I have always thought that Palm Sunday was one of those days that captures almost every twist and turn, every high and low of the human experience. In the Catholic tradition of worship we hear in the scriptures of Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when throngs of people hailed Him as King. By the end of the Gospel reading we have crucified Him with the congregation playing the part of those century-old crowds demanding Pontius Pilate release a murderer instead of the innocent carpenter from Galilee.

Joy and praise. Heartache and betrayal. Love and friendship. Fear and uncertainty. Friends who turn to enemies. Gossip. Hatred. Bribery. Anxiety. Steadfastness. Truth. Honor. Redemption.

It’s all there as I see it. The entire scope of human potential and personal failure is captured in the scripture that tells us of Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem and His eventual betrayal, death, and resurrection.

How awesome it is that God KNOWS what it feels like to be human. When I stop to think that the God of the universe knows and has experienced what joy and sorrow and love and betrayal and pain and suffering and humiliation and uncertainty and serenity and peace FEEL like I am absolutely overwhelmed.

And I am encouraged.

Because if God knows what it feels like to be human — what it feels like to be me — then that means I’m not alone. Even when I think no one else could ever possibly understand what it is I’m feeling or thinking, the truth is: God knows and understands. And if I believe that God loves me — if I believe that what scripture says is true — then I am NOT alone. And if I believe that God loves me enough to provide me guidance and direction, just like a loving father is always willing to listen and guide his child, then I know that I am NOT alone.

Sometimes knowing we’re not alone is more than half the battle.

Did Jesus know He was not alone when He was spat upon and whipped and mocked and crucified? Surely He saw the faces of His disciples and His mother as He hung, dying slowly, on the cross of Calvary. Scripture tells us that He steeled Himself for this trial and anguish. He pleaded with God to let the experience pass but He also submitted to the will of His Father.

How many times have we been in situations we did not think we could bear? For myself I know there have been many. And EVERY time I have found myself at the end of myself I have pleaded with God for the strength to endure and He has answered every time.

God the Loving Father will give us what we need. Yet sometimes what we think we need is not what God knows we need. Sometimes we need trials to grow in faith and strength and courage — or to help others grow in these things. That is one of the ways Palm Sunday makes sense to me. Not only did God, through Jesus, show us that He intimately understands what it means to be us, He also allowed us to see His Son endure unimaginable horror so that we could draw strength and courage and faith from the experience.

From the Hosanna of Palm Sunday to the “Crucify Him” of Good Friday we see that of which man is capable.

From the crucifixion of Good Friday to the Resurrection of Easter we see that of which God is capable.