The story of Palm Sunday is the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem for Passover. In the end, the triumph was not what his followers expected. I chose this photo of palm trees in a storm for a reason. Palm Sunday is a happy anticipation of the coming of The King. Winds of change were definitely in the air, but the spiritual storm that occurred over the next week marks the most important pivot in human history.
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey over a road covered with palm branches, people were expecting political change by this king of the Jews. Few if any understood that Jesus was coming to over throw the prince of darkness. The winds of change were about to blow like never before.
As we move into deep Lent, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter in the Church calendar, my church has services every day. It becomes increasingly intense. Wednesday night is the Tenebrae service. Two Cantors sing through scripture and the history of deep Lent as candles are progressively extinguished until we are all in the dark to contemplate our lostness without Christ.
Muandy Thursday is the reminder of the Last supper.That Thursday night service the Pastors/Priests wash the feet of parishioners. A few years I as asked to be one of the people to have their feet washed. It is a prophetic act that mingles honor with humility. It was deeply touching in ways I did not anticipate.
Then the shocker, “Good Friday,” the day the King of the Jews was nailed to the Cross. A death of shame…that leads to the ultimate VICTORY of the resurrection.
What are you doing this week? Not all of us have the option to go to church everyday, or want to. What can you do to mark the path from Palm Sunday through The Cross to Easter Victory? I’d love to know how you hope to mark Holy Week.
