Dcn Brigid Waszczak

“Jesus…said to them, ‘Go into the village…as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it…say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately...’”Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches… those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna!’…Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple… [and] looked around…as it was already late, he went out to Bethany….” (Mark 11:1-11)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Our family was driving home after a two-week trip the year our youngest turned five. We were scheduled to arrive home on his actual birthday but he was anxious we would arrive late. We assured him he would be at home to celebrate his big day and he calmed down. But when we pulled into the driveway he burst into tears. Unbeknown to us, in his wild imagination he anticipated a parade, balloons, and lots of cheering friends to welcome him. Our unadorned, unpopulated, ordinary driveway was anticlimactic.

Jesus’ triumphal arrival in Jerusalem was just as anticlimactic. For nearly two miles, the crowd accompanied him, throwing cloaks on the road before him and cheering “Hosanna” as he rode into the city on a colt. Jesus might well have imagined he would be greeted at the Temple by faithful followers ready to accept his message of a loving God. But no one greeted Jesus. No one welcomed him. Jesus looked around the Temple and left quietly. Given the buildup in the story, more was expected.

I find it curious that until that day, Jesus demurred when people wanted to spread word of his miracles. But on Palm Sunday, he accepted and even encouraged the crowd’s acknowledgment of his reputation. And yet, the spirit that swept through the fired-up crowd didn’t result in a great transformation.

Did Jesus reassess and reclaim his more modest stance? Did he abandon hope that his ministry would be fully embraced by his followers? It would be understandable if he did given his disappointing reception at the Temple.

Like my youngest son, I can create expectations of positive future outcomes. Some are fanciful. Some are hopeful. And what really happens is often neither.

One example of this is when I introduced Laughter Yoga to Saint Philip’s years ago. My hope was that it would add positivity and humor to parishioners’ lives. Instead, the effort failed abysmally.

It’s a tricky dance, isn’t it? It’s sometimes challenging to know when to continue with an effort and when to accept a different outcome.

What in your life isn’t meeting your expectations? To what are you being invited? Perseverance? Flexibility? Acceptance?

Blessings,

—Dcn Brigid