“So, did you hear the whole story?”
“OK, sure, but that’s not the whole story, is it?”
“Slow down. Start from the beginning. I want you to tell me the whole story.”
When you read a book, do you start at the beginning and read from cover to cover or do you skip around? Before you sit down to watch a movie, do you read about it online first, to make sure that you’ll like the ending?
Most stories are meant to be told/read/heard in their entirety…from the beginning to the end. This allows the author to employ technique, suspense, foreshadowing, or other literary devices to make the story more interesting; to make it more compelling. During my undergraduate studies, I once read a book by Argentinian writer, Julio Cortazar. The book was called La Rayuela (hopscotch), comprised of 155 chapters…with various suggested reading orders! That book hurt my head!
Here we are, preparing to enter Holy Week in the church year. The suggested readings for this week are impactful and varied. From the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, amidst waving palm branches, to the Last Supper celebrated with Jesus’ disciples. From betrayal to trial; then torture to crucifixion; followed by…, well, you don’t want me to spoil the story, do you?!? No spoiler alerts, here!
Some people attend church on Christmas, Easter, and few other days. Some of us will attend worship on Palm Sunday, and then return on Easter Sunday. Some of us will find room for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday as well. Personally, I want to hear the whole story! I think it is important for all of us to hear the whole story. Regardless of which services you are able and available to attend over the next dozen or so days, I think it is important to live the whole story. Can we truly appreciate the “Alleluias” of Easter Sunday, if we haven’t endured the shouts of “Crucify! Crucify!”? Does the entry into Jerusalem on a donkey make sense, if we don’t take time to sit down in the upper room to observe the Passover?
This coming Sunday (Palm Sunday), we will hear of the entry into the holy city. We will also listen to the narrative from Mark’s gospel. We will sing the lamenting inquiry, “Were you there, when they crucified my Lord?”
Palm Sunday isn’t the end of the story, nor is Easter Sunday the whole story. Check out our menu of Holy week worship offerings and participate as you are able. Join us, as together we endeavor to journey through the whole story. I hope to see you soon.
Very truly,
Pastor Adam