When Jesus entered Jerusalem 2000 years ago, the Jews were expecting a messianic hero. The Romans, who had annexed Judea into the Roman empire in 6 AD, were a constant reminder to the Jews that the messianic age had not yet come. The Jews were still waiting for God. It was bad enough being exiled in Babylon for 70 years; but to be second-class citizens in their own country- this was too much! The Jews, therefore, waited for deliverance; and as Jesus entered Jerusalem, the air was boiling with anticipation. Now was the moment! Now was the time to restore the kingdom of David! Yet, instead of ending up with a messianic hero, they received a crucified carpenter.
We all know the story. Jesus enters the city triumphantly. The crowds – waving palm branches – lay their cloaks at his feet, all while shouting Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! (Mk 11:9). The messiah, the one who was going to restore the kingdom of David, had finally come. Not even a week later, however, the tune of the crowd had changed. Instead of praising him, they cursed him. Instead of shouting hosanna, they chanted crucify him! Jesus was not the messiah they had hoped for. He didn’t conform to their expectations, so they delivered him up to death on a cross.
How many times have our expectations been dashed? How many times have we thought that God was planning something great for our lives, only to have Him let us down? If only God, would give me what I need. If only he could understand my desires and expectations! These are the thoughts with which we feed our minds. It is these thoughts, however, that show us that we do not yet understand the Cross of Christ.
Jesus is not what we expect. When he entered Jerusalem, the Jews wanted a king, but he became a prisoner. We, too, want a kingly Jesus, a victorious Jesus, but all too often he does not present himself under the auspice of a king; instead, he comes to us on the Cross. What do we make of this? How should we respond? We have two options. We can either abandon Him or we can embrace Him. Now, the embrace will be biting and bitter; but that embrace, no matter how bitter, is never without hope. For though Christ dies on the Cross, he rises to everlasting life. So it will be with us. If we accept the crosses that God sends our way, if we embrace our pains and struggles, if we conform our expectations – not to our own desires – but to Him from whom all desire flows, then we too will rise to everlasting life. Let us not grow disheartened by the Cross! Let us not despair and lose hope when Jesus is not what we expect. For in the end, Jesus’ resurrection is beyond all that we can hope for or imagine.
Ian Mahood – St. Joseph Seminary, Edmonton, Alberta
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