Liturgy of the Palms

No matter how dire our circumstances, God's steadfast love endures forever and can sustain us.

Love endures forever and can sustain us. I’m reminded of the relationship between the astronaut Mark Kelly and his wife, former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

In 2011, Giffords was shot in the head during a public event, resulting in a traumatic brain injury that required years of intense rehabilitation. Throughout this difficult time, Kelly remained by her side, providing constant love and support.

Despite the challenges they faced, their love for each other never wavered, and they continued to work together to overcome each obstacle. Today, more than a decade later, they remain happily married and continue to inspire others with their story of resilience and enduring love. Their love has sustained them through the toughest of times and serves as a powerful example of how love can endure forever and help us through even the most challenging of circumstances.

In the movie “Up” by Pixar, we see another example of how love endures forever and can sustain us. The movie follows the journey of Carl and Ellie's love story from childhood to old age. They share a deep love and connection that sustains them through life's challenges, including infertility, financial struggles, and the loss of their dreams. Despite these difficulties, their love never fades, and they remain devoted to each other until Ellie passes away. Even after Ellie's death, Carl continues to hold onto their love and memories, which give him the strength and motivation to pursue his dreams and embark on a new adventure. Their love endures even in death and continues to sustain Carl throughout his life.

This example shows how love can endure forever, transcending time and space, and how it can sustain us through life's ups and downs. It highlights the importance of cherishing the love we have and holding onto it, even when faced with adversity. As we gather on this Palm Sunday, we are reminded of the triumphant entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. This powerful image of how Jesus’ love for us will endure forever, even through the most challenging of situations that arise in our lives. The crowds welcomed Him with shouts of joy and praise, waving palm branches and laying them before Him. Yet, as we know, this celebration was short-lived, and soon Jesus would face unimaginable suffering and death on the cross.

It is in this context that we reflect on the theme of today's topic: "No matter how dire our circumstances, God's steadfast love endures forever and can sustain us."

The events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion were undoubtedly dire. He was betrayed by one of His own disciples, arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. He was mocked, beaten, and forced to carry His own cross to Golgotha, where He was nailed to it and left to die.

But in the midst of all this suffering and darkness, there was a glimmer of hope. Jesus' steadfast love for us, and for His Father in heaven, never wavered. He remained faithful to His mission, even when it cost Him everything.

And this is the message that we need to hear today, as we continue to navigate through our own trials and tribulations. No matter what we are facing – illness, financial hardship, relationship problems, or any other kind of struggle – God's love for us endures forever.

Psalm 136:1 says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever." This refrain is repeated throughout the psalm, reminding us that God's love is unwavering and unchanging, no matter what happens. We can take comfort in this truth, knowing that we are not alone in our suffering. We serve a God who understands our pain and walks with us through it. He is a God who can sustain us, even when we feel like we can't go on.

Today we are reminded of the steadfast love of God that endures forever, no matter our circumstances. As it says in Psalm 118:1-2a, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever."

It is easy for us to feel discouraged and hopeless when we face difficult times in our lives. We may feel like we are alone and that no one cares for us. But the truth is that God's love is never-ending and unwavering, even when we cannot see it or feel it.

God's steadfast love is not based on our circumstances or our actions. It is a constant and unchanging force that surrounds us always. When we are feeling lost or unsure of ourselves, we can take comfort in knowing that God's love will never fail us.

In fact, it is precisely in those times of struggle and hardship that we may be most aware of God's love for us. It is during those moments that we can turn to God and ask for strength and guidance, and He will always be there for us. Even when we make mistakes and fall short of His expectations, God's love remains constant. He does not love us any less because of our faults or flaws. Instead, He offers us grace and forgiveness, and the opportunity to start anew.

So today, let us give thanks to the Lord for His steadfast love that endures forever. Let us take comfort in knowing that no matter what we may face in life, God's love will always be with us. And let us strive to share that love with others, so that they too may experience the never-ending love of our Lord and Savior. As we read in Matthew 21:7-9, the crowds that went before and after Jesus were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was a significant moment in history. It was a moment when God's love for humanity was put on display for all to see. The people of Jerusalem had been waiting for the promised Messiah, and they believed that Jesus was that Messiah. They greeted Him with open arms and praised Him as the Son of David, the long-awaited king who would bring salvation to Israel.

But what is it about Jesus' entry into Jerusalem that exemplifies God's enduring love? It is the fact that God sent His only Son to be with us, to walk among us, and to ultimately give His life for us. Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was the beginning of the end of His earthly ministry, a ministry that was dedicated to showing us the love of God.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus demonstrated God's love in many ways. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and showed compassion to the marginalized. He forgave sins, performed miracles, and taught us how to live a life of love, service, and humility.

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was a public declaration of His mission, a mission that would culminate in His death on the cross. It was a mission that was driven by God's love for His people, a love that is enduring and never-ending.

As we reflect on the words of Psalm 118:14, "The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation." These words remind us of the incredible power and grace of our Lord, who is always with us, supporting us through every challenge and difficulty.

When we face struggles in our lives, whether they are physical, emotional, or spiritual, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless. We may feel as though we are alone, without the strength or resources to overcome our difficulties. But the psalmist reminds us that this is not the case. The Lord is our strength and our might, and he has become our salvation.

As Christians, we believe that God is always with us, walking beside us on our journey through life. He is the one who gives us the strength to persevere through difficult times, and the courage to face our fears and overcome our challenges. When we put our trust in God, we can be confident that he will never abandon us, and that he will always provide us with the strength and guidance we need to succeed.

The words of this psalm also remind us that our salvation comes from God alone. It is not something that we can achieve on our own, through our own efforts or good deeds. Rather, it is a gift that God offers to us freely, out of his infinite love and mercy. Through his grace, we are saved, and through his strength, we are empowered to live out our faith and fulfill his purposes for our lives.

So let us take heart, my brothers and sisters, in the knowledge that the Lord is our strength and our might, and that he has become our salvation. Let us trust in his goodness and his power, and let us lean on him in times of trouble. And let us give thanks to God for his unending love and grace, which sustains us always.

May the words of this psalm be a comfort and a source of hope for each of us today, and may we always remember that we serve a God who is mighty to save. Amen. As we reflect on Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, let us remember that God's love for us is just as enduring today as it was on that day. Let us take comfort in the fact that God sent His Son to be with us, to save us from our sins, and to show us the way to eternal life.

Let us also be inspired by Jesus' example of love and service, and let us strive to follow in His footsteps by loving others, serving those in need, and spreading the good news of God's love to all those we meet. As we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, let us hold fast to the knowledge that God's love endures forever. Let us trust in Him to carry us through whatever challenges we may face, knowing that His love is stronger than anything we could ever encounter.

May God bless you today and throughout the coming week. Amen.