03/28/2026
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Our celebration of Palm Sunday reveals the reality of human nature which Jesus clearly understood. It is also a true study in contrasts. Jesus enters Jerusalem like a triumphant hero only to be rejected as an object of scorn and derision His procession of Glory is actually the beginning of His Passion. Hosannahs become shouts to crucify Him. It is rather astounding and jarring, this movement from palms of praise to persecution ending with the Crucifixion.
Equally astounding to me is how closely this Liturgy reflects (perhaps predicts?) the reality of our lives and our world to this very day. To be a Christian is to experience, albeit at a much less degree, persecution and rejection by the world. It may also be a clarion call to each of us that we all too often reject our Savior and His ways when we sin. In one day, we may proclaim Him as our Savior and King only to reject Him when we choose anger, pleasure, or worse to satisfy our own wills and desires over His. Palm Sunday reminds us how easily we embrace the empty promises of culture even though they contradict the promises of Christ as revealed through Holy Scripture and Church teaching.
Palm Sunday is an opportunity for us to pray that we may persevere in the Faith when “the crowds” turn against us. What would we do if confronted with the choice of accepting the mark of the beast in order to have access to food, travel, public entertainment and comforts?
Palm Sunday reminds me that I must pray for strength and final perseverance. St. John Vianney tells us, “We cannot please God and the world at the same time, they are utterly opposed.” Yet we are here, exiled as it were, in the world of flesh and dust. Without the Grace of Jesus Christ, I know I would fail in the face of extreme suffering. So let us all throw ourselves into His Arms of Grace. Let us learn how to completely rely upon Him. Let us walk with Mary and the Saints as we follow our Lord and Savior. It will involve suffering and sacrifice, but it does not end with suffering and sacrifice. Palm Sunday leads to the Sacred Triduum, the three holy days known as Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. These three days prepare us for the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.
We are once again challenged to move from being one among the fickle crowd to becoming a person united with Christ, living in His Divine Will. He has promised to be with us always as He leads us through suffering to celebration, through sorrow to joy, through the slavery of sin to true freedom. ultimately, He takes us through death to new life, now and in
eternity.
Joyfully yours, Father Michael
www.icslchurch.net
