THE CONTEMPLATION OF THOSE MIGHTY ACTS

Dear Friends in Christ,

At the beginning of our worship on Palm Sunday, we will pray “that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby [God has] given us life and immortality….” Later in the liturgy we will join in the dramatic reading of Mark’s account of Jesus’ Passion, most of taking the part of the crowd as we shout, “Crucify him!”

During a recent conservation with Episcopal and Presbyterian colleagues, someone asked why we try to include so much in our Palm Sunday worship. One of my colleagues suggested that we include the reading of the Passion on Palm Sunday because we know that only a small number of parishioners will be present for the reading of the Passion during the Good Friday Liturgy. That is, of course, true, although I always hope that more people will be present for worship on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. However, I think there is another reason, and a very good one, for the reading of the Passion on Palm Sunday. We are invited to contemplate on these might acts, and contemplation takes time, it cannot be hurried.

I believe that Holy Week can bless us with the gift of time to read over and over again Mark’s account of the Passion. I invite you to take home the lectionary insert on Palm Sunday and to read each day at least one section of the Passion. Perhaps during the reading on Palm Sunday a particular section, even just a phrase or a word, will seem to jump off the page. Take that as an invitation to pray with that section or phrase or word throughout the week, calling it to mind frequently each day. And if nothing jumps off the page at you on Palm Sunday, take time later that day or on Monday to read the Passion over again, slowly and attentively, trusting the Spirit to speak to you through the words of Scripture.

It is often said that we can only get to Easter through Good Friday. Contemplation on the Passion deepens our celebration of Easter and I invite you to make this contemplation part of your daily prayer during Holy Week.

Your elder brother,

Daniel