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.
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
Coronavirus 19 Week
