It was only a few years ago, while reading a novel that takes place in roughly the same cultural setting that I realised why the palms and robes were placed on the road -- to keep down the dust, making the trip more enjoyable for both the crowd and for Jesus. I'm sure the robes were also symbolic of service to the personage who walked or rode over them.
In many churches, they have pretty much given up on Lent, in terms of extra services or giving up things for Lent. Most folks are too busy to spend the extra time for additional services in the middle of the week, or so they say. I remember coming home from school and having to jump into my homework right away because we had to go to church on Wednesday nights during Lent. Now some churches don't bother, but they try to get people to come out for Holy Week services - Thursday, Friday, and maybe a special 'sunrise' service on Sunday, after which breakfast is served.
But in this modern day when we don't want to have any negative feelings or experience any sadness, many skip right from Palm Sunday to Easter ... good feelings all around and no extra services to contend with.
But now that I have a choice, I find I need Lent to properly understand Easter. Not that I have ever been big on giving up for Lent, but a time for introspection, for thinking about the Law and the Gospel, for considering God's plan for the world from a different angle -- these are all important for the culmination of the celebration which is Easter. In the Gospel of John, the crucifixion reveals the glory of God, but it takes the validation of Easter for us to see it. It is Lent that reminds us that to follow Jesus is to live a life of service; it is Easter that gives us the strength to do that. Knowing the ending helps us live the middle.
Hosanna in the Highest -- Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment