Fair notice: We are diverging from the lectionary this
week. Sometime in the 1990’s a change was made in the church year that changed
Palm Sunday into Sunday of the Passion – a Sunday that reads the whole account
of Jesus’ betrayal, trials, crucifixion and burial. The service usually begins
with a nod to Palm Sunday with an opening reading a processional.
I don’t completely understand the change, and I like the
pattern that Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter make. The story moves from
exultant hope and joy as Jesus enters Jerusalem to the somber celebration of
Passover at the Lord’s Supper. It delves down into the sorrows of Jesus’
betrayal, the injustice of his trials, the pain of his scourging and
crucifixion, and the grief of his death. Then the week ends with a moment’s
rest before the new week begins with Easter celebrations.
The key word for Palm Sunday is hosanna. Hosanna comes from Hebrew and it literally means, “Please
save us!” For people who have experienced God’s salvation, the word also became
a word of praise and worship directed to the God who saves. What a great range
of feelings, hopes, prayer, experiences of salvation, hopes, and sorrows (as
Jesus looks ahead).
Prof. Karoline Lewis of Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
puts it well:
I wonder if we need Palm Sunday's moments of
praise for what they are, not what they will be in a few days. A celebration of
Palm Sunday alone might bring back a pattern of faith that we need: the moments
of pain, of suffering, of the victory of the world, are bracketed by hosannas
and alleluias, by glory, laud and honor. It's a structure of belief that is
inherent in the Gospel story.
Palm Sunday can give us language to express
"God with us." The crowd gets it: "Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest
heaven!" The one at the center of this parade of palms is none other than
Immanuel. Hosanna indeed.
What are your memories of Palm Sunday? Why are they
meaningful? How does Jesus entry into Jerusalem proclaim that he has come to be
our savior?
Lord Jesus, the day
you entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, the true king came in peace as the
savior of his people. Thank you for this moment of celebration and triumph.
Forgive us for the times that we have not received you as our own king or
trusted in your salvation. Teach us again to praise and pray to you with the
word hosanna, calling out to you as our savior. In your name we pray. Amen.
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