My memories of Palm Sunday are pretty strong. It was always one of my favorite Sundays of the year. I remember that we would start outside with the blessing of the palms and then have a huge procession into the church. As a young person in the Junior Choir I thought the procession that day was particularly grand, as we would do a huge circle around the church and then come down the center aisle. It was always packed, almost as full as Easter, and it was generally an exciting time as a kid. Even though the palms came with stern warnings about poking my brother’s eye out, I loved fooling with it, folding it up, and all the rest of it. I also have a specific memory of using the palms to tickle the necks of the girls who sat in front of us in the choir stalls.

It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized the full name of the day is The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday. We call it Palm Sunday for short, but center stage is the reading of the passion narrative, which we did there as we do here; a lengthy reading with various persons reading the parts of the gospel story. That realization came when I tried to figure out why Palm Sunday wasn’t as joyous as it had felt in my childhood. For whatever reason, I was focused on the palms and the triumphal entry, and didn’t notice that passion bit. It didn’t really occur to me how difficult the service is when we read that narrative an all of the sadness Jesus’ final hours bring to mind. As an adult, Palm Sunday isn’t terribly uplifting. And that’s ok. It’s not necessarily supposed to be.

When I was growing up we went to every Holy Week service. Every year. For many years I was the acolyte for either Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, or both. I remember when foot washing was introduced to our parish, how foreign it felt, but how moving it was. I remember Paul Woods, who had the most beautiful, smooth

bass voice I’ve ever heard. Every year he would sing, “Were you there,” in a darkened church on Good Friday. It was so beautiful even folks like my father and my grandfather would shed at least one tear. When I presided at his funeral during my ministry in my home parish after seminary, that was the memory that caused me to lose it, briefly, during my homily. We didn’t have an Easter Vigil until I was in high school, but I was there for the first one – all two and a half hours of it. We had an overly zealous rector who excitedly included ALL of the optional readings for the vigil, plus six baptisms. (Have no fear – our Vigil is not even half as long!)

I realize now how much my Holy Week experiences have shaped my life and my faith. These liturgies are the most “feel good” of our services, but the are some of the most powerful in our tradition. Christians have been engaging in some of these holy remembrances for nearly two thousand years, recalling the last days and hours of our Lord’s life. When we are able to engage them they can transform our faith and our very lives. When we get caught up in the drama of the stories, the tactile nature of things like washing feet and kneeling at the foot of the cross, or the darkness of the church after the altar is laid bare, God has room move in us differently than at any other time.

All of this is to say that I am strongly encouraging you to participate in the events of Holy Week next week as much as you are able. If it is possible for you to come, I will suggest that you do come. Even if you don’t WANT to come, I think it’s that important. If you’ve been paying attention, you know I don’t typically speak this strongly in terms of what people ought to do. This is different. This is Holy Week.

You will find our schedule in News You Can Use and in our bulletins again this weekend. From Palm Sunday and Easter we will have or participate in 24 services of one sort or another that you might attend. That includes our services and the ecumenical services we hold all over the island during Holy Week. Naturally no one can attend them all – some of them are taking place at the same time in two different locations. Even if you’re a busy person though, there should be some services that fit your schedule. We’ll stream Thursday and Friday’s evening services for those who can’t safely go out at night.

Whatever course your Holy Week takes, I pray that it is a blessed journey with our Lord that helps you prepare for the joy of Easter morning with a greater understanding of the gift of new life we find in the resurrection.

Tom+

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.