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“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).
What a tough act to follow!
Have you ever seen a little boy on the beach, walking with his dad and leaping to make his footprints match with his father’s? That’s how I feel sometimes when I try to follow Christ’s example—like my legs are too short, my efforts too small. I feel like I can never measure up... I go from one extreme to another: determined to never make a single misstep and beat myself up for my failures or give up and decide it’s not worth the struggle. It’s an exhausting pendulum. And I was weary—beaten down by life and my own unrealistic expectations.
The trap of perfectionism had a firm hold on my life until I crumbled under the pressure of that trick of Satan. I believed that I was called to be perfect in every way: holy and beyond reproach—that to be human and express the overwhelming and natural emotions that we face was a sign of weakness and sin.
My misunderstanding of Romans 8 and the condemnation of the flesh actually had me condemning Christ, who came in the flesh.
Yesterday was Palm Sunday.
The smell and color of palm branches welcomed me on my walk to church, as a group descended the mountain and marched toward the Catholic church that Sunday in Caracas.
“Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
The Jews welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem and this Venezuelan group of people wanted to reenact that event.
The next day, the remnants of the branches lined the street and the plaza. And I wondered if the memory of that welcome had faded and dried up, like the branches. People trampled the branches as they walked by; possibly unaware of what had occurred the day before... And so I asked myself: have I allowed the sentiment of welcome expressed in the celebratory moments of my life to fade into the background?
Do I welcome Christ on a daily basis?
Hosanna means “adoration, praise or joy.” Admittedly, the welcome of Christ in my life is more out of desperation than rejoicing.
May we welcome Him in celebration as Son of God and Lord of our life!
“Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
