Reading: Luke 19:28-40
The procession we are about to undertake is not just something that happens before Mass, like a prelude, or an added-on extra. It is part of the Passion Sunday liturgy, an integral part. Mass has begun. Liturgy is our way of participating, even now, in the Paschal Mystery referenced at the start of our gathering.
Processing is different from just walking. A procession has a distinct destination. Our ultimate destination, of course, is eternal life with Christ. Our procession today is the procession of Jesus' triumphal entry into the holy city, which culminates with entering the Temple. Our church building symbolically represents the Temple just as we represent those hailing and lauding Jesus and Father Andrzej symbolically represents Christ.
Today, if you're processing without a palm branch, you're not processing. It makes no sense to process without a palm branch. These branches are blest, making them sacramentals. As such, they are signs and symbols of your own recognition of Jesus as Messiah, Savior, and Lord. Far from being incidental to this part of the Passion Sunday liturgy, the palm branches are an essential element of it.
During this procession, the sound that should be heard is our joylful singing- All glory, laud, and honor to You, Redeemer King. If we don't cry out, maybe the stones will.
Sisters and brothers,
like the crowds who acclaimed Jesus in Jerusalem,
let us go forth in peace
Thank you for giving voice to the importance this Gospel and procession should have in the liturgy when at all possible. Unfortunately, the Mass I attended last night had neither of those elements. I'm still missing them this evening.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine a Passion Sunday without a procession. We even have Plan B if the weather is bad. And it's still a procession.
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