Today – Palm Sunday, Passion Sunday – is paradoxical. The epistle tells how Jesus took the form of a slave and because of this God highly exalted Him. The opening Gospel recounts His triumphal entry into Jerusalem; at the Gospel of the Mass, we stand, palms still in hand, and say Crucify Him! Even the two names seem incongruous together. Yet Jesus, the Suffering Servant, unites all the seeming opposites.

Psalm 22, the quintessence of mortal agony, ends: I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you – the very witness to God, perhaps, that called down this agony to begin with. Or consider Isaiah: The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them… and then, with almost no segue: I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.

What happened? Perhaps the oppressor doesn’t want the weary roused – or they themselves, too weary, would rather be left alone. But it’s more than that. We all know earthly power corrupts; the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them. Yet true servant leadership isn’t just relinquishing perks; it’s suffering. It’s hard. Do we sense that? Does it deter us?

How do we go on? St. John of Avila writes of that glorious celebration of the Palms, which You wanted to take place when You were going forth to suffer, in order to teach the world the joy of Your Heart, when, surrounded by roses and flowers, You wished to go to the nuptial bed of the Cross. Jesus leads because He loves – because He is in love. With us.

So do what Jesus does: Love, and take up your Cross. I try, and fail, every day. The way leads to Good Friday… and, after that, to Easter.