Palm Sunday
Today is Palm Sunday. The beginning of Holy Week where we remember and celebrate the days leading up to Christ's death and resurrection.
As I was reading today's Lectionary texts (I read both Palm and Passion Sunday texts today*) I was struck by a few things, but one of the main things being the (fitting) themes of both praise and sorrow, thanksgiving and loss, blessing and self-giving that were throughout the texts. These themes kind of whiplash us back and forth between celebration, anticipation, and mourning. They seem to draw us into how it might have felt in that time leading up to Jesus' death, but also (at least for me) move me to reflect on life today as well.
Between COVID-19, other health concerns, job loss, stressful jobs, being uncertain of when you might be able to get groceries, deciding if even taking a walk in your neighborhood (just to get out of the house for a few blessed minutes) is a risk worth taking, etc. there is a lot going on. And most, if not all of it, is mixed with joy and sorrow, thanksgiving and loss, blessing and self-giving, and it just makes me so grateful to know that our God is right there in the midst of each of these things with us and truly knows what it is like to go through them.
Lent as a whole is a time of self-sacrifice, reflection, and longing, and our lives have certainly matched this Lenten season, probably more than we would like. Many of us have given up more than we anticipated, but in the midst of this there is also joy, blessing, goodness, and a God who is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving through it all. Even if there are days when those things are hard to find and the praise and thankfulness doesn't come as easily (or maybe even at all).
I have definitely had my moments (okay, days) where I just felt so overwhelmed and frustrated that seeing the good and expressing thankfulness was very much not at the forefront of my mind. But then I read things like Psalm 31:9-16, which starts off so full of sorrow and distress, but then ends with...
What trust! What hope! To place our trust in the Lord, to know we are held in God's hands, that we will be delivered, and that God's light and unfailing love is there to rescue us; it blows me away when I really think about it. And not only think about those words, but the countless number of people who have prayed or lamented with words like these mixed in - calling out and claiming God's goodness in the midst of trouble.
And this praise brings us back to the shouts of "Hosanna!" that are exclaimed through our Palm Sunday texts. "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna!"
(Matt. 21)
A humble king who knows our pain, who gives of himself, who loves unconditionally, who will feel and has felt everything we have, and shows us how to be gentle, loving, and self-giving too. Hosanna!
How amazing that this God is one who is willingly humbled and takes on human form to share in our experiences and show us a better way. We are not alone in this.
Hosanna in the highest!
Today I watched a video of my niece standing on top of a shelf singing (shouting) "Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!" and it was a balm to my soul. I want that enthusiasm! To shout and sing Hosanna! To recognize the goodness of our God, even when darkness looms.
One of the ways I reflect is by listening to (and singing along with) music. So, based off of today's texts, and a bit inspired by my niece, I came up with some songs to sing or listen to, and it feels like a fitting way to end this entry. Feel free to use the list or not, but my hope is that we can come together in the midst of the chaos and shout "Hosanna!", and praise the God who knows us and our experiences as we prepare to reflect on the experiences of Jesus.
Songs:
↳ Broken Vessels
↳ Hosanna
↳ This is the Day
↳ Be Exalted O God
↳ Jesus Name Above All Names
↳ Hosanna You're the King
↳ Shine On Us (Lord Let Your Light)
↳ Abide With Me
↳ Be Thou My Vision
↳ Be Still and Know
↳ All Creatures
↳ All the Poor and Powerless
↳ Come to Save Us
↳ Waymaker
↳ It Is Well
Albums:
↳ All Is Not Lost by The Brilliance
↳ Brother by The Brilliance
↳ Lent by Liturgical Folk
Have any songs or albums been important to you this season? Comment with them! I'd love to hear from you and what has been speaking to you.
Peace and good health, my friends ♥
*I didn't really know the difference between Palm/Passion Sunday, or that they were even the same day. These were a few sources I found helpful (though they are not scholarly, so there's definitely more to learn!)
(source 1)
(source 2)
As I was reading today's Lectionary texts (I read both Palm and Passion Sunday texts today*) I was struck by a few things, but one of the main things being the (fitting) themes of both praise and sorrow, thanksgiving and loss, blessing and self-giving that were throughout the texts. These themes kind of whiplash us back and forth between celebration, anticipation, and mourning. They seem to draw us into how it might have felt in that time leading up to Jesus' death, but also (at least for me) move me to reflect on life today as well.
Between COVID-19, other health concerns, job loss, stressful jobs, being uncertain of when you might be able to get groceries, deciding if even taking a walk in your neighborhood (just to get out of the house for a few blessed minutes) is a risk worth taking, etc. there is a lot going on. And most, if not all of it, is mixed with joy and sorrow, thanksgiving and loss, blessing and self-giving, and it just makes me so grateful to know that our God is right there in the midst of each of these things with us and truly knows what it is like to go through them.
Lent as a whole is a time of self-sacrifice, reflection, and longing, and our lives have certainly matched this Lenten season, probably more than we would like. Many of us have given up more than we anticipated, but in the midst of this there is also joy, blessing, goodness, and a God who is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving through it all. Even if there are days when those things are hard to find and the praise and thankfulness doesn't come as easily (or maybe even at all).
I have definitely had my moments (okay, days) where I just felt so overwhelmed and frustrated that seeing the good and expressing thankfulness was very much not at the forefront of my mind. But then I read things like Psalm 31:9-16, which starts off so full of sorrow and distress, but then ends with...
But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
What trust! What hope! To place our trust in the Lord, to know we are held in God's hands, that we will be delivered, and that God's light and unfailing love is there to rescue us; it blows me away when I really think about it. And not only think about those words, but the countless number of people who have prayed or lamented with words like these mixed in - calling out and claiming God's goodness in the midst of trouble.
And this praise brings us back to the shouts of "Hosanna!" that are exclaimed through our Palm Sunday texts. "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna!"
(Matt. 21)
A humble king who knows our pain, who gives of himself, who loves unconditionally, who will feel and has felt everything we have, and shows us how to be gentle, loving, and self-giving too. Hosanna!
How amazing that this God is one who is willingly humbled and takes on human form to share in our experiences and show us a better way. We are not alone in this.
Hosanna in the highest!
Today I watched a video of my niece standing on top of a shelf singing (shouting) "Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!" and it was a balm to my soul. I want that enthusiasm! To shout and sing Hosanna! To recognize the goodness of our God, even when darkness looms.
One of the ways I reflect is by listening to (and singing along with) music. So, based off of today's texts, and a bit inspired by my niece, I came up with some songs to sing or listen to, and it feels like a fitting way to end this entry. Feel free to use the list or not, but my hope is that we can come together in the midst of the chaos and shout "Hosanna!", and praise the God who knows us and our experiences as we prepare to reflect on the experiences of Jesus.
Songs:
↳ Broken Vessels
↳ Hosanna
↳ This is the Day
↳ Be Exalted O God
↳ Jesus Name Above All Names
↳ Hosanna You're the King
↳ Shine On Us (Lord Let Your Light)
↳ Abide With Me
↳ Be Thou My Vision
↳ Be Still and Know
↳ All Creatures
↳ All the Poor and Powerless
↳ Come to Save Us
↳ Waymaker
↳ It Is Well
Albums:
↳ All Is Not Lost by The Brilliance
↳ Brother by The Brilliance
↳ Lent by Liturgical Folk
Have any songs or albums been important to you this season? Comment with them! I'd love to hear from you and what has been speaking to you.
Peace and good health, my friends ♥
*I didn't really know the difference between Palm/Passion Sunday, or that they were even the same day. These were a few sources I found helpful (though they are not scholarly, so there's definitely more to learn!)
(source 1)
(source 2)
Comments
Post a Comment