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Palm Sunday was triumphant.
Our church congregation celebrated the One so long ago who proclaimed justice and freedom, help for the down-trodden and marginalized, and shared a promise of full, generous, and abundant living.
After a glorious worship service of music and message, the sanctuary doors opened to another very present and contemporary week.
Another week. Rubble and tumult in Gaza. Continuing and horrifying bombing in Ukraine. Punishing hunger and total deprivation in Sudan. Two hundred and 10 people flown to a prison in El Salvador denied the constitutional right of due process. The detention of an Afgan husband and father of five in New England on his way to work.
Brought to America and documented thoroughly by Lutheran Social Services, members of our son’s church are totally involved with daily helping the family.
The father was part of the clandestine network providing information about the Taliban during the war. But, it is now that his wife and children are in total chaos.
The ritual and celebration of those temporary hours on Palm Sunday demand deep reflection. Injustice, cruelty and oppression, even the appearance of it, anywhere in our local, national and world community should always be called out.
Constantly we must always monitor our own behavior and speak up about the artificial labeling of people, engaging in unethical behavior or causing intentional or unintended hardship and misery for those we will never know.
The triumph and defeat of Holy Week has begun. The One who called us to full justice, freedom from oppression, liberty and the potential of abundant life has been celebrated and proclaimed.
As part of the adoring contemporary crowd on the roadside on Palm Sunday, like Pilate, will we disregard and desert the message and the messenger on Friday? Or, find in the coming of Easter hope, renewal and new resolve?
Jim Sawyer
Albemarle