Palm Sunday

WEEKLY REFLECTION | Passion Sunday, April 2, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Take a big breath in. Breathe deeply, then let it out slowly. In……out. In………..out.

This week we begin the holiest and most challenging time of the year: Holy Week.  

In some ways, Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday is almost like a Cliff’s Notes of the Week.  We begin with the wildly glorious celebration of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. Crowds surround him, cheering him on like a movie star or sports hero, even throwing their garments on the ground for him to pass over. You know the idea: “Jesus’ donkey stepped on my shawl—I’ll save it forever.And we, likewise, sing and wave our palms happily as we process into the church.

Then, WHAM! We walk straight into the rock wall of the Passion Gospel.  It would be a hard reading to hear under any circumstance, but the contrast between the joyful greeting of the Triumphant Messiah and the Man of Sorrows becomes shocking and painful. The feeling we are left with must be the tiniest mirror of what Jesus’ followers felt: “My heart hurts. My stomach hurts. My head hurts. What just happened? This can’t be happening. How can this be?!

Then silence……

Once again this year, Connie Allport has prepared palms for us, which have been mailed to you. Use them as reminders both of the joy and sorrow of these days in Christ’s life. And to remind us that this is not the end of the story.

The palms have been blessed, so please treat them respectfully.

See you on Sunday as we set out on the Way of the Cross.

JOY! And sorrow.

Mo. Laura+


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