Psalm Reflection: Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion (Cycle B)

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

Did you ever get lost in the supermarket as a kid? Virtually every time my parents took me out as a child, I got lost. I always accidentally followed the wrong parents, or tried to make friends, or hid inside the circular clothing racks at department stores and waited to jump out and scare my mom. She was usually frantically looking for me and I was having a grand time. However, there were a few times when I looked up fully expecting to see my parents and they were suddenly gone. I would dart around in a panic and have no idea what to do or where to go. In those moments I felt scared, alone and abandoned.

Have you ever felt that way? This past year has left many of us feeling abandoned in isolation, especially those of us who have had to be more strictly isolated due to health conditions or age. There have been very hopeless and desolate moments. These are the same feelings Jesus had on the cross when he quoted this Psalm at the point of death.

Jesus, God himself, knows what it feels like to be in that dark, lonely place. What a beautiful gift and profound mystery that we have a God who understands us, even in the most dark and destitute places we find ourselves in. Jesus quoting Psalm 22 was not an expression of feeling like God had abandoned Him, He knew His Father was there. Rather, Jesus quotes this Psalm to remind us what to remember in moments where we feel abandoned. If we keep reading Psalm 22, it very quickly changes tone:

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;

you are the glory of Israel.

In you our fathers trusted;

they trusted and you rescued them.

To you they cried out and they escaped;

in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

-Psalm 22:4-6

Jesus cries out this Psalm to remind us in moments of darkness to remember that God is with us, that God is faithful, and to trust in Him. 

In whatever ways you feel hopeless, alone, scared or abandoned, know that right a this very moment as you are reading this: God is with you. He is fighting to rescue you. He is already working to bring you through it. His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and power will ALWAYS have the final word. So cast your worries and feelings of abandonment at the feet of your God who understands them, and let Him transform them in a way only He can. Let go of the illusion of abandonment, and truly abandon your heart and your life to your Father in Heaven who loves you.

I am praying for you, please pray for me, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt