Bright Sadness

Palm Sunday

Opening

Let's begin with a moment of silence, centering our minds, bodies, and hearts upon the Lord our God.

Quote

“When I consider the actual nature of compunction, I am amazed at how that which is called mourning and grief should contain joy and gladness interwoven within it like honey in the comb.” -St. John Climacus

Reflection

In the life of the church, Palm Sunday is a remarkably complex and multifaceted day. Unlike the elated crowds who welcome Christ with unhindered joy, unaware of the true nature of his entry, we observe this day with the reality of Christ’s passion in our minds and hearts. Yes, we cry our “Hosanna!” and welcome Christ as King, yet we are aware that this entry leads to Him willingly giving up His own life for the life of the world. Mourning and grief are interwoven with joy and gladness.

As we reach the end of our season of repentance, we have hopefully grown in our awareness of the ever-present reality of evil in our world and in our hearts. There is always a need to repent, ways we have contributed to the darkness in our world and failed to live in the light, ways we have ignored the Lord’s call to return to him and instead plunged further into the mire of our passions. However, even within the deepest sadness, hope is to be found. We are never without the promise of joy and the hope of resurrection.

Yes, the cries of Palm Sunday give way to the horror of Good Friday, yet the silence of Holy Saturday is overwhelmed by the victory and triumph of Easter Sunday.

The events of Holy Week reveal to us the true nature of the universe itself: Christ is King. Self-giving love heals the world. Death gives way to life. And so, let us boldly enter the drama of Holy Week, aware of our sins yet more aware of the power of God at work in and through Jesus Christ, the “God who saves.”

Prayer

Almighty and ever-living God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon Him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of His great humility. Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of His suffering, and also share in His resurrection through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, 1979)

Reflective Practice

Holy Week is an invitation to take church attendance seriously! Across all Christian traditions and customs, there are services throughout the week that invite us deeper into the events of Christ’s passion. Do all you can to clear your calendar this week and prioritize participation in these services, joining with the family of God in retelling the greatest story ever told.

Closing

If you would like to dive deeper into the themes of this devotional, you are invited to continue by listening to today's Scripture passages, giving thanks to God for his word, and asking Him to write it upon our hearts.

Go in peace today and let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

Endnotes

Scripture passages in this devotional are selected from Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings for Year A, copyright © 2005. Consultation on Common Texts, Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Reproduced by permission.

Scripture quotations in this devotional are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Prayers in this devotional are taken from The Book of Common Prayer (1979).