Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. Waving palms in our hands, we re-enact the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. However, the joy of welcoming the Lord at the start of Mass quickly turns sober when the crowd changes its cry to "Crucify him, crucify him!" This juxtaposition of jubilation and sorrow is sobering, because it reminds us that the people who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem might well be in the crowd later in the week screaming for his crucifixion. If we are thinking that these people are the real betrayers of our Lord, think again because it might well be us!

Many in the crowd wrongly thought that Jesus was coming to establish his kingdom with a rebellion of some kind, and they were ready to take up arms to support him. But when they discovered him doing nothing of that sort, but meekly allowed himself to be arrested and cruelly treated, the wind shifted. They became disappointed, and therefore he deserved to be killed. Which brings us to the point of reflection: do we have false expectations of the Lord? Are we the disciples who want to be by the Lord's side in his victory, but not in his suffering and passion? Are we happy to wave palms on Palm Sunday, but shy away from wiping the face of the Lord, or be called upon to help carry his cross on Good Friday? Palms and passion. Where do we situate ourselves today?