Faith and Commitment

It’s Palm Sunday today, Christendom’s commemoration of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Pondering on that day in biblical history, it’s amazing how a lowly, provincial citizen had been able to get through the strict administrative filters of the capital city, drawing a huge crowd that welcomed him like a top dignitary. How was that possible?

Jesus did not come with an army. He rode on a donkey, not on a glittery chariot. There was not a single thing about the man that hinted of royalty. But in the eyes of the people that met him at the city gates, he was king nonetheless. They waved palm leaves at him and lined his path with those.

Jesus had faith and the corresponding commitment Those were all he had. And what great power resulted from it.

He believed in The Father’s kingdom in heaven. He had no doubt there was such a place, and that it belonged to anyone who would follow The Father’s commandments. He had been taken a mission on earth, something that he knew beforehand would cost him his earthly life, but he didn’t mind it – because heaven was the prize for it.

There is no greater example of commitment, total commitment. Jesus believed, and then committed himself fully. He claimed that he was sent by The Father for a crucial task that must be done. And so that task he must do, no matter what.

As an ordinary man, Jesus must have had doubts and fears, at first. But with extraordinary faith, he was able to overcome all uncertainties and apprehensions. He became the King that he claimed to be.

So Jesus was not only God to be looked up to with awe and admiration. He was, in the first place, also a man to be emulated. He was a living example of what great faith and total commitment can do.

A person who is not fully committed to his undertakings will not reap much outcome from it. There will be less fruits from his labors. And not much commitment to his projects, either, from others he taps to help him.

Faith and commitment are creative feelings. An ample dose of these emotions can create the reality of the envisioned result. And they are contagious; these emotions replicate themselves in others that come in contact with them.

One can expect to get only in proportion with what one is willing to give. Those who are called to lead others must show their own faith in the cause or task at hand and their passionate commitment to it if they expect to attract full cooperation from their teams and for their efforts to yield plentifully.

And come to think of it: Everyone is tasked to lead in one way or the other, at one time or another. Parents need to lead in their homes, as some workers need to lead at their places of work. Even little children have to lead their playmates sometimes. A sense of leadership is a premium value in our social life. And we can only truly lead by example – our commitment to what we are tasked or have chosen to do is our best example.

The Bible gives examples of God’s rewards for faith. “Go home,” Jesus told a sick man, “your faith has healed you.” On the other hand, the Bible also warns against non-commitment. Jesus said, “It is better to be hot as fire or cold as ice, because if you are lukewarm I will spit you out.”

Jesus always reminded his apostles of the importance of commitment to The Father’s cause. He was even willing to walk the road alone – as he did during his crucifixion – to show his total commitment to what he preached.