The Masses went well at the Missions yesterday as we celebrated our Lord's entrance into Jerusalem and there it is, Palm Sunday, the gateway to Holy Week. The first part of the liturgy, with its blessing of palms and procession is jubilant, hosanna! Salvation rides into Jerusalem in fulfillment of prophecy to establish his sovereignty in the Holy City.
I always feel this part of the liturgy, with its victorious joy, has the feel and tenor of Easter but the mood swiftly shifts to Good Friday as we hear the awful story of the Passion. Judas' betrayal and suicide, the weakness of Pilate, the mockery of Herod and his degenerate court, the brutality of the soldiery, the wickedness of the High Priests, and the torture and execution of Christ. Hosanna! has moved to Crucify! But note this.
Even the demons and the people they drive are forced to acknowledge Christ's kingship, in derision for sure but they do so nonetheless. Jesus is given a royal robe, imagine the sneers, a reed for a scepter, he's crowned, but with thorns, and his throne is a cross at the top of which reads a sign, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
Even Hell in its twisted scorn calls Christ a king but the moment of Satan's seeming victory turns to utter defeat as Jesus rises triumphant from the grave, turning the Devil's mockery into the glorious regalia of kingship over death and Hell itself.
So we find ourselves back at the beginning, at Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem. If the crowds had known the unfathomable extent of his sovereignty they would have cried out all the louder, for the Savior had indeed arrived.
He rides to us now, today, into the Jerusalem of our souls. Meet him with joy, spreading the garments and palm of our lives before him as we follow the King in humble repentance to the Cross so that in dying to sin we too, in Christ, will rise to everlasting life.
INRI,
LSP
6 comments:
Beautiful! Thank you!
Very well said Parson! It is Holy Week, and unfortunately many of us will treat it just like any other week. Personally I’m committing myself to do better than I have in the past.
JohnD
Such a glorious and yet, harrowing, Mass.
Glorious, as on the Church grounds the Parish assembled and heard these words: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord." To which we each responded: "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest."
Father LSP blessed the palm branches given to each of us. And handing one to each soul, he admonished us: "Receive this palm and acknowledge Christ as your King."
Harrowing for us all and particularly for me as I participated in the Gospel narrative as Peter. Thrice I spoke the part of Peter's denial of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rising in more vehemence with each denial. Indeed, might I also be a modern day Peter?
"Crucify him!"
"His blood be on us and our children!"
Harrowing. Inhuman. Ungodly. A seeming victory.
BUT... Palm Sunday is the gateway to Resurrection Sunday!
"Receive this palm and acknowledge Christ as your King!"
Glad it was helpful, David!
Same here, John, good call.
It's a very powerful liturgy, Prodigal, even when done simply per the Missions. Easter and Good Friday bound up together as one, and our own part therein.
Not to be taken lightly but the theme, nonetheless, is joyous.
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