The Changeable

Palm Sunday celebrates the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, days before his last supper and crucifixion. As a form of honoring him, his disciples and others laid their cloaks on the ground before him. Those who had no cloaks laid palm fronds on the ground.

When I was young, I looked forward to Palm Sunday because I got to weave palm leaves into interesting designs. A week later, on Easter, I got to wear my best clothes. As I got older, I cared less for palm leaf weavings and dressing up, and going to church became an obligation and a chore.

I’m forty-three now, and know exactly why I am going again. After four decades, I now go to church with a new enthusiasm. I have new questions, and I’m eager to hear as much information from any source in order for me to find the answers.

During mass earlier today, Father Higgins mentioned that the Catholic Church was in the process of beatifying Pope John Paul II as soon as April of next year. Everyone in the church clapped enthusiastically. From what I know about Pope John Paul II, he deserves it.

After mass, I went home and researched Pope John Paul II on the Internet. A small section on his Wikipedia page mentioned that the 14th Dalai Lama had visited with him eight times, more than any other dignitary, and that they shared the same views on many issues, including human rights and the acceptance of world diversity. Here is the Dalai Lama’s letter of condolence:

https://nl.savetibet.org/news/newsitem.php?id=726

By the end of today, I decided to try something new. I don’t yet know the details, but it will involve my giving time and resources to the church and other spiritual projects.

I will not do this with humility because I know that pride is a part of this. I will not do this with selflessness because I know that my ego will be bolstered by it. I know that doing this will make me feel as if I’m better than others.

What I am hoping for is that it becomes habit. That I do these things enough so that, after a while, I forget why I’m doing them. I hope to one day be in a certain state of stupidity and ignorance, enough so that my actions will be pure.

I wonder if the donkey that carried Jesus knew anything beyond the fact that its job was to carry somebody, anybody, from one place to another. I wonder if that donkey went to sleep that night thinking it had been just another day.