Looking in the Mirror

Palm Sunday is odd.

To me, the Mass for Palm Sunday is like being a part of The Passion of the Christ in fast forward. We begin with a joyful procession into the church, holding palms and singing just as the townspeople did when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem.

It was an exuberant moment for both Jews and Gentliles alike — here at last was the rabbi that everyone had been talking about. There were rumors of healings, signs of power, and even the dead returning to life. And he also spoke radically against faith that's built solely on heartless, rigid obedience.

To the leaders of the day, he was a threat. To others, a beacon of hope. But for all of them, he was an enigma.

In the span of a few days, he would be betrayed, denied, falsely accused, abandoned, mocked, beaten and killed. Much of the torture would come at the hands of those who were closest to his heart.

Whether or not we want to admit it, we do the same thing every day. And the events of Holy Week are a brutal reminder that none of us are immune to human failure, no matter how bold our faith is.

During Palm Sunday Mass and again during the liturgy of Good Friday, we read the entire Passion narrative. What makes these two readings unique is that the congregation does more than just listen — we also participate by playing the part of the crowd.

And trust me, it's a rough crowd. They're the ones that ask for Jesus' crucifixion and say His blood will be on their hands.

We may not be the people handing over blood money or abandoning Jesus at the cross, but there are probably dozens of other little ways we injure our connection to God every day. And over time, those little wounds can take their toll.

But there is a greater message underneath all this: Hope. Yes, Jesus suffered horribly then and in many ways still suffers in the moments we abandon Him. But he came to give us the opportunity to heal, to set things right and move forward. He did it despite the way we treat him. He loves us anyway.

In order to repair our souls, we first need to take a hard look in mirror and get real about the person we see there, flaws and all. That's just what Holy Week is about.

It's an intense process that can sometimes be painful. But if we embrace it, we'll arrive at Easter with a new appreciation for the incredible love we have in God.

Real love isn't afraid to bleed. Be courageous.

Start Over Again

Two weeks from today will be the Easter Vigil. Our time of preparation will end with joy and, if you're anything like me, probably some relief over indulging in whatever you sacrificed.

You might be having a great Lent: You've been staying on top of your prayer life, toughing it out when those cravings come and are quick to support others in need.

Or maybe you read the first line of this post and let slip some variant of "Oh, @#$%."

To the first crowd, we salute you. Charge on, awesome soldiers of self-discipline!

For the rest of you, take heart: We're not done yet. :)

The way I see it, Lent is a seven-week crash course in the rhythm of the Christian walk — a microcosm of our lifelong relationship with God. Sometimes it's ecstatic, but there are also seasons where it'd be too easy to throw in the towel. Most of the time, it's somewhere in between.

A wise friend once told me that life is merciful to us because we keep on living in good times and in bad. There's so much truth to this, and it's been a wonderful consolation to me in those seasons where things just aren't going right.

If your Lent has been a belly flop, there are still two weeks to make the most of it. Take a deep breath, reconsider your plans if you need to, and then jump in again with both feet. A rocky start can become something extraordinary, especially with Holy Week right around the corner.

And that's true of every trial we might experience. Whether it's a work issue, weight problems or even a broken relationship, it's never too late to start again. Nothing changes overnight, and in some cases things will never be the same. But through God's grace, we can move forward with hope.

Every day is brand new. Pray for the courage to live it fully.