Last Sunday we gathered and waved our palms while letting Hosannas ring, and then stood in the shadow of the cross as we read the story of the last time Jesus came to Jerusalem. I am always thrown by the swing of energy in that service – and wondered to a mentor once why we do it, why not just celebrate Palm Sunday, instead of including the Passion too, since we have Good Friday? The response? Because the church doesn’t trust people to enter Good Friday, and we don’t want them to go from the shouts of Hosanna, to the shouts of Alleluia, without the cry of ‘crucify him’ in between.
There is something to that. Changing cultural norms and the ability of people to come to services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday notwithstanding, you have to choose to face death, and in Jesus’ case a violent death, if you worship on Good Friday – and that’s not something we necessarily want to do. But it’s something important.
The resurrection loses meaning when we don’t encounter the cross. And so we get a taste of it on Palm/Passion Sunday. But once again I’d like to invite you to come close to it through the services of the Paschal Triduum – The Three Great Days. One service spanning Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, the Triduum is a journey like no other – and the spiritual fruits it offers can’t be found at any other time.
I hope to see you this week at any or all of the services, and I look forward to celebrating the risen Christ with you on Easter Day!
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+