DIFFERENT  PALM  SUNDAY

He had traveled down many streets before –

and roads and paths and ways as well.

But today – today would be different!

He hadn’t been on a donkey since

he was kid – before he could walk.

But today – today would be different.

He’d see faces he saw before, faces

that were question marks and periods.

But today – today would be different.

He would see faces that were exclamation points

and lips and voices that would be singing Hosanna.

But today – today would be different.

No parables, no miracles, no hands holding

rocks – no sons and daughters to be healed.

But today – today would be different.

He would go by the temple with  their money changers

and the birds of air in cages to be bought for sacrifice.

But today – today would be different.

He would go by the market places and see the

bread and wine for sale and people with pieces of silver.

But today would be different.

He’d be walking with Thomas with his doubts and Judas

with his plans for  a different way to be doing one’s life.

But today would be different.

He would be thinking of his Father – his mysterious will –

and what would be happening this whole week.

But this week – this week would be different.

He would see Peter with hand on his knife and fear

in his closed fist trying to figure out who this Man was.

But this week – this week would be different.

He’d have his Last Meal with his disciples, wash their feet, tell them it’s about washing each other’s feet and loving one another.

But that night  - that night would be different.

He’d see John pulling together the words he spoke and

his eyes were filled with the insights he had passed over.

But that night – that night would be different.

He’d notice where the garden was – where he’d need help

to finally let go – and at least an hour in prayer together.

But that night – that night would be different.

He’d see his arrest, the kiss, the mocking, the beating,

the dragging to jail by those who wanted to erase him.

But that night – that night would be different.

He’d see Pilate and Herod and the High Priests conspiring

together because of the envy and fear that choked them.

But this Friday – this Friday would be different.

He’d see the crowds screaming for his life

And Barabbas being given a second chance.

But this Friday – the Friday would be different.

He see the same  streets he was about to see today

again next Friday – but filled with blood and skin and tears.

But this Friday – this Friday would be different.

He saw himself nailed to the cross with Mary and his

friends weeping underneath him as he dies on the cross.

But this Friday – this  Friday would be different.

But this Palm Sunday – this moment - it was time to get

up on the donkey – and proceed to his last week.

But this day, this week, this Easter, this year, will be different.

© Andy Costello

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