Jesus,
God,
you show us what true humility is.
You
of all people,
could have been a big shot,
but you chose to live
an ordinary life
with extraordinary love for all.
You emptied yourself
of all ego
and showed us
how to be servants
of love,
even dying the worst death imaginable
in solidarity
with those who hunger
for truth and justice
but are denied.
God raised you
after you showed us
that only by walking through
valleys of death
do we truly learn to live.
You
are above all
and your name
bows us low
no matter where we are.
Help us to live through
our valleys of death
and to reach out
to those who struggle
as best we are able.
We confess that you
are our tender God
and our glorious brother.
Be with us
this Holy Week
and in the weeks and months ahead.
Show us,
in the fullness of time,
that our actions are
enough.
+Amen.
* * * * * * *
It's strange to have Palm Sunday without the usual ritual, and togetherness. But this year, it's what a lot of us are called to do. Though I wish there was some work I could undertake to help the world cope with this coronavirus, as I'm not in healthcare or essential services fields, I have to recognize that my main work is to stay home, pray, and check in with family and friends while social distancing.
So this morning, I cut some Canadian palm branches (from the juniper evergreens under my bedroom window) and attended Palm Sunday mass via FaceBook. Then I put pieces of my virtually blessed juniper all around the house, as I have done every other year with palms imported from the southern U.S. When that was done, Lee and I walked a block to our elderly neighbour, Lidia, and fastened a small Canadian palm branch to her front steps to mark Holy Week, wishing her a happy Palm Sunday through her screen door and blowing kisses.
It's the best we can do, and it is enough.
Remember that whatever you do these days to show kindness to others -- whether a small gesture of solidarity, a donation to an organization that helps those struggling at this time, a smile, a prayer, or simply staying put to prevent this virus from spreading more quickly -- is enough.
Christ is walking with us through our lonesome valley.
Peace to you all.
