With Palm Sunday passing and Easter approaching, I’ve been reflecting on the popular social media catchphrase “I understood the assignment,” which stemmed from a cool TikTok meme that went viral last year. The “assignment” hashtag had close to 250 million TikTok views in February, according to thelist.com. The daughter of my grad school roommate gave me a basic definition of this trendy saying among Gen Zers and younger millennials, explaining that it means a person is “crushing it,” literally indicating stellar success in a respective enterprise or venture. I’ve also noticed the meaning has broadened from reading some of my Facebook threads to imply that “the assignment” is understanding one’s purpose in life.
Life can definitely be viewed as a designated appointment to do something unique and profound, and regarding Palm Sunday and Easter, I began thinking more deeply about “the assignment” because Jesus was basically a young adult at the peak of his ministry, young like many who are currently chanting this slogan. Jesus thoroughly understood the ultimate will, or assignment, of his Father when he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey several days before the Passover. He fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 that foretold his triumphant entry, and while the crowds were shouting “Hosanna” and spreading their garments in his path, he knew their praise was but for a transitory moment. He would enter Jerusalem exalted as a king and eventually be crucified among common criminals. His assignment was Calvary.
Jesus was only 33 years old when he died on the cross, an age in our present culture where we say life is just starting. The 30s are now the golden decade of millennials born between 1983 and 1992. At this time in their lives, many in this age cohort have lofty expectations of being on a career fast track. Think of all the 40 under 40 lists you have seen for various businesses and organizations. Salaries are usually expected to increase after the grind of the 20s, and life becomes more settled with core friendships and a grounded sense of identity. A 2019 study published by Morning Consult revealed some interesting findings regarding the values of millennials in the workplace, which showed they considered salary, job security and professional development opportunities more significant than their younger Gen Z counterparts. Of course, everything is not bliss for all 30-somethings, as many struggle with career discontent. A Forbes report last year found that millennials were the most likely to quit their jobs in what is now being termed the Great Resignation. Other disappointments at this stage in life, although it’s still an early phase, could fall under an existential crisis.
If I were preaching a sermon on Easter and Jesus’ Palm Sunday entrance to millennials and Gen Zers, I would ask them to evaluate the goals they have outlined for specific milestones in their lives and to contemplate what they think their “assignment” really is. Even if they are “crushing it” at work, school or in a business endeavor, are they truly content within? Does what they do bring them joy, contentment and peace, or are they chasing their goals to impress and please others? Being older and a bit wiser, one essential life lesson I have learned is that trying to please people for vainglorious purposes is a futile pursuit. It always ends in frustration with heavy emotional stress.
A final Easter and Palm Sunday point that I would make to millennials and Gen Zers would be to encourage them to ask God for wisdom to line up their plans with His will. Jesus accomplished a monumental feat with his ministry in such a short amount of time on earth before ascending into heaven, and one of the most touching passages of Scripture is when he prayed, “not my will, but thine, be done.” Young people need to know that there is a reason why they have an exceptional talent, ability or passion, and when they get to a point where they appreciate how to edify the One who blessed them with their extraordinary gifts, that’s when they will truly “understand the assignment.”
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