Devotion Forty
Palm Sunday 4.10.22
As I have mentioned previously in these devotions, I have been dogged in my efforts to avoid getting covid. I had a sign on the front door of our home telling anyone who wanted to enter to mask and sanitize. The sanitizer was outside on the table by the front door. I masked everywhere outside of our house. Once the vaccine was available, we did not let anyone in our home that was not vaxed. When I had to fly, I wore two masks and a face shield. I kept my distance from people. I have not eaten in a restaurant for 2 years. I have not gone back to hear the orchestra live. I am still very careful. And despite my extensive efforts to evade the virus, it struck.
I got covid. From my grandchildren, ages 1 and 2 1/2. Too young for the vaccine. Too small to mask. After all of my efforts, I got covid from my very own close to home beloved family.
I think this speaks to Holy Week. Today we begin the week of commemoration of the last week of Jesus’ life. The gospels tell us of the Palm Sunday procession, the Last Supper, Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest and trial and conviction and crucifixion. Yes, the Romans crucified Jesus. But Jesus’ friends, his disciples, the authorities of his own religion, even the crowds had a hand in the thing. It wasn’t random strangers from the outside. It was those close to Jesus. It was his own people.
As this Holy Week begins we continue our Lenten examination of our lives and our hearts. We are Jesus followers. We are the ones close at hand. This is a week to consider how we betray the gospel. How we deny the good news. How we crucify God’s dream. How we desert our Savior. Yes, we who are close to Jesus. How does the story of this Holy Week help us to be honest about our story?
Prayer
On this Palm Sunday we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The crowds were large and enthusiastic. May we engage in the intense self reflection needed so that we can number ourselves among those who are truly devoted to the dream of God for all of Creation. Amen.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 