Palm Sunday

When I lived in Greenwich Village in the late 1970's, many of the Christian churches would gather in Washington Square Park for an interdenominational Palm Sunday service. Washington Square Park looked quite different in those days as compared to its pristine, orderly gardens and fountains of today. In those days, it was filled with drug dealers, homeless people, street performers, NYU students, and old men playing chess on concrete chessboards. It was not lush with green lawns and beautiful plantings, but it was certainly rich in character. On the morning of Palm Sunday the park would be filled with large crowds of Christians who gathered to participate in the service marking Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Readings were done in English and Spanish. Large banners marked the various churches that included Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian parishes.

As the Director of Religious Education for St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, I was responsible for making sure the children and youth of our parish were supervised, guarding them from the drug dealers and some of the more bizarre "citizens" of the park. I distributed palms and helped them through the service that would last about 30 minutes. When it was over, everyone processed through the streets, waving their palms and returning to their prospective churches. I remember looking up at the windows of an apartment building and seeing people watching this bizarre parade of Christians. Since it was the Village, no one really paid too much attention to this odd collection of Christians, carrying palm fronds and singing "All Glory, Laud, and Honor" a cappella, often in a disjointed way. Eventually we would find ourselves at the door of our church and would enter to continue the Palm Sunday liturgy that would include the powerful reading of The Passion.

I often thought that these Palm Sunday services in Washington Square Park gave us a glimpse of the actual day when Jesus triumphantly entered the city of Jerusalem. Many people were excited to see Jesus riding on a donkey and lay their cloaks and branches on the road for him as he entered the city gate. They enjoyed being part of the parade into Jerusalem and shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" (Mt 21:9). However, others simply watched from a distance, perhaps not giving it much thought or concern as to what all the fuss was about. For them it was just an ordinary day with some heightened excitement over a stranger from Galilee. I like to think that years later someone told their children or grandchildren about the time they witnessed the Messiah entering the sacred streets of the old city of Jerusalem.

As we enter Holy Week, how will we participate in this Palm Sunday story that begins the last week of Jesus' life? Some of you will be at church this Sunday and will have the opportunity to be part of our procession from the courtyard into the sanctuary and hear the Passion story found in the Gospel of Matthew. However, because of spring break, some of you will be away and will need to find other ways to honor these sacred days. Perhaps you can find time to read these stories from the Bible (you can google these passages on your mobile devices) either alone or with your family. Here are some suggestions:

Palm Sunday - Matthew 21:1-1, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28- 44, John 12:12-26

Maundy Thursday- Matthew 26:1-30, Mark 14:1-26, Luke 22:1-30

Good Friday - Luke 22: 39 through Luke 23: 56

Easter- Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24:1-27, John 20: 1- 25

May we all have a holy and blessed Holy Week.

Mary Grace+