Starting Holy Week

Thought for the Parish Pewslip 19th March 2008 - Palm Sunday - Year A
Readings: Liturgy of Palms: Matt 21:1-11
Liturgy of the Passion: Isaiah 50:4-9a and Matt 27:11-54


Today marks the start of Holy Week. We have a procession with palm branches and palm crosses as we remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem where the crowds shout “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” But over a few short days the mood changes completely. When read the story of the passion we hear the crowds cry out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” It is a solemn reminder of how fickle human beings can be. We can hold up before God’s great mercy our own shallowness and our own lack of faithfulness in following our Lord.
Our church services in Holy Week help us to follow with Jesus as he journeys through his passion and death to his glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday. These liturgies help us to write the pattern of Christ’s death and resurrection into our own hearts so that our own daily lives can start to reflect this pattern. Walking with Christ through his passion and death gives us confidence that we will also share with him in his resurrection life. And so we hope that many, many people will attend the Holy Week services and join with us as we walk with Christ through these most holy hours.