Palm Sunday
Tony Robinson
“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.” – Matthew 21: 8
When I was a kid Palm Sunday was, well, Palm Sunday. Palms, hosannas, joyous music, a sort of mini-Easter.
Somewhere along the way Palm Sunday became Palm/ Passion Sunday. This meant that we began with the palms, hosanna and cheerful songs about the children singing to Jesus, but before long were into betrayal and Christ’s death on the cross.
That made Palm Sunday seem like a Trojan Horse, meaning that it looked like fun and games until you unpacked it. When you did, upbeat turned decidedly downbeat, major key broke minor. Instead of being part of the cheering crowd that was comfortably on Jesus’ side — “Go Jesus! Ride ’em!” — we found ourselves part of the crowd that shouted, “Crucify him, Crucify him.”
This was confusing.
But it was something besides confusing. It was true. We aren’t just the good guys, innocently cheering Jesus on. We have a part in the mess, in the awful that happens.
But seeing that painful truth — our part in the mess and owning it — can help us have eyes for something else besides — that God’s mercy and forgiveness are poured out for us, poured out all over us. When the hosannas of Palm Sunday have faded, praise for the deep love and mercy of God to us is the song that keeps on singing.
Prayer
Walk with us throughout this Holy Week, dear Lord, and grant us the grace and courage to walk with you. Amen.
About the AuthorTony Robinson, a United Church of Christ minister, is a speaker, teacher, and writer. His newest book is Called to Lead: Paul’s Letters to Timothy for a New Day. Tony is the director of Festival of Preaching NW,which is coming up April 28 – May, 2014 in Seattle.