| Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Luke 22:14-23:56 | April 10, 2022 St. Mary’s Regina Palm Sunday Year C Revd. Paula Foster |
Anyone visiting us today might wonder what we are doing because our liturgy is quite different this morning from at any other time of the year. You were handed a palm branch (or a palm cross) as you came in the doors. There are two gospel readings; one that tells of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and the other covering the events of several days in time.
There is much happening this morning because today marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most important week within the Christian church. Christians all over the world come together this week to reflect on and participate in the events of the final week of our Lord Jesus’ life.
Holy week is a week filled with drama and passion. What do the events of this week say to us? What do we hear within these familiar settings and stories? We begin this week with the sound of triumphant “Hosannas” ringing in our ears. There is an air of expectancy and excitement that we can almost touch. Although those present did not know it at the time, they are on a journey…a pilgrimage that takes them through the darkest valley of human depravation (the arrest and crucifixion on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday) and deposits them in front row seats as witnesses to the glorious revelation of the power of God to save….the resurrection of Jesus!
There are many places or events of this week that may capture our attention. I hope that by allowing ourselves to enter deeply into these events, we will find places where we connect with it. Are we among those in the crowd shouting “Hosanna to the King of Kings”? Are we among those who break bread and share wine…whose feet are washed by Jesus? Are we among those who betray, who cannot stay awake…who scatter in fear and confusion….who deny our association with the One we have proclaimed? Are we among the crowd shouting “crucify him, crucify him”? Are we among those who wait in darkness and silence for dawn on the third day? Are we among those who proclaim the resurrection?
This is a week filled with conflicting images; friendship and betrayal, forgiveness and hatred, condemnation and compassion, death and life.
This is a week to live by. We are invited to immerse ourselves in the Passion of Jesus and to ponder the question “who is He?” We are invited to walk with Jesus through his Passion and be more than bystanders. We are invited to recognize Jesus walking with us. We are invited to plunge ourselves into the Pascal mystery of our Lord Jesus Christ; the events that lead us from palm branches to crucifixion to resurrection. We are invited to be present….to look for signs and wonders along the way….the way of the cross and to be open to the Holy Spirit who will lead us to the truth we so desperately need to hear. AMEN.