Triumph in Tragedy

Today is Palm Sunday and we recall the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Ironically, we also call this Passion Sunday, and we recall the passion of Jesus in our Gospel. The triumphant King is recalled side by side the Suffering Servant of God. While we remember Jesus’ messianic entry into Jerusalem, we do it with an eye on his entrance to his passion and death. More importantly, we begin this Holy Week with eager anticipation of Christ’s Resurrection!

We don’t wallow in tragedy, because we await at the same time something good coming out of Jesus’ seeming defeat on the Cross. And so we speak not of triumph OR tragedy, but triumph IN tragedy; not a dying OR a rising Christ, but a DYING-RISING Christ. We don’t end this season with the tragic death of our Lord. As we accompany Him through his sufferings and death, we – filled with hope – await His resurrection, so that we can say that the cross itself is a triumph, a victory, because in Christ’s death, we receive new life.