Holy Week

Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest. They waved the palm branches and laid down their cloaks. They cheered and chanted along the parade route. It was a celebration. A welcoming. But it was short lived.


My pastor yesterday talked about how some of the same people who cheered that Palm Sunday were among those who cried out Crucify Him by the end of the week. How quickly we lose our focus. How quickly we let the world around us dictate how we think. How we feel. How we react. How we love.


I am reading the Hunger Games this week. Trying to stay relevant in my child's world. I haven't read the whole book yet but I know that emotions of a crowd watching and cheering an event are all very similar. They want a winner. A champion. Someone to rise up and be a hero. A role model. A Savior.


Let's be aware this week and not get caught up in the frenzy of the world around us. I think we tend to want to put ourselves in the role of the one leading the chants. We know the end of the story so we tend to look to our spouse or our children or our friends or our neighbors. To point out to those around us that they need a savior. They need the sacrifice. The forgiveness. The perspective.


This week is about looking inside. Remembering what was done for me. Seeing plainly my depravity. My need. My sin. He rode into town that day for my sake. And for yours.


I don't want to lead a cheer today and then be among those that lead another by the end of the week. As I reflect this week, I want to look towards Friday. And remember why it is Good.

My prayer is simple: Your son, Jesus, suffered 

and died for me. I know only that I cannot have

 real strength unless I rely on you. I cannot feel 

protected from my many weaknesses until I turn to you 

for forgiveness and your unalterable love.

 ~A Lenten Prayer