WK-6 LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF HOPE ON PALM SUNDAY

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

Fr. Charles "Chuck" Wood

"I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God." (Lk. 22:14—23:56)

In the beginning of his announcement for this 2025 “Pilgrims of Hope” Jubilee Year, Pope Francis shows us his shepherd’s heart, writing, 

“My thoughts turn to all those pilgrims of hope [emphasis in the original] who will travel to Rome in order to experience the Holy Year and to all those others who, though unable to visit the City of the Apostles Peter and Paul, will celebrate it in their local Churches. For everyone [emphasis added], may the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the ‘door’ (cf. Jn 10:7.9) of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere and to all as ‘our hope’ (1 Tim 1:1)” (Article 1, first paragraph).

Who’s in the flock of the “everyone” that our global shepherd hopes will enjoy a “genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus” during the Jubilee? There’s more than those of us unable to visit Rome but still able to get out to Jubilee events in our archdiocese or diocese.

Yes, in this flock are folks who can’t make a physical pilgrimage. And “everyone” includes people who, for a whole lot of reasons, won’t be able to leave the places where they live to take part in local/regional Jubilee celebrations. Among them, Pope Francis opens his heart to prisoners (Article 10). And his special concern also embraces people with “illnesses or disabilities that severely restrict their personal independence and freedom” (Article 11).

Do any of these situations describe what you’re going through, dear brother or sister reading this blog post? Or do you have a burden on your heart for others facing challenges and restrictions like these? Then for you especially—or for you to help somebody along the way by passing this on to them—I offer the following Holy Week poem. Through it, may you find signs of hope in the experience of accompanying Jesus on his pilgrimage of life, suffering, and death. For you and everyone who reads this poem, I prayed just now that it will fulfill Pope Francis’ heartfelt hope. That is, may it lead you into a “genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus,” whose Resurrection we’ll soon celebrate with joy made richer by Jubilee hope.

Pilgrim Christ, Pilgrim Church

By Fr. Charles “Chuck” Wood

You’d been on a road on a burro before.

That beast bore your mother as she bore you,

—blessed fruit of her womb—

awaiting ahead was your birth in a stable,

when angels would bear tidings to shepherds,

naming you, “Newborn Savior.”

You’re now on a road, palm branches waving ahead.

You bear no illusions though crowds are exclaiming you

—“Blessed Messiah”—

despising the fame of “Hosannas,” you know that ahead,

death will bear down on you, these same crowds

scorning you,­­­­ “crucified fool.”

You’ll fall on a road in the moments before

nails and love bear you on a tree yielding you

—strange fruit with wounds—

despising the shame that you spoke of before.

The Cross—endured—bears witness to prophets

foretelling you, “Saving Victim.”

We’d rush toward the road with Emmaus ahead.

But this Week is time for bearing the silence that’s stilling you

—Sacrifice Lamb—

re-entering your death through the Holy days ahead. 

‘Til angels bear tidings of your Return, may we live as pilgrims

bearing you, “New-Life Bearer.”

Author: Pastor, Fr. Charles “Chuck” Wood, St Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church – A friendly, Christ-centered parish in the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon (stelizabethportland.net) Member of the African American Catholic community of Oregon, outreach organization.   

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