When I was a kid, I dreaded Palm Sunday Mass. It wasn’t because the Mass was a little longer than usual, nor was it because I am allergic to palms – I’m not. No, it was because I knew that the whole congregation would join in the reading of the Passion. I hated saying, “Crucify Him!” The words pierce my heart! What an angry crowd. I cannot imagine the emotional overcast that day. Do I have to say and pretend to be like that?! If I were there, how could I possibly say that! Wasn’t there ANYONE in the crowd screaming “NO!! DON’T CRUCIFY HIM!! Do you ever have these thoughts? I wonder if I would have been brave enough to shout against the angry mob? And would my voice even MATTER in the midst of the jeering crowd?

Do you know the Dr. Seuss story “Horton Hears a Who”? In the story, Horton, a kind-hearted elephant, finds a speck of dust floating in the Jungle of Nool. Upon investi-gation of the speck, Horton discovers the tiny city of Who-ville and its residents, the Whos, which he can hear but the other animals of the jungle cannot. Horton encounters opposition from his jungle neighbors, who don’t believe in the existence of Who-ville. Horton encourages ALL the Who’s to shout as loud as they can in order to be heard to the an-gry mob, who believe Horton the Who’s are only in Horton’s imagination. “Make a ruckus!” Horton implores – “EVERY VOICE MUST BE HEARD!” But to no avail. Until the mayor discovers one small Who, JoJo, who wasn’t shouting at all! The Mayor of Who-ville urges: “You’ve GOT to make noises in greater amounts! So, open your mouth, lad. For every voice counts!” And count it did, for the inhabitants of the Jungle of Nool finally hear the Who’s when little JoJo’s voice is joined with the other citizens of the tiny town. Sometimes, we underestimate our own voice.

I have to think there were those in the crowd condemning Jesus, that WANTED to have Jesus saved, but for whatever reason, didn’t shout out for our Savior. We can’t go back and speak up for Jesus in the angry crowd. But we can speak for Him today when we raise our voice for the downtrodden, the outcast, and the rejected. When we love those who look and act differ-ently than we do. When we act lovingly, instead of angrily, we are raising our voice so others will believe Jesus is alive in our world, and not just in our imagination. I think we should all take the advice of the Mayor of Who-ville: we’ve got to make noises for Jesus in greater amounts. Open your mouth, every voice counts! Justine Dufour