“I’m dreaming of a white”… Easter?

Source: the author.

The two blankets of snow in Winnipeg as we were heading into Passion Week gave me the feeling it was December rather than April.  But that Christmas image was not far off from Luke’s gentle allusion to Jesus’ nativity in his Gospel proclaimed just before the procession on Palm Sunday (19:38).

As I was about to read the passage to the throng of parishioners crowded into the vestibule at the back of the church, I glanced over the many heads to the north door leading to the office.  Behold!  There high above the door was a Christmas remainder, a beautiful wreath festooned with Christmas bobbles.  I pointed to it in my brief homily.  We all laughed.

Then I explained  how Luke describes the event of Jesus going down to Jerusalem to complete his saving work.  The song the disciples sing on Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem is not “Hosanna to the Son of David” as in John’s Gospel.  They sing “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” It is evocative of the song sung by the angels at the Jesus’ nativity at the beginning of his gospel.

And so perhaps the snow and the forgotten wreathe were perfect images for this Palm Sunday!  At Jesus’ birth peace and glory were proclaimed as a future promise. In the week of Passion tide we celebrate their reality that only come through Jesus’ cross.  It seems Christmas is always connected intimately with what happens on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday.

 

Frank Obrigewitsch, SJ, is pastor of St. Ignatius parish in Winnipeg.

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