I have always loved to travel. I love the landscape and the people of this beautiful land that we live in. I love the freedom of the open road and the excitement of not knowing what’s up ahead or around the next bend. Even when I’ve traveled over and over again to the same place, the journey is always different. There are new people to meet, new trails to hike, new streams to fish.
Christians around the world will gather this Sunday to begin the journey of Holy Week together. This is a familiar and comfortable road for us. It’s one we’ve all walked before. And yet, the journey is always new and different because as our lives change, the gospel continually speaks to us with a fresh voice.
It was a familiar road the disciples found themselves on that first Palm Sunday. They were on the dusty and hilly road to Jerusalem. They knew as they reached the town of Bethany that they would soon come around the Mount of Olives and see the city of Jerusalem sprawl out before them. They had likely traveled this way with Jesus before. This time, though, the city swelled with thousands of people preparing to celebrate the Passover.
Jesus knew this road well. He had traveled it before, even as a small child. It was a magnificent road for pilgrims like him who traveled on it. As they approached Jerusalem they would see the temple glistening in the sunlight and they would be reminded of God’s promise to their people.
The road itself was known and loved by the crowds of people who traveled it. But the journey that Jesus walked on that first Palm Sunday was new. The road would not change, but the final destination would be different from any other trip ever made to Jerusalem. Today a donkey’s colt would be found tied up outside and used as a ride for Jesus to enter into the city. Today crowds of excited of people would line the road shouting, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
The road was familiar, but the journey was unique. The disciples knew the road, but Jesus knew the journey.
Jesus knew where the journey would end. Today crowds would shout “Hosanna!” By Friday morning, the crowds would instead scream, “Crucify him.”
Today crowds would lay palm branches before him. By Friday morning, women would walk behind him in inexpressible tears, watching as the blood and sweat dripped from him as he carried a wooden cross to his place of execution.
Jesus knew the journey. And yet, he went ahead anyway. Why did he do it? What does this have to do with us? It’s simple! Jesus walked this road for us. He endured the journey to the cross so that we might today find forgiveness and renewal and abundant life. He gave up his life so that our lives might be reconciled to God.
We know the highways and the byways of our lives, but Jesus knows our journey. He walks with us and shares his life with us all throughout our pilgrimage here on earth. Jesus’ journey brings his kingdom into even the darkest corners of this world so that we may come to know the joys of this life. And when our hearts are filled, we can’t help but want to share what we have received with others who are lost along the road.
I invite you to experience the beautiful journey that is Holy Week! Churches all along the shore will be celebrating the touchstones of our faith this coming week. You will feel welcome in any church you enter. You will find joy in any community of faith along the shore. I invite you to experience God’s unending love this coming week. I invite you to join us as we journey together to Jerusalem.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This month’s contributor is Tom Murray of the Lutsen and Zion Lutheran Churches.
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