Today - Palm Sunday, marks the beginning of Jesus' last week on earth. He begins it by spending the night with friends. His dear friends at Bethany are: Lazarus whom he raised from the dead and Lazarus' sisters, Martha and Mary. Martha expresses her love by preparing and serving the meal, while Mary is the welcoming and doting hostess, during supper anointing Jesus' feet with a large amount of very expensive ointment, lavish in her expression of love.

In the midst of this poignant and tender scene, Judas introduces a discordant note of complaint. He characterizes Mary's anointing as impractical, spendthrift disregard of the needs of the poor, a spectacle. His supposed concern for the poor is a lie transparent to all.

The following morning, Jesus sets out on a donkey for nearby Jerusalem. The eternal king of peace approaches his royal city meekly seated on an ass's colt. His calm, serious demeanor is in stark contrast to the excitement and uproar all about him. As the city comes in view, Jesus weeps and says:"If you too had only recognized on this day the way to peace. But in fact it is hidden from your eyes!" 1

As Jesus enters Jerusalem, it seems to erupt. The city was crowded with Passover pilgrims. Word of Jesus' raising Lazarus from the dead, his many cures and his authoritative teaching were on everyone's lips. "Great crowds of people spread their cloaks on the road while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in his path. The crowds who went in front of him and those who followed were all shouting: 'Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heavens!' ...the whole city was in turmoil as people asked, 'Who is this?' and the crowds answered, 'This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee' " 2

"Jesus went into the Temple and began driving out those who were busy trading...my house shall be a house of prayer but you have turned it into a bandits' den" 3 "There were also blind and lame people who came to him in the Temple, and he cured them. At the sight of the wonderful things he did and of the children shouting...the chief priests and the scribes were indignant". Jesus "left them and went out of the city to Bethany where he spent the night..." 4

Jesus' heart is heavy, his emotions raw. He has spent himself teaching and healing through the length and breadth of this small land. The journey is almost complete. Jesus knows that very few comprehend his message of repentance and the gift of God's unconditional love. Bethany was Jesus' refuge from unbelief, his warm, loving, welcoming group of friends.

What lesson can I garner from today's memorial of that first Palm Sunday? Shall I join Judas and despise lavish outpourings of love? Or shall I once more resolve to be a true and loyal follower of Christ? Can I, with prayer and God's grace, be a firm and steadfast friend of Christ? Can I be true to him even when it's not popular, when the "mob-mood" has shifted, when the music and excitement have faded, when it's unpopular and even dangerous? Can my humble soul be a Bethany? 

I Lk 19:41,42

humble soul be a Bethany?