Passion Week Thoughts - Palm Sunday
The story of the last week of Christ’s earthly life is one with which most North Americans are familiar. Passion week spans from Palm Sunday to the resurrection on Easter Sunday. In my posts this week, I’d like to share my thoughts about the metaphysical and mythological aspects of the "greatest story ever told".
These posts are created with thanks to my adult Sunday School class at Pathways Church, with whom I always learn as much as I teach.
To me, Jesus represents a master teacher, an ascended master, a highly evolved spirit who chose to incarnate into human form. Although I cannot call myself a true Christian, I revere Jesus’ teachings as callings to human beings to become the best we can be, to follow the way of love, to evolve our souls and attain the kingdom of heaven right here on earth.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem to the wild acclaim of his followers, who by this time had multiplied in number. I think of the frenzy with which some political followers greet their favorite presidential candidate. I can feel the excitement of the crowd, the thrill of getting to see this radiant human being, the urge to be near his energy or to touch him. Then I think of Jesus’ interior thoughts. He knew that his earthly life was quickly drawing to a close. Even though he was an ascended master, the human part of him was saddened about his impending death.
Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem makes me think of times that I received the acclaim of others, but my heart wasn’t in it. I think of job situations in which I received a great salary and good feedback about my performance but my values were not in alignment with those of the company I worked for. Worse than being sad like Jesus was, it made my life crazy to live in dissonance with my true values or calling. Can you think of times in your life in which you received "hosannas" from others, but were sad or conflicted on the inside?
The other aspect of the Palm Sunday story is this: Jesus enters Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey, not in a king’s carriage. The son of God shows his solidarity with mortals by entering the city via the lowliest means of transportation. Can you image the US president visiting your town in a Ford Focus - or a bicycle?
To me, this reminds me of the example that Christ sets for us. We are all capable of illuminating the divine essence within us - indeed, Jesus cites Hebrew scripture that says "You are gods" in John 10:34. I believe that the essence of our souls is divine, loving and luminous. Jesus’ life and teachings shows us examples of how to live in connection with our divine essence. By entering Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus demonstrates to us that we, too, can aspire to Christ-like lives - lives that are in alignment with our soul’s deepest truths.
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