What an arrival. Finally, those niggling doubts could be swept away, and we have our triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Finally, after the weird sayings, wilderness forays and associations with the more unsavory ends of society, it was actually happening. He wasn’t like those other miracle tricksters. This is The Messiah, and he was finally going to take the rule, and together we would reclaim what is ours. People turned to look, and I was part of the action. It felt good, finally. Hosannah to the highest.
It’s a comforting and victorious scene.
The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is a deeply symbolic one – the king enters the holy city. The disciples of Jesus enjoying, for a moment, a celebration of what all people want: salvation and redemption. The relief and power are for us to celebrate with them today.
But we also know that Palm Sunday is the beginning, not the end, of Jesus’ journey. Between now and next Sunday, we walk with Jesus through struggle, betrayal, pain and death. We seek to understand again what it is to be a community formed on love and service, we try to watch and wait with Jesus in the garden, and we seek to understand a little deeper this new thing that Jesus is doing for the world. He will reign, he is the messiah, but…we are invited on a journey together first.
Whether you have walked this way many times, or this is a new experience, Holy week is an invitation to be drawn ever deeper into the meaning of the resurrection; an invitation to come and see what happened so that we may be better equipped to deal with the world, not of Palestine 2000 years ago, but the world today still so full of suffering, conflict and uncertainty.
If we ignore the invitation, there is danger that we are papering over the cracks, whether in the world or in our own heart. Indeed, you might think of the Palm Sunday shouting and hailing of the messiah as premature. The people had hoped that the messiah would come in power to force the kingdom to come. But, we all know, that is not the path Jesus went down. He brings around his kingdom not through force in spite of the brokenness of the world, but through and entangled with the suffering of the world. Therefore the events of Holy week can speak directly to the suffering of the world we live in today.
But, more than this, the events of Holy Week are an invitation to address more fundamental questions, the questions that never leave us: What does it all mean? Am I really lovable? How do I face death? Holy week helps us address the anxieties of simply being human.
It is quite a journey, and one we will need courage for. The Oxford English dictionary defines courage as the ability to do something that frightens you. The word comes from the old French word ‘corage’ meaning ‘heart as the seat of the emotions’, or ‘innermost feelings’. Holy Week is an uncomfortable journey, that will involve the whole of us (mind, body and spirit) and we will need courage.
Brene Brown writes, “You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you cannot choose both.”
Which will you choose?
I can still see the procession, still hear the shouts rising into the dusty sky. There is an uneasy feeling in the air. The procession is now heading deeper into the city, and towards the temple. Something is going to happen; I can see troops looking worried and people in uniform rushing around in self-important ways. I feel that I am at a crossroads. I could just keep safe and head home. Or, I could follow him. It’s easy to see where Jesus went – I would just have to follow the crushed reeds and brown dusty palm leaves, littering the way ahead.
Prayer
Hail triumphant Jesus, entering the city of Jerusalem, the seat of your temple.
Gather me under your wing, and keep me safe, as I enter the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her.
Keep me safe, give me courage, strengthen my heart, to walk across the trampled and broken palm leaves and into this week ahead
I pray for wisdom, strength to look at the world as it is
Knowing that I am loved
Knowing that I am held.
Lord, this week of all weeks,
Keep me as the apple of your eye
For your names sake
Amen