A Collect for Palm Sunday and Holy Week
Humble Lord,
while people clamoured for a warrior-king,
the colt revealed your servanthood:
as you face the way of tears,
the tearing of the temple veil,
take us from the baying mob
to place our faith in you,
Jesus Christ, our victim and our saviour. Amen.
(From Prayers for an Inclusive Church by Steven Shakespeare.)
Throughout this Lenten season we have been focusing on faith as practice rather than belief. As we arrive at this most momentous of weeks, we are invited to continue to live our faith by following Jesus in the way of the cross. The Passion narrative asks much of us, but gives the assurance that God is with us on this journey. While so many still clamour for a conquering King, we are reminded of the downward journey Christ chose, as he took up total solidarity with the human condition. As we participate in the rituals of this week, the call on our lives can come into sharper focus when we recognise where the downward road to servanthood might take each of us. We are invited to walk with Christ throughout this coming week, not merely commemorating events from 2000 years ago, but experiencing everything from the triumphal entry to Golgotha to the empty tomb as we take seriously Jesus’ words, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me.”
Grace and peace,
Sue+
