Thoughts from St. Andrew's Episcopal Church • Birmingham, AL

Palm Sunday • April 14, 2019

Old Testament: Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11
Gospel: Luke 22:14–23:56 or Luke 23:1-49
“Be present, be present, O Jesus, our great High Priest, as you were present with your disciples, and be known to us in the breaking of bread; who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.”  (Book of Common Prayer, 834)
Growing up as an acolyte at St. Andrew’s, I often heard the above prayer before receiving communion. Fr. Walter prayed it countless times gathering the altar party before Holy Eucharist. Fr. Burnette sometimes offered it right before we left the smoky vesting room. Now as a priest myself, I say these same words with acolytes, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, and others to prepare for God’s Sacred Supper. I even quietly utter this prayer when I am the only one serving.
What always stands out in this supplication is our beseeching Christ to be here with us. How remarkable, right? We ask the One through whom all things were made to be here as we break bread together re-membering Christ. Even for this theological nerd this is trippy! And, even more amazingly Christ’s presence is always with us — bidden or unbidden. However on this Palm Sunday, I find myself flipping this prayer around.
Holy Week demands us to be present — not just physically at the services to come, but totally present (mind, body, heart, and soul). On Good Friday, churches will sing, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” These words are not meant as a guilt-inducing motivator to boast Holy Week attendance, rather this question and our call to be present with Christ is an invitation to transform the way of the world. The events of Holy Week were meant to turn the suffering of this world on its head — to prove that God did not desire life to be vengeful, violent, and vindictive; that God would love us always and we are to do the same. And yet we still betray, deny, and crucify God by doing the same to our neighbors. So, this week and always…
Will you be present with Christ Jesus humbly entering Jerusalem? Will you be with those who meekly enter your life? Will you sit with Christ gathering friends for the Last Supper and foot washing? Will you commune and serve those on the margins of your life? Will you remain with Christ even when you betray, deny, and crucify Christ? Will you seek to reconcile with those you harm? Will you be present with Christ who is present in you and the other?

The Reverend Seth Olson