Readings for the Day:
The Liturgy of the Palms
The Liturgy of the Word
Sermon:
Original Manuscript:
This is an interactive manuscript. To follow links, click the highlighted words below.
This is a tough day in our worship. It is hard because there is so much emotion. We’ve heard the triumphant entry of our Lord to Jerusalem. Just now, we have heard of His Death. It is a mighty shift in emotions, and you might be asking why it is this way.
It’s important for us to live into the fullness of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection. At one point in time, our Christian ancestors did this through the great Triduum, three services that were once one 3 day long remembrance and celebration which eventually got separated out into Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Great Vigil of Easter. Palm Sunday was a nice way to begin the whole week of remembrance and celebration in Holy Week.
Overtime, things changed. Christians, by and large (though not completely), stopped being good about worshipping during the week. Sunday became not just the main focus, but for many the only focus of our time and worship together. We see this with All Saints’ Day going from being a celebration on a specific day, November 1, to being celebrated on the Sunday following that set date. We will see it too later in the Easter Season with the Ascension, which is the Thursday 40 days after Easter, though is remembered by most of us in the readings the Sunday immediately following the Ascension.
As less and less people showed up for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, we found that the true meaning of the Resurrection is lost without first remembering the Passion (which was once remembered as part of the Resurrection Sunday celebration too). Hence this Sunday is now known as The Sunday of the Passion colon Palm Sunday, and the Palm Sunday liturgy is actually the optional part.
While there is a jarring shift in emotions as a result, and a little peak ahead at what’s to come during Holy Week, it is important for us to experience the emotions that come with Jesus’ Passion today. We need it first if we are to truly understand the power of the Resurrection.
If this day has spoken to you, like it does to me every year, I invite you to consider attending the Triduum this week, the services of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Great Vigil of Easter. I understand this may be hard for some, and if so, I invite you to at least consider attending those services with us through our online streaming, or even watching the services later. If you can attend, and particularly if you can be here in-person, you will witness the true power of Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection in your hearts that will help you understand the core of our Faith and will stay with you until you have the chance to see our Lord in His Heavenly Kingdom.