As Jesus enters Jerusalem for that fateful “holy week” before his death and resurrection, we celebrate as the people in the city did–with palm branches and shouting Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of the Lord!
But soon into the service, we pivot to the reason WHY Jesus was in Jerusalem. His passion. Have you ever wondered WHY we say “passion?” I have. Father William Saunders explains it well:
The Passion of Christ, from the Latin patior meaning “suffer,” refers to those sufferings our Lord endured for our redemption from the agony in the garden until His death on Calvary. The Passion Narratives of the Gospels provide the details of our Lord’s passion, and at least to some extent, they are corroborated by contemporary Roman historians — Tacitus, Seutonius and Pliny the Younger. Archeological discoveries combined with modern medical examination provide an accurate picture of what our Lord endured. In an age where the “risen” Jesus appears on the cross and “suffering” and “sacrifice” have become unpopular terms, we must not lose sight of the reality of the passion.
As Lutherans, we don’t celebrate the passion, but we certainly acknowledge it. To get to Easter, you have to.
So, this Sunday, after beginning worship with our palms blessed and our procession, we will pivot to the passion.
Our service this year will feel different. Because this pivot can be so jarring, we are trying a new flow with our liturgy. All parts are there, just in a different order, following the passion narrative more, and experiencing the passion (hopefully) in a deeper way.
One of the many reasons that I love being your pastor at Bay Shore is your willingness to try new things in worship. As a traditionalist myself, I admit–faith can make ruts hard to get out of–so trying Advent and Lenten themes, having special services, and more, we keep those ruts less deep. Please do let me know how you liked or did not like this Sunday’s liturgy.
I sincerely pray to see you at the parts of the Holy Week that you can attend. To skip to Easter alone, it misses the point. If you can’t attend any Holy Week services, watch online! But in either case, come and see your church family on Easter Sunday. We want to see you, even if its been a long time since you have been inside the building.
May God bless you, your loved ones, and our world,
Pastor Sarah
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