On Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus entering Jerusalem, marking the beginning of Holy Week’s mystery. This mystery symbolizes the gateway to God’s mercy, leading us through repentance toward Him, or, as Jesus described, to the kingdom of God.
Why do I bring up this reality today, which seems out of sync with the liturgical calendar? I do so because it embodies the very life implanted in us through divine grace. Life must continually grow and advance, regardless of seasons or the opportune moment for God’s salvation to manifest.
God’s mercy not only forgives our sins and overlooks our faults but also serves as a strong safeguard against our failings and infidelities. It anchors our human nature on a stable path leading toward eternal rest.
By opening these doors and stepping onto the path of God’s mercy, we leave behind the human city and embark on a journey to the city of God. As true pilgrims in this covenant, we bring nothing but the cross, as Jesus commanded (Luke 14.27). We must forsake everything (Luke 14.33) to attain God, the most beautiful and precious pearl, and to enter His city through gates decorated with pearls (Revelation 21.21).
On this journey, we discover how to produce fruits that identify us as genuine followers of Jesus (Matthew 12:33). We learn to understand ourselves and to see from our fruits whether we are truly offering only goodness to everyone who comes to us.
We learn not to disguise our fruits by using tasteless salt or by relying on others’ judgment to identify if our fruits are divine. Sometimes, we pretend to have abundant fruits hidden under a thick crown of leaves. However, when Lord Jesus comes to gather our fruit to fulfill His desire for mercy, justice, and goodness, He only finds leaves that cover our nakedness—an indication of people driven away from God’s kingdom (Mark 11.13).
When we envelop ourselves with God’s mercy, we establish a spiritual womb where eternal life is conceived and our true identity is formed. We become united with the Body of the Only Begotten Son of God; we are incorporated into His Church; we discover our genuine nature and abilities; and we produce the good fruit of eternal life on our crosses, just as Jesus gave us that same fruit on His cross.