Light, before and after the darkness.
Palm Sunday has always struck me as a delightful and fun day. I can so easily get caught up in the expectation and the joy of the people of Jerusalem as Jesus enters the city.
I can see and hear the children as they run to meet him. This great teacher, this man who is God, Jesus who has given us so many signs and such wonderful love.
The noise, the smells, the hands held high waving palm branches crying out ‘Hosanna in the highest!’
But in the midst of that joy there is a deep darkness. It is harder for us to experience fully the joy of the people of Jerusalem because know the story, we know what comes next.
We know the agony that awaits Jesus and his disciples.
We know the darkness of the garden at Gethsemane (where we will join the Disciples in their Watch on Maundy Thursday).
We know the pain of the arrest and His condemnation. His struggle to carry the cross, His falls, the reversal of the joy of the crowds to jeers, hatred and spittle.
Palm Sunday marks the start of that journey of darkness.
It also, and this is the vital part of the story, marks the start of the journey towards the light.
We KNOW that Jesus will come again, that He will rise three days later, that He will save us all – and in that joy we share a large part.
This week, accept and see the darkness… then let the light destroy it utterly.
Fr. Matthew
Downloads
Orders of service for each of the Holy Week services (including Palm Sunday) will be uploaded and available for download from the Holy Week Service page.
Other News
On Palm Sunday children are invited to come and help build the Easter Garden in the Lady Chapel. It’ll be a hands-on activity where we re-create the garden of gethsemane, calvary and the tomb. The garden will form the centre piece of the altar of repose over Easter.
During Holy Week there will be a Priest available for confessions for an hour before each mass. Make your way to the statue of Jesus and the Priest will hear your confession or will help you make your first confession.
Don’t be late for mass this week! We start at 10am outside church and bless the palms, before processing to the altar.
Susan and Fr. Josiah are advancing plans for a new Sunday afternoon children’s service and club – 4pm to 6pm on the last Sunday of each month. The first service will be on the 30th April. If you’d like to be involved, please speak to Fr. Josiah.