The Gospel in today's Daily Office readings is Jesus' triumphant ride on Palm Sunday, including:

[T]hey brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. Matthew 21:7

I have never understood Palm Sunday. Worship leaders love any excuse to bring out extra props, but beyond that, what's the point? The continuing passage tells us that Jesus rode a donkey and a colt (how he rode both is a mystery of the faith) to fulfill prophecy, but that begs the question. Why was the scene prophesied as an essential part of Christ's passion?

Palm Sunday begins the biggest pendulum swing of history. Many leaders experience a swing in poll numbers, but going from "All glory, laud and honor" to "Crucify him!" in one week is without parallel. This must be intended to tell us something very vital about the human nature Jesus sought to redeem.

The Fairy Tales that formed our little brains all had characters who captured ultimate good or ultimate evil. The wolf was not just bad; he was big and bad. We can unconsciously take this pattern into life and categorize those we encounter as either good people or bad people. It keeps things simple. But people are not simple. We all have sparks of divine light and blocked windows of the soul obstructing that light.

Maybe Palm Sunday counsels us all to moderate our judgments and wonder more than we condemn. When did that wolf last have a square meal?


Pastor Kathleen Kelly,   
Interim Rector  

Little Red Riding Hood by J. W. Smith
47535 State Hwy. 74
Palm Desert, CA 92260
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