Sunday, April 8, 2001
Sunday, April 8, 2001
When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?"
(Matthew 21:10
NRSV)
Today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of what we call in the church Passion week. It is not a
easy week to deal with. Christmas is so much easier. One of John Milton's most splendid poems
is the ode that he called, "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity." Thirty-three stanzas of glorious
song! But then he tried to do the same thing with Passion Week. With Palm Sunday and Maundy
Thursday and Good Friday. But it didn't work the same for him. The signals were too mixed. He
tried it, but he couldn't sort out the music: prelude or finale? Which should he write? When he
died, they found in his notebooks the beginning of such a poem. But it was only the beginning,
and a poor one at that! And with it was a note. Milton wrote that he had tried to put this song to
words, but that it had eluded him. He said that he was too immature to fully grasp the music of
Passion Week. I don't think he's alone.
Loving God, help me to face the reality and meaning of this week. Amen.
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