Palms and passion
It is tempting to think of the Upper Room scene in the Gospels’ passion narratives as a dreamy, candle-lit fellowship meal rather than, as Ched Myers has said, “the conflict-ridden final hours of a fugitive community in hiding.”
Likewise it’s easy to interpret Jesus’ experience in Gethsemane as calm, resolute submission to a pre-ordained plan instead of the deep, sweaty struggle of a man coming to terms with his revolutionary calling.
On the Sunday before Easter, churches often follow “The Liturgy of the Palms” with “The Liturgy of the Passion.” This choice is usually made when a church won’t be holding Holy Week services or, more conspiratorially, when turnout is expected to be low on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Going from the high of Palm Sunday to the high of Easter is, as seasoned pastors know, to cheat and be cheated.
