Well. That escalated quickly! How did the people go from praising Jesus to crying ‘crucify him’? What happened to hope they had proclaimed? Why did they seem to give up on Jesus so quickly?
They say hindsight is 20-20 vision. We look back and clearly recognise that what they were expecting is not what would happen. Jesus wasn’t going to lead a military coup to the advantage of any community, Jewish or not. He wasn’t there to show off his power in a traditional way. Jesus’ approach was far humbler. He showed his love through sacrifice. And so, “the path before him led to self-giving, suffering, and death.” He was there to tell a different story that would have the power to transform hearts that could then seek to transform the world.
We have the benefit of hindsight as we recall this Holy Week journey. While we understand the path Jesus takes, like the disciples, and all those who would become followers, we continue to be challenged to consider how this knowledge, this faith we proclaim, becomes continually embodied in our lives. Each moment of this holy week provides space for us to reflect, pray, and act.
This is a week in which we are challenged to embrace the possibilities of faith and transformation. This is the week when we are asked to consider the ways in which we, like the people so long ago, fall short of the ideal of discipleship and, knowing better, seek to do better. It is easy to celebrate with palms and praises.
Walking through this week in all its nuances requires us to participate intentionally and hopefully in the journey. This is a time where we can sit in silence, recall the love embodied in the Last Supper eaten by Jesus and his friends, remember the violence of the arrest and trial, and experience the desolation and love of the cross.
The story, as we tell it, escalates quickly. We still have spaces to experience the profoundness of this journey. May we embrace these opportunities as invitations to learn, grow, be present, and hope for transformation. This we pray as we sing: 194 Stay with us