The contemporary author Thomas Moore says, “The whole point of a good story is to give birth to other stories and to deep reflection.” (Thomas Moore Original Self p. 66) The Palm Sunday stories certainly call us to reflection. There are stories within stories that bring more stories to mind. We can be tempted to try to reflect on too many details. In Lectio, as in any of the arts, we can allow the music, the photo, the artwork, the Word to take over. We, our brain, or attention can overload on details. So, I suggest a good choice for the Palm Sunday stories may be to simply “sit with” the story. Together let’s break the Word. Allow me to share a little of my reflection with you.
Palm Sunday liturgy, it seems to me, is a mixture of themes evoking a potpourri of emotions. We move from high hosannas and a supper with friends, to an example of loving humility, washing of feet and later washing of hands to a scene of betrayal and mocking. We meet Simon and Veronica, John and Mary, Joseph and the women. We are impressed with their loving care and their courage and compassion. Then we hear the roughness of the soldier’s “Surely this was an innocent man; could he save himself?!.” We breathe a slow sigh when we hear of the donation of a burial place, the preparation of the body of a loved-one, the watching and waiting … and waiting … and waiting.
Palm Sunday services begin with such glorious solemnity … waving palms, processions, joyful singing of hosanna! Within about an hour’s time we travel from cries of “Blessed is He who comes in the name of God!” to shouts of “Away with this man – Crucify him!” I like the Eucharistic acclamation that we no longer use: “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!” We pray for forgiveness and daily bread. We exchange God’s own peace with each other. We recall Jesus’ supreme sacrifice and take into ourselves His body and blood. Then the communion antiphon calls us back to the beginning of the story – to the thread that winds through the whole story: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me: still, not my will but yours be done.” A few hours later Jesus will utter: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
This same sentiment is echoed in the prayer often used at the Stations of the Cross: “Oh, my God, I love you. I love you more than myself. Grant that I may love you always, then do with me what you will.” When I hand myself over to God, as Jesus did, in a sincere act of self-surrender in the words we (Sisters) sang in our vow ceremony: “Suscipe me”, I am asking God to accept me NOW, just as I am now, open, vulnerable, powerless. I am also saying that I am willing to receive whatever God has in store for me in the future: the journey onward, the Palm Sundays, the Good Fridays, the Easters in my life. “Accept me, accept us, O God as you have promised and I shall live, we shall live; and we shall not be disappointed our hope.”
~by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
May you have a blessed Holy Week experience and a very Happy Easter!
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