Photo by Artiom Vallat on Unsplash
The Lonely Road to Jerusalem
We’re nearly at Lent’s end with Palm Sunday just two days away, marking the beginning of what’s known as Holy Week — the week leading up to Easter Sunday.
Palm Sunday always falls on the Sunday before Resurrection Sunday and is a time of reflecting on and remembering Jesus making His way to Jerusalem as He rode on a colt in John 12:12-19, as those He passed by held palm branches exclaiming loudly,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!” (v. 13)
I remember being among the children in the church that I grew up in carrying palm branches down the center aisle as we mirrored what the people of Israel saw in Jesus that day. I had no idea then the significance of what I was carrying or speaking aloud as the adults in our church smiled and clapped at our performance.
But Jesus’ entrance into the holy city wasn’t a performance. It was a long and lonely road that would lead to great triumph yes, but terrible sacrifice, too. One that would momentarily — thanks be to God — end His life so that ours could begin.
I wonder now that I’m older what Jesus felt riding in on that colt, hearing the people around Him proclaiming Him to be The Messiah.
Was He full of joy at their worship and adoration?
Was He full of sorrow at the reality of where that lonely road to Jerusalem was going to take Him?
Was He scared of His final destination?
There’s a somberness and solemnity mixed with hope and exuberant joy that accompanies Palm Sunday and Holy Week. And I imagine that Jesus felt all of that and much more. He was the Son of God, but He was always the Son of Man in a man’s earthly body Who felt deeply, loved deeply, and also grew deeply tired.
In fact, He felt and feared so much in the Garden of Gethsemane that He sweated out His own blood (Luke 22:44). But He also believed and loved fiercely and let hope drive Him to the cross where the man He created drove nails into His wrists all for the sake of spending eternity with us.
As Lent comes to an end, I’m finding that sorrow can’t exist without joy, nor the other way around. They are two birds of a feather. There is no victory cry without first the bloody war, just as there is no joy in freedom without first the sorrow of a steep price to pay.
And Jesus paid that ultimate price written in love, written in His own blood.
That’s what the Lord has been forming in me these past 5 weeks of the Lenten season — how to hold both the pain and the joy; the sorrow and the tears with the laughter and the hope. Just as Jesus most likely did as He made His way to Jerusalem and to the tomb that would hold His earthly body for three days before rising again.
Jesus’ death, sorrow, and pain came before His joy, resurrection, and ultimate victory. And so it is oftentimes in our own lives, which is a tough truth to swallow, but one that also comes with the promise of great triumph.
As we make our way to Palm Sunday, through Holy Week — Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and then to that blessed Easter Sunday morning — may we honor as Jesus did all that we carry within us, too. May we partake in His sorrow by naming the sorrow that lives inside our own bodies. May we remember His sacrifice with both pain and longing, joy and hope.
May we come to believe the truth that grief is often the crucible that births the truest forms of healing, restoration, and utter delight.
The loneliest, hardest roads really can lead to the most brokenly beautiful places.
Praise be.
Peace be with you,
Celia
A Breath Prayer for Your Weekend
breathe in:
Blessed is He.
breathe out:
Who comes in the name of the Lord.
*if you’d like to learn more about the practice of breath prayer, check out this blog post I wrote titled, How to Use Breath Prayer.
Join the Sacred Spaces Community
Are you longing to be more attentive to God’s presence in your everyday life?
Do you have the desire to know God’s love and grow in deeper communion with Him?
Are you sensing the Spirit’s invitation to grow spiritually but don’t know where to begin?
Do you feel tired, worn out, or burnt out on religion?
Are you craving rest, refreshment of soul, and perhaps a different way of being with God?
In the Sacred Spaces community, we’re going to journey deeper into the heart of God together, putting our ears to His chest as we gently trod toward Homebase, by exploring different Christian contemplative practices that are designed to open our hearts to the Spirit’s leading and loving voice in our souls and lives. By subscribing to Sacred Spaces for just $5 a month, you’ll gain immediate access to:
monthly emails that will be sent out on the 1st of every month containing that month’s spiritual practice, action steps, and tools, outside additional resources, and weekly reflection questions
Soul Care Sessions, where you can book a 30-minute one-on-one Zoom call with me to talk about that month's spiritual practice, what the Lord is revealing to you, or what you're wrestling with. It's an invitation to come as you are as the Holy Spirit leads our time together and cares for your soul
a community chat in the Substack app where you can engage with other community members and me about that month’s email or whatever else may be stirring within you
Click here to join or read more about it:
Resources & Good Things to Pick Up
I just finished reading Enjoying Intimacy with God by J. Oswald Sanders and I would highly recommend you check it out: Enjoying Intimacy with God
My friend and fellow writer, Kari Bartkus, is offering an 8-week journaling course called Journal Gently designed to help you experience God’s presence in the midst of grief. I went through the 8-week writing program myself, and it was incredibly healing and life-giving. Check it out here: Journal Gently
Grab some breath prayer cards, a journal, and other contemplative resources from my Etsy shop: The Beholding Co.
Grab a copy of my Bible study, You Are Beloved: a 21-day study on how to root your identity in the love of God, over on Amazon.
An Invitation to Pause & Reflect
A regular practice of reflection helps us recognize what’s going on beneath the surface of our souls so we can name it in the Lord’s presence. Because as we learn to name what we feel, what we need, and what we long for, we’re also learning to discern the Spirit’s sweet, gentle voice within our hearts and lives.
Take a few moments today or this weekend to journal or contemplate with the Holy Spirit the following question(s) or prompt(s):
What have these past Lenten weeks been forming in you? Take a few moments to prayerfully reflect and journal what the Holy Spirit has been revealing to you this Lenten season.