This first day of Holy Week is called Palm Sunday because the people of Jerusalem were so excited about Jesus’s arrival that they waved palm branches to celebrate the arrival of their King. “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they called. People laid their cloaks across the road to honor him. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:8-9 (NIV))

What a celebration! The whole city is partying!

How ironically tragic that it took only five days for the tone to change so drastically.

But, of course, it is no less ironically tragic for me that sometimes after even fewer days–sadly, sometimes only hours–after a mountaintop experience, a sacred encounter with my loving God, I can fall away for seemingly the dumbest of reasons.

And that’s why this week had to go the way it went.

That may not have been why the people of Jerusalem were celebrating, but it is what motivates my gratitude. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!