The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord – the King of Israel!”
John 12:12-13
What a welcome!
The beginning of Holy Week is always a joyous occasion as we see the palm branches flying through the air towards Jesus’ feet. We hear words of prophecy being fulfilled and see the frenzy of the crowd as they welcome this descendant of David into the Holy City itself. Jerusalem.
However, the joy is short-lived. In less than five days we will see the euphoria turn to mania as the same crowds that welcome Jesus with open arms then scream “Crucify him!” at the top of their lungs.
Holy Week is always a liminal time for the church of Jesus Christ. It is a very special period when we hold in one place all of our greatest triumph and all of our worst tragedy.
We come, knowing the story well, yet longing to hear the narrative anew. To renew our faith. To revive our purpose.
This year’s Holy Week has an unusually specific sense of liminality to it because we are all living in a holding pattern, seemingly without end. We do not know when life will go back to normal.
Yet, perhaps God is giving us a great gift in allowing Holy Week to fall within these challenging weeks – because its purpose is to help us to stop our normal lives. To listen carefully. And to find hope that will never disappoint us.
So, come to the Holy City with us again this weekend as we enter this most special of weeks in the church calendar. Who knows what we will see. Because when God is at work, you never know from where the miracles will come.
Blessings, Pastor Janie
First Welcoming All 