Christians and Muslims as well. Palm Sunday is the joyful event of Jesus riding into Jerusalem amidst hosannas and waving palm branches. Those shouts of joy will soon be changed to angry shouts.
I recently read these lines from Robert Frost, from his poem, The Road Not Taken: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Somehow on that Palm Sunday, I imagined Jesus seeing the two roads stretched out before Him, and He made the choice to take the one less traveled. Jesus traveled a road that included suffering, doubt, pain, fear, and death. We, as disciples of Jesus, are asked to take that same road. Will we follow His path down the road less traveled?
Jesus showed us how to live while traveling down this road; as a disciple, we are frequently asked to choose a path that is less traveled by. Just think of some of the decisions you have had to make in your life. We know that the road more traveled is much more crowded, as it seeks, power, fame, luxuries, judgement, righteousness, and the like. We truly face the same choice as Jesus. Which road will we take? Hopefully, throughout Lent, we have been able to take a better look at how we follow that road and emulate the Way of Jesus. I am sure that our Lenten practices have helped us to examine our ‘pet’ vices and try in some way to better our relationship with God, ourselves, and others.
Starting with today, we can all take that journey of Jesus down the road less traveled. What can I do this week that will help me be prepared to journey down that road, and come to that “Land of Our Soul”? Are we willing to live like Jesus and do so joyfully? Will the meaning of the journey through the Triduum help bring me to an ALLELUIA Easter? Like Jesus, we will need to make the choice of which road we will take, and only we can make that decision!
As an aside, make sure to place your palms in places of honor or in visible place like your car, your desk, your bedroom, or anywhere you will see them every day. There is an old legend that if a heavy weight were placed on top of a palm tree, it would still stand tall. I hope this imagery helps your during those tough times while traveling the road you choose.
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
