MOTHER SYLVIA
  • Home
    • The Abbey
  • Explore
    • Prayer Beads
    • MMC ABQ
    • Sing and Sign
    • Stretching Prayers
    • Movement Meditations
    • Dance
    • JIMClass
    • Songs
    • Sermons
    • Vocations
    • Vocations Course
    • Vocations Groups
    • Vocations Retreat
    • Vocations Interviews
    • Prayer
  • Kids
    • Parenting
    • Meditation
    • Song & Movement
    • Stories
    • Rap
    • Camp
  • St. Marks ABQ
    • The Strangest Prayer
    • Beatitudes
    • Catechesis
    • Ministry Training
    • Devotions
    • Advent O Antiphons
    • Advent Prayers
    • Advent Stories
    • Winter Saints
    • Advent Creation Waits
    • 40 Bible Stories
    • Acts
    • Summer Stories
    • Parent Group
    • SMMS Chapel News
    • Chapel Time
    • Song of the Month
    • Contemplation and Chant
    • Icon Visits
    • Holy Week >
      • Holy Week 2020
      • Via Crucis
      • Palm Sunday Passion 2019
      • Palm Sunday Passion 2020
      • Palm Sunday Passion 2022
      • Palm Sunday Passion 2023
    • Liturgy Class
    • Reflections
  • Blog

Reflections from St. Mark's

Reflections on Palm Sunday (Heather Gaume)

3/5/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture
As we all begin this forty- day journey through Lent, a time of quiet and reflection, my mind leaps ahead.  Now, why is it when you try to focus on one thing, when you quiet your body, your mind speeds up?  This is something with which all contemplatives struggle.  How much worse must it be for children?  Oh, you wonder, where did your mind leap?
 
In this instance, my mind leapt to Holy Week which begins with that tumultuous, joyous expectation that Jesus had a plan to save his people.  He is welcomed with crowds waving palms, riding a colt over the robes laid on the paving stones of Jerusalem, people singing and shouting in excitement, an early day version of the hero’s welcome to the returning soldiers from the World Wars. 
 
On Palm Sunday, we reenact this event outside the church doors with our own banners, palms, songs and joy.  As the crowd gathers, there is much murmuring, greetings and hugs being exchanged, little ones running in and out between elders’ feet, walkers being pushed over the bumps as folks jockey to get a better view of the proceedings.  Bells ring out and the service begins outside where God’s creation is arrayed in riotous spring glory.  Sometimes, it is very chilly and everyone is bundled, sometimes it is hot on the asphalt pavement and we all wish for a return to parasols. And even though we know that Good Friday is coming, today is all about triumph.  A recognition that Jesus is our king and that we are part of the plan, part of the kingdom, movers and shakers of our world. I imagine the disciples and followers of Jesus felt much like this.  They, of course, did not yet know the whole story, but if we are at all thoughtful, then neither do we. What is coming next? What challenges will we face as respond to the call of our particular ministries.  Will the excitement and jubilation of this Palm Sunday sustain us through the horror of Good Friday and into the relief and joy of the resurrection?

Picture
2 Comments
Christopher McLaren
3/31/2020 03:50:48 pm

Heather, I loved this reflection especially your descriptions of spring and the joyous procession. And I love the question Are we ready for what is next?

Reply
Angie Hearron
4/5/2020 11:27:42 am

Heather thank you for the memories of past, and celebration of present palms and branches. Every year I learn another nuance of this celebration. This year the gathering of a branch reminds me of Spring and also of gathering greens at your home. The Alpha and the Omega.
Thank you,
Blessings,
Angie

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Authors

    Enjoy reflections on a variety of topics from the members, staff, and clergy of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Albuquerque.

    Archives

    March 2020

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Home

Email Sylvia+

Copyright © 2015
Photos from bobosh_t, alh1
  • Home
    • The Abbey
  • Explore
    • Prayer Beads
    • MMC ABQ
    • Sing and Sign
    • Stretching Prayers
    • Movement Meditations
    • Dance
    • JIMClass
    • Songs
    • Sermons
    • Vocations
    • Vocations Course
    • Vocations Groups
    • Vocations Retreat
    • Vocations Interviews
    • Prayer
  • Kids
    • Parenting
    • Meditation
    • Song & Movement
    • Stories
    • Rap
    • Camp
  • St. Marks ABQ
    • The Strangest Prayer
    • Beatitudes
    • Catechesis
    • Ministry Training
    • Devotions
    • Advent O Antiphons
    • Advent Prayers
    • Advent Stories
    • Winter Saints
    • Advent Creation Waits
    • 40 Bible Stories
    • Acts
    • Summer Stories
    • Parent Group
    • SMMS Chapel News
    • Chapel Time
    • Song of the Month
    • Contemplation and Chant
    • Icon Visits
    • Holy Week >
      • Holy Week 2020
      • Via Crucis
      • Palm Sunday Passion 2019
      • Palm Sunday Passion 2020
      • Palm Sunday Passion 2022
      • Palm Sunday Passion 2023
    • Liturgy Class
    • Reflections
  • Blog