Palms and Passion

Palm Sunday is upon us. We begin our journey now through Holy Week. The church has had a tendency, at least among Protestants, to put far more emphasis on the joyful entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on this day than on the other side of things which is the Passion.

This week marks our commemoration of Jesus’ passion. We walk with him into Jerusalem joyfully but run away as soon as things go sour and leave him to his fate. There’s a certain kind of sadness beneath our celebration, or at least there should be, I suppose.

This is the week we come face to face with who we really are in the light of Christ. Fred Craddock, a preaching professor and New Testament scholar, says when the light is turned on we call scuttle toward the corners like cockroaches in a kitchen. For some of us this can be a time of reckoning. The light of Jesus’ presence can blaze very brightly this week. Will we step into it or move further back into darkness?

Of course, it’s only a week like every other. The light of Christ is always ablaze and whether we’ll respond is always a question. What compels you toward it? Or keeps you from it?

Peace,
Pastor Bill

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