Psalm Reflection: Palm Sunday (Cycle A)

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” - Psalm 22

I am all alone; no one cares or understands.

In the book “Be Healed,” author Bob Schuchts talks about seven deadly wounds that can plague us and cause us to fall into self-reliance, rather than trusting in God (115). Abandonment is the first one on the list. When we feel abandoned, the lie we believe about ourselves is: I am all alone; no one cares or understands. 

Do you ever feel like this?

In a world that encourages us to present a false, manicured, glamorized version of ourselves, we can often feel like no one knows the real person behind the mask. That is why social media can lead to incredible loneliness. In a time in our world when we are all isolating on purpose, this can be amplified even further if we continue to believe the lie that we are alone.

But thank God it is Lent.

In Lent we declutter our hearts of these lies by drawing closer to God in prayer. We rid our lives of the obsessive idols we can made or given control to through fasting. We serve others first rather than thinking of ourselves by giving alms. We do all of this to follow Jesus more faithfully, because He has already proved His faithfulness on the cross.

Bob continues by saying “Jesus bore all of the seven deadly wounds on the cross at Calvary” (ibid). Jesus experienced abandonment, fear, powerlessness, hopelessness, confusion, rejection and shame. The wounds we carry are those Christ received and carried to the cross. They are the same sounds that He retains after His resurrection to remind is that our woundedness is what makes us human. He did not come to remove it, but to transform it. 

When we hear Jesus shout these words it is not a doubting in the Father, it is a window into the humanity of the Son giving us permission to cry out in our woundedness for healing.

What wounds are keeping you from knowing that God loves you?

Which of these statements is hardest for you to believe?:

You are not alone. 

You do not need to be afraid.

You are not insignificant.

Things will get better.

God knows you and hears your cries.

You are loved, wanted and desired.

You are not bad, dirty, stupid or worthless.

All of these things are true. They are guaranteed promises from a God who keeps His promises. 

This week, I invite you to say the phrase that is most difficult for you to believe every time you look in a mirror. Say it with conviction, and hear it coming not from you, but from your Father in Heaven who loves you. Let it prepare your wounded heart to walk with Christ in His woundedness next week toward the promise of Resurrection.

We are praying for you.

See you in the Eucharist.