Who doesn’t love a parade? So much coming together to prepare (Luke 19: 28-40), to celebrate an event or accomplishment with colour, singing and cheering. In ancient times parades also included the use of palms to prepare the way for those being celebrated and loud Hosannas rang out. Palm branches, which symbolized goodness, wellbeing, grandeur, steadfastness and/or victory, were strewn before the celebrated persons. And so it was fitting that after all the wonders of Jesus’ public life he was welcomed to Jerusalem in exactly that manner.
This Palm Sunday the readings drawn me to journey with the apostles. (Philippians 2:6-11, Luke 22: 14, 23-56)
They must have been so excited and engaged as they witnessed Jesus’ amazing welcome. Suddenly they would have been in a daze - things started to change in frightening ways. Over the Passover dinner Jesus tells them how eager He was to eat this Passover with them before He “suffers”. He invites them to take bread and wine “in memory” of Him. What did He mean “suffer” and where was He going? Jesus asks them to become servants and then confers on them a kingdom like the one his Father conferred on him. Servants, really? What kingdom? They were told Satan would sift them, but Jesus prayed their faith would not fail. Peter, ever the man of action, confirmed his faith by saying he would go to prison or die for Jesus. Quickly he heard the prediction from Jesus that he would in fact deny Jesus three times. Then Judas who was found to be planning to betray Jesus left the dinner only to return later to hand Jesus over for persecution. And then the unthinkable happened, Jesus was led away, tortured, and crucified. All of this happened within two days. No wonder they ran away, no wonder they were frightened. They had no time to process, to think through their responses and no time to pray. They had no idea how the story ended but we do.
Sadly, stories of injustice, persecution and death abound today. As apostles, how do we respond? Running away, putting heads in the sand or hiding the truth are not options for those of faith. Finding strength in faith, in communion with others and through compassionate action is where I hope to find myself.
How about you?
-Maureen Condon
Header Image: Unsplash/Brooke Lark