When enough is enough
As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen.They proclaimed: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heavennand glory in the highest." (Luke 19)
When the hour came, Jesus took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them,
"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." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, (Luke 22)
I have eagerly desired to share this post with each of you as we enter Holy Week. I have been waiting until today for it all to come together. It began forming in my heart and mind on Wednesday morning in prayer. Jeff and I made a concerted effort to arrive at church early today. It is the first time in 13 years that we are celebrating Palm Sunday at another parish and we wanted to make sure we were there early since we were unfamiliar with this new parishes traditions. I sat in the pew reading our Palm Sunday booklet and in it was a basic instruction for the processional, “wave you palm in joy as the procession enters.” Normally I’m a hold it like a standard sort so this took me a bit outside my comfort zone. I need not have worried, it appeared that most did not read, or disregarded these instructions, as most palms remained motionless. I did wave mine a bit in time with the music though. Every Sunday at Mass, we Catholics enter into a portion of today’s Gospel, the Last Supper. Today we read the “whole story,” or as I liked to call it until a few years ago, the LONG Mass. As I listened to The Passion a new awareness opened for me. As is often the case, it’s one of those things that is so obvious it may elicit an eye roll from you. This week from Sunday to Sunday we are walking in “real time” in the shoes of our Lord. We stand with our palms raised today, we celebrate the service of the Last Supper on Thursday, we enter the Passion on Friday and venerate the cross, and on Sunday we encounter the empty tomb. Today is Sunday. How are you starting Holy Week? May I suggest a way to enter into today waving your palms in joy and celebration while simultaneously preparing your heart in a new way for Thursday? The crowdfunded series, The Chosen, just released Season 5 in theatres this April (this season is Holy Week portrayed over 8 episodes). Jeff and I went and witnessed Episodes 3-5 this last Tuesday. One of the beautiful aspects of The Chosen is that it incorporates Judaism and Jewish tradition into the Gospel, Jesus was/is/will always be Jewish after all. At the Passover meal, the Jewish people sing a prayer of thanksgiving called the Dayenu. Dayenu translated to English is: it would have been enough. This prayer of gratitude follows the ways that God encountered His people from their release from Egypt to their deliverance in the promised land. It is a beautiful reminder of God’s abundant love. Here is an excerpt to give you an idea…
Had the sea been split the sea for us, and we had not been led through it to dry land, it would've been enough. Had we been led to dry land, and our enemies not drowned in the sea behind us, it would've been enough for us. Had our enemies drowned, and our needs not have been provided for in the desert for 40 years, it would've been enough. Had we been supported in the desert and not been given bread, it would have been enough. Had we been given bread and not been given the Sabbath, it would have been enough. Had we been given the Sabbath and not been brought to Mount Sinai, it would have been enough. Had we been brought to Mount Sinai and not been sent the Torah, it would have been enough
Wednesday morning, in prayer, I found myself writing my own dayenu. “If He sparked my faith, but didn’t bathe me in His love on Confirmation, it would have been enough. If He bathed me in His love, but didn’t lead me to Physical Therapy, it would have been enough. If He led me to Physical Therapy, but didn’t lead me to Marquette University, it would have been enough. If He led me to Marquette, but didn’t bring me Jeff, it would have been enough…” This was just a snippet, I ended up filling three journal pages! Gratitude is the foundation of joy. No matter where we are any given day, we can give God “Dayenu”, “it would have been enough.” When we begin to look back at the overflowing provision of our Father, we can grow in faith. We can progress from “it would have been enough” to “it is enough” as we face today. With time and with patient perseverance we can grow again. We can grow from “it is enough” to “it will be enough” because the Words of St. Paul remain: Jesus was. Jesus is. Jesus will be. Spend some time in these upcoming days writing your own Dayenu. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you remember so that when we enter Holy Thursday and the Last Supper we can model our Lord and Savior and be able to say with Him, “I have eagerly desired to share this meal with you.” Jesus demonstrates the gratitude He calls us to. In the face of His persecution, suffering, and death, with gratitude He lifted His body and blood for His disciples, for us, and for eternity. Amen.
Heavenly Father, if you had given me The Chosen, but not the Hallow app (inspiration for this week’s Quotables), it would have been enough. If You had given me the Hallow app, but not the song from Phil Wickham (Shout out to Molly!), it would have been enough. Amen. (Here’s the song…)
