A Message from Our Priest-in-Charge

Reflection 4/3/2020

The Palm Sunday liturgy is seriously odd, at least in my opinion.  At the beginning of the liturgy we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem for Passover.  Jesus rides into town on a colt that has not been ridden before.  The crowds gather and cheer.  They wave palm branches and even throw their cloaks in the pathway.  This is the traditional welcome procession for a new king coming to Jerusalem to assume his throne.  Because we know, as Paul Harvey used to say, “The rest of the story,” we recognize that this is not just a king of Israel coming to the capital, but the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  However, did the people crying “Hosanna!” know this?  From Matthew’s narrative, evidently not.  Many in the city who heard the commotion asked, “Who is this?” and the answer they received was “Jesus the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”  It was one of those answers that was correct as far as it went but revealed a woeful lack of understanding of Jesus’ full identity.

But then, the liturgy turns from joy and praise, to the story of Jesus’ trial, beating and execution. All this in the space of an hour.  Odd combination, wouldn’t you say?  Apparently this combining of Palm Sunday and Jesus’ passion is an attempt to recover an old practice.  In that practice, Lent was observed as a time of teaching and preparation for baptismal candidates, and an intense Holy week prepared people for the Easter celebration.  Nevertheless, in my experience, most people would prefer to be taken, liturgically, direct from the joyous entry to the even more joyous resurrection. Whether intentional or not, the combination of Palms and Passion does serve to ensure that we don’t entirely miss Jesus’ suffering on his final walk to the cross.

Especially now, during this COVID-19 pandemic, as we are physically separating ourselves from each other and worshiping “online,” it is essential for us to be mindful that Jesus, hailed as king at the beginning of the week, was condemned as an enemy of God, or at least as an enemy of the religious establishment five days later.  At noon next Friday, we will gather, electronically this time, to recall his suffering for our sake and to pray for his mercy for ourselves and for others throughout the world.  Until then, may God bless you and preserve you in health and strength.

Blessings, Alan+