Palm Sunday, 16th March: In the long procession of pilgrims that came down from the Mount of Olives on this sunny afternoon of Palm Sunday, some were holding up a banner: “Where could Jesus go?” Was this message political? Was it only political?
"Where could Jesus go?". Can He succeed in making a way for Himself in the turmoil of our heart? In the morning, the Mass at the Holy Sepulchre, at the altar of Magdalene, the reading of the Passio seemed long to some: "You can’t hear anything with the others singing. But why don’t they use microphones?" "Where could Jesus go?". Is He really more at the Mass of Palm Sunday of the Latins than at the celebrations of the Greeks, or the Copts, or the Armenians, the Orthodox who celebrate the first Sunday of Lent at the same time? "Ah! The procession of the palms around the Tomb: it’s so beautiful! The particular rustle of the palms as they are waved, the songs, the music of the organ"; and at the foot of the Cross, how many of those who had acclaimed His entry into the city remained?
"Where could Jesus go?" Once again the Church of Jerusalem enters the Holy Week without there being peace in this country. Once again, Palm Sunday has offered a truce, at least in Jerusalem. An enormous crowd of Christians from the five continents, but also from the Parishes of Jaffa, Nazareth-Mujaidel, West Jerusalem and others were able, palms in hand, to enter Jerusalem, acclaiming Jesus, Son of David.
In the final blessing, at St. Anne, His Beatitude the Patriarch Michel Sabbah, prayed for peace in the Holy Land and asked for the faith for all Christians, before the ecumenical group Al-Raja’, hope, invited those who wanted to prolong the celebration in joy and in dance.
What is sure is that today Jesus wanted to be in the hearts of the Christians who acclaimed him, and many welcomed him in joy. It is also certain that, as for every beautiful thing, the best has still to come. Holy Week has only just begun.
MAB
"Where could Jesus go?". Can He succeed in making a way for Himself in the turmoil of our heart? In the morning, the Mass at the Holy Sepulchre, at the altar of Magdalene, the reading of the Passio seemed long to some: "You can’t hear anything with the others singing. But why don’t they use microphones?" "Where could Jesus go?". Is He really more at the Mass of Palm Sunday of the Latins than at the celebrations of the Greeks, or the Copts, or the Armenians, the Orthodox who celebrate the first Sunday of Lent at the same time? "Ah! The procession of the palms around the Tomb: it’s so beautiful! The particular rustle of the palms as they are waved, the songs, the music of the organ"; and at the foot of the Cross, how many of those who had acclaimed His entry into the city remained?
"Where could Jesus go?" Once again the Church of Jerusalem enters the Holy Week without there being peace in this country. Once again, Palm Sunday has offered a truce, at least in Jerusalem. An enormous crowd of Christians from the five continents, but also from the Parishes of Jaffa, Nazareth-Mujaidel, West Jerusalem and others were able, palms in hand, to enter Jerusalem, acclaiming Jesus, Son of David.
In the final blessing, at St. Anne, His Beatitude the Patriarch Michel Sabbah, prayed for peace in the Holy Land and asked for the faith for all Christians, before the ecumenical group Al-Raja’, hope, invited those who wanted to prolong the celebration in joy and in dance.
What is sure is that today Jesus wanted to be in the hearts of the Christians who acclaimed him, and many welcomed him in joy. It is also certain that, as for every beautiful thing, the best has still to come. Holy Week has only just begun.
MAB