Palms to betrayal

Good morning sisters and brothers,
With Palm Sunday we begin Holy Week, the most intensive period of Lent and the heart of the Christian year. It is a week of highs and lows as our two readings for today show. We start with a huge crowd welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem as a king. Before long, though, Judas agrees to betray Jesus to the religious leaders, and the leaders arrest Jesus to have him executed by Pilate. Jesus is crucified, buried and rises again in triumph. All that happens in a week. The great thing about Holy Week is that we have worship opportunities throughout it that help us get into the story. I usually need concrete reminders to help my spiritual focus, and Holy week gives us just that. Much of the week is dark as we have to confront betrayal, abandonment, suffering and death. But that darkness helps us realize the depth of Jesus' love for us and makes the story real. The darkness also helps us see the true glory of Easter.

I urge you to take advantage of this week of preparation to deepen your faith, to get into the story of our Lord's last week. Our worship schedule is on the website and will be in our bulletin. Here's the short version:
Monday: Ecumenical Tenebrae service (focusing on Jesus' passion) at St. Ambrose, 7:30 pm
Thursday: Maundy Thursday (remembering the Last Supper and Jesus' arrest) Potluck supper at 6:15, worship at 7
Friday: Ecumenical stations of the Cross tour starting and ending at West Ave. United Methodist (Chili and West) 9:30-11:30, worship at LUPC, 12:30pm
Sunday: Easter Sunrise service at the eastern edge of parking area B of Durand Eastman Park, 6 am; Laurelton Easter worship 10 am here with flowers for the cross.

Blessings on your Holy Week,
Sam

Matthew 21:1-11

1When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” 4This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”





*Sunday

Matthew 26:14-35

Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

17On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

20When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; 21and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 25Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”

26While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

30When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night;
for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered’
32But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” 34Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” 35Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.