It was Palm Sunday yesterday but it was Palm Sunday with a difference! There was no procession, no waving of palms and no singing. Instead we stayed in our homes, switched on our TVs, computers, tablets and smart phones... and we worshipped God. It may be different to what we are used to but it still counts. God is still God and the church calendar moves along as it always has, regardless of whether the services take place in our churches or in our homes.
So we find ourselves in Holy Week. Normally, this week is a hive of activity as we make extra efforts to come close to God and to get to know Jesus that little bit better than we did before. Palm Sunday launches us into Holy Week and invites us to journey with Christ... from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem...his last days on earth...and his death and crucifixion.
This it is not an easy week. Following the way of the cross demands a lot from us. It would be so easy, wouldn't it to just focus on the good bits? To think about the joy and the celebration of that first Palm Sunday. After all, we could do with a bit of fun and laughter in our lives right now! But this is the real world we live in and we have all experienced the ups and downs of life. The events of Holy Week that we engage with this week are not an unfortunate error that God then put right by giving us Easter. No, it was the fulfilment of God's purpose. Holy Week is about marching on to Easter... when defeat changes to victory. You will have hear it said that there is no resurrection without a crucifixion? And to reach Easter, we have to go through Holy Week, to fully understand what Jesus endured for each one of us. He stayed faithful to us, right up to the point of death.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ changed the world forever - the events have gone down in history and continues to this day, to offer hope to the world...we need to hold onto that hope.
We too, are all living through a time that will be marked in history. Each one of us are playing our part in some way, whether that is by going out and doing our daily work, or whether we are confined to home. When we look back at this time, how will we remember it? We might have more time on our hands at the moment, so why not mark this time in some way by trying something new? Keep a journal...make a scrap book...try a new recipe...do some drawing or painting...write a book...your life-story...
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that donkey 2000 years ago, the people rejoiced. Within days they were shouting for his crucifixion. But what a difference a week makes...hold onto that thought as you journey with Christ towards Easter.
So we find ourselves in Holy Week. Normally, this week is a hive of activity as we make extra efforts to come close to God and to get to know Jesus that little bit better than we did before. Palm Sunday launches us into Holy Week and invites us to journey with Christ... from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem...his last days on earth...and his death and crucifixion.
This it is not an easy week. Following the way of the cross demands a lot from us. It would be so easy, wouldn't it to just focus on the good bits? To think about the joy and the celebration of that first Palm Sunday. After all, we could do with a bit of fun and laughter in our lives right now! But this is the real world we live in and we have all experienced the ups and downs of life. The events of Holy Week that we engage with this week are not an unfortunate error that God then put right by giving us Easter. No, it was the fulfilment of God's purpose. Holy Week is about marching on to Easter... when defeat changes to victory. You will have hear it said that there is no resurrection without a crucifixion? And to reach Easter, we have to go through Holy Week, to fully understand what Jesus endured for each one of us. He stayed faithful to us, right up to the point of death.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ changed the world forever - the events have gone down in history and continues to this day, to offer hope to the world...we need to hold onto that hope.
We too, are all living through a time that will be marked in history. Each one of us are playing our part in some way, whether that is by going out and doing our daily work, or whether we are confined to home. When we look back at this time, how will we remember it? We might have more time on our hands at the moment, so why not mark this time in some way by trying something new? Keep a journal...make a scrap book...try a new recipe...do some drawing or painting...write a book...your life-story...
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that donkey 2000 years ago, the people rejoiced. Within days they were shouting for his crucifixion. But what a difference a week makes...hold onto that thought as you journey with Christ towards Easter.
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Matthew 21:9
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