And then it begins. The journey of Holy Week starts with our first step in a parade.
I’m not a parade guy. I really feel overwhelmed when in a big crowd. I have been in some large marches like the Women’s march in 2017 with 470,000 people.
And for many years I have marched in the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Crowds make me nervous, and I have wondered why that is.
I think it is because they are large to the point, I feel numb; and I have hard time to connect with larger events, hard to engage in a wider sense. Too many faces that I don’t recognize. The absence of familiar faces combined with the excitement of being with others in a march kind overwhelms me. Makes me feel vulnerable.
But then comes Palm Sunday and I see you and I feel wonderfully connected. I don’t feel awkward for marching in a red outfit outdoors because I see in your faces, the amazing church family I belong. And we march. We march in the same direction with one heart and one center, Jesus Christ. And the anxiety and the questions disappear for me, and I fell deeply connected to you.
One of my professors in theological school used to say that there is nothing more inclusive than a good church procession on the streets. Everybody who is passing by is welcomed with warm smiles.
I recall a church procession I participated in – in London. We walked through busy areas carrying the Holy Sacrament and people would stop, watch; people on the traffic would wave to us. When we passed by pubs people would stand and clap. And sometimes they followed the processional.
I recall a church procession in my former neighborhood in Washington DC when we had the procession for Las Posadas; a mother and child who were passing by joined us in the procession. Church Processions are essentially inclusive. There are no questions about who are you or what you believe.
It is about identification with Christ.
All that we experienced today makes me wonder about the Triumphal entrance of Jesus in Jerusalem. Those who welcome him are those who live outside of the walls of Jerusalem. In those days (maybe in our days too), those who are living in the margin are living outside of the great metropolis. Those were the poor, the sick, the excluded of the society. They were probably the same ones who wanted to touch Jesus and who knew him by his miracles. His reception at the entrance of Jerusalem is filled with hope.
But the liturgical feast of Palm Sunday twists our hearts. The liturgy starts a festive parade. It is glorious and full of hope. But ends with another parade, filled with tears and pain. The Way of the Cross is equally happening with a crowd filled with emotions. Hope is lost. Men and women cry over the injustice against Jesus. The Evangelists don’t tell us many names. Very little we know. Simon of Cyrene is mentioned by name today. In other gospels Mary the mother of Jesus is also named.
But we can imagine who is walking with Jesus up to Calvary. Close friends like John and Peter. They are the two who Jesus asks - on the day before - to prepare the last meal, the Jewish Passover.
Except, … except that Peter surprises us all.
In 2019, I had the opportunity to go back on a pilgrimage in the Holy Land. Went to many sites that I have known all my life through biblical stories. I also had the opportunity to go places that I never paid much attention to while growing in a Christian tradition. One of these places is called, the Church of Gallicanto.
The church of Gallicanto is located today were used to be House of Caiphas. He was the High Priest of the time of Jesus. Under his house is where Jesus spent the night after being beaten and brutally treated. That’s the place where Peter will deny Jesus three times before the cock crows. Gallicanto means “the crow of the Cock”.
In that night, Peter is uncertain of what to do. His uncertainty keeps him near Jesus but incapable of speaking about Jesus. And here comes to me the gift of the religious imagination. I wonder what internal hell Peter must have been going through…
Filled with doubts and fears. He knew he wouldn’t have the power to set Jesus free. He wouldn’t be able to do much but I imagine he did what a close friend would, he stayed nearby.
He made me think of caretakers. My mom was a caretaker. And like her, often I meet people who are unable to help somebody to change a physical condition, because they suffer from a serious illness. When we are unable to heal the person, we sit and vigil.
Unfortunately, for Peter on that night he wasn’t able to come closer. And worse than that, he was interrogated and confused with his feelings, so he denies Jesus. Three times.
Have you ever let down a good friend? (Pause to reflect)
Do you remember how did you felt? (Pause to reflect)
For Peter that was his last change to stand firm and say: yes. I follow that man who is in prison and humiliated.
In his mind, that was his last chance to stand for his friend. After that was just death on the cross. But then God surprises us. And Jesus is back.
Peter is among the first ones to receive the good news of Jesus Resurrection. He runs like a gazelle to find out what happened at the tomb. In his mind, he thinks: Maybe I will have a chance, to be forgiven for my mistake of denying Jesus.
After the resurrection Jesus appears several times to his followers. Peter is among those and we recall the dialogue between the two after the resurrection. Jesus asks Peter: Peter do you love me? Using the word Agape for Love. The word Agape means unconditional love.
And Peter responds: I do love you. But he uses the word Philia for Love, which means friendship or brotherhood.
In the Journey from Palm Sunday to the Season of Life, Easter; Jesus will be with us asking, “do you love me?”
Asking for our unconditional love.
And even though, not understanding fully how to love Jesus unconditionally, Jesus will need us, with our uncertainties, and our brokenness, and confusion just as Peter. And you too will be living stones that Christ will build the Kingdom of Heaven.
Amen.
Credits:
Created with an image by Anneke - "Before the cock crows three times", and photo of Church of England procession by Susan Jones.