Palm Sunday

i've noticed that the church liturgical calendar is shaping more and more of my life (being part of a monastic community will do that to you). and i like being shaped in this way. i look forward to the different seasons and am glad to join the worldwide church in living out our faith in this way.

and today is Palm Sunday, a Sunday that i have always associated with "hosanna" and Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. added to this now are memories of several Palm Sundays at St. Gregory's Abbey, filled with incense and a procession holding palm branches. and we would hear the story of Jesus' death chanted, from the triumphal entry until his burial. in hearing it chanted, the old familiar story would become alive again.

and today, i celebrated Palm Sunday in the Oude Kerk. at the beginning of the service, we all walked outside the church and entered again through a different door. it was strange to be with others holding hymn books and palm branches walking in the Red Light District, in the middle of a high tourist area. but there was almost something special about displaying our faith in this way. and my understanding of Palm Sunday has once again been expanded - i see a bit more the strangeness of proclaiming Jesus as king amidst a world that isn't really expecting Him - or at least not like this.

holy week is beginning, and the community will spend more time in prayer and extra time in remembering the events related to Jesus' death and resurrection. we've been anticipating the triumphal entry all of lent now, as we've been singing the Palm Sunday anthem of 'hosanna, hosanna, the king of Israel' to close our meals. and in the coming days, there'll be prayers at noon and bedtime, in addition to the usual morning and evening prayers. on thursday evening, we have a Seder (Passover) meal and we'll wash each other's feet. on friday, we will be painting as part of remembering Jesus' death on the cross. on saturday evening, in anticipation of Easter, a member of the community will be baptized in the Oude Kerk. and sunday, the vigil begun at sundown on saturday will end after 12 readings - end with a celebration of the Lord's Supper and a feast for breakfast.

i am looking forward to continuing to meet God in this time.