By Mother Gloria Therese, O.C.D.
“Blessed is he who is coming
As King in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven
And glory in the highest heavens!”
(Luke 19:28-40)
Praise fills the sky on that glorious yet ominous day of Palms. After witnessing the power of His Word which heals, restores and loves, human beings praise the King of the Kings a few days before His suffering, death, and resurrection would take place. This praise reminds us of another moment in time
Over thirty years before it was the angels:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace for those he favors.”
Men now echo the angels, who at His birth, first filled the skies with the praises of this same King. Angels dialogue with the highest heavens at His birth and men join with the highest heavens at His impending crucifixion and death.
But the angels’ praise of the King of Kings resounds with integrity, they do not go back on their word. Humanity’s praise for the Messiah drops dead until it completely reverses itself in a curse. Bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness have a way of rotting us from the inside out. In this moment when man lacks integrity the most, Jesus comes to us saying, “I hear you. I see what you are doing, but I still bless you, I still love you, I still lay down my life for you. For you, I do this. Remember Me.”
During Holy Week pay close attention to praise. The actions that praise Our Savior, the psalms that speak His praise, the wounded lives that cannot praise, the broken ones who will be His praise to the ends of the earth after His Resurrection. Psalm 8 teaches us that praise foils the enemy. Evil flees with praise. Let us each find a way to praise God this Holy Week and every day, always finding a reason to praise.
