BAA 2021: One final act of lenten alms

Palm Sunday is never just “Palm Sunday.” It also always includes the Lord’s Passion. By juxtaposing both of these Gospel scenes in the same Mass, the Church is forcing us to consider a hard truth: we are a fickle people.

Just as the people of Jerusalem praised Jesus, only to turn on Him a few days later, we too might claim Jesus as our Lord, but constantly turn from Him through our sins and self-centeredness. For many of us, we get a heavy dose of our weakness during Lent, when we begin with bold resolutions but so often come up short.

But our shortcomings aren’t the focus of the readings this weekend. Instead, the focus is on the steadfast love and constancy of Jesus Christ. Jesus knows we are fickle. Just like He knew that by coming into Jerusalem, despite the people’s praises, He was handing Himself over to death. And yet, in the words of the Prophet Isaiah, he set his face “like flint” and was obedient to His mission of self-giving love. He knew that so many would abandon Him, and yet He chose at every moment to persist, all the way to Calvary. Jesus also knows that you and I fail. That we turn our backs on Him in ways little and small. And yet He continues to make His love available to us today, holding back nothing.

As we enter into Holy Week, let this be our focus: that no matter how many times we’ve failed this Lent, and no matter how often we turn away from Christ, His Love for us is as constant and pure as it was when He first took up the Cross. During these days leading up to Good Friday, let’s experience contrition for our sins, remorse for our mistakes, but also incredible gratitude for Christ’s saving Love. And let’s show our gratitude by picking up our Cross and following Him in the way of self-giving love. One way we can do so, as Lent comes to a close, is to consider supporting the Bishop’s Annual Appeal as a final act of Lenten almsgiving.