From Palm Fronds to a Crown of Thorns

"Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Crucify him! Crucify him!"

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. It wasn't always like this, but these two "events" in Jesus' life have been conflated into one Sunday. We shout "Hosanna in the highest" as Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem. We wave our palm fronds around, and sing "All Glory Laud and Honor," and it is a festive occasion.

Yet not more than fifteen minutes later, on that same Sunday, we read the narrative of Jesus' trial, crucifixion and death. In this second lesson, we all take part in shouting, "Crucify him, crucify him!" I find these two events being remembered during the same worship service quite disorienting.


We go from celebration and thanksgiving to accusation and crucifixion at warp speed. This week, think about the speed with which we levy our own judgments upon others in the present time: be they rock stars, politicians, or our own neighbors.