It's Palm Sunday, marking the beginning of Holy Week, and the beginning of the end to Jesus' walk to the Cross and beyond. In our service of worship, as has become our usual practice over the years, we begin with palms and end with the sealing of the tomb; from cheers to jeers as the crowd turns against Jesus.
Our readings for today reflect that journey:
1st reading – Luke 19:28-40 The entry into Jerusalem;
2nd reading – Luke 22:1-6 The plot against Jesus;
3rd reading – Luke 22:39-46 Jesus prays;
4th reading Luke 22:47-53 The arrest of Jesus;
5th READING Luke 22:63-71; 23:1-12 Jesus on trial;
1st reading – Luke 19:28-40 The entry into Jerusalem;
2nd reading – Luke 22:1-6 The plot against Jesus;
3rd reading – Luke 22:39-46 Jesus prays;
4th reading Luke 22:47-53 The arrest of Jesus;
5th READING Luke 22:63-71; 23:1-12 Jesus on trial;
6th READING Luke 23:13-25 Jesus sentenced to death;
7th READING Luke 23:26-43 Jesus is crucified;
8th READING Mark 15:33-47 The death of Jesus
On the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time, the crowds lined the streets, threw cloaks down upon the dusty road, waved palm branches, shouted 'Hosanna!' - save us.
The palms tell their own story...
The palms tell a story
of a God who loved creation,
and a creation
who fell out of love with God.
Of a God who showed the way
through prophets who were silenced
by the people who turned their backs.
Of a God who chose to become human,
and live this life in this world.
The palms tell a story
of a Saviour who was the word of life
but the people did not listen.
The Saviour spoke of justice for the poor
and food for the hungry
but the people did not listen.
The Saviour spoke of freedom
to all those oppressed,
but still the people did not believe.
The palms tell a story
of the man who rode into Jerusalem,
and the crowd cheered
of David and his progeny,
of the king of the Jews,
the king on a donkey
riding into the city of David
and the people recognised him:
‘Hosanna in the highest!’
The palms tell a story
for this is the journey to a table
of bread and wine
and friends gathered:
bread broken,
wine poured, for all.
And he said:
‘re-member me,
re-member me,
re-member me.’
The palms tell a story
of the one taken from the table
to the garden.
And from the garden
to the council.
And from the council
to the soldiers.
And from the soldiers
to the way of the cross.
The palms tell a story
of a saviour whose time
does not finish here.
As we move into this week and walk the last steps to the Cross with Jesus, a prayer and blessing:
May we whisper our hosannas throughout this week.
In every moment when the world goes silent on the cause of God
may we continue to cry out the beat –
the hosanna beat –
that marks the rhythm of this week;
In the sound of breaking bread may we hear the broken hosanna
and still believe in love’s way;
in the sound of coins being counted may we hear the betrayed hosanna
yet still trust in love’s choice;
in the twisting of the crown of thorns may we hear the tortured hosanna
and still believe in love’s way;
in the sound of the lashes, all thirty-nine, may we hear the scourged hosanna
yet still trust in love’s choice;
in the sound of nails being hammered may we hear the crucified hosanna
and still believe in love’s way
in the sound of silence may we hear the empty hosanna
yet still trust in love’s choice.
May we remain with Jesus
by whispering our hosannas throughout this week:
in every moment may we remain with you, O Jesus -
still believing
still following
still your companions...
And as we travel with you:
may God’s blessing be upon us all:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Amen.
