“Abide with us, that so, this life
Of suffering over past,
An Easter of unending joy
We may attain at last.”
In our journey to Holy Week and, particularly, to Palm Sunday…
There was a marriage this day in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne.
There was the report, too, of the marriage in Kyiv at a checkpoint!!!
For the former, bride and groom in formal attire; cream wedding dress and black suit.
For the latter, both in Ukraine army battle dress.
Laura-Jane and Robert had their plans frustrated by Corona Virus on two previous occasions.
Lesya and Valerie had their plans interrupted by “a peaceful military operation”.
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt that had never been ridden on, in stark contrast to the Roman ruler who would ride a fully grown horse as a sign of his power. The people recognised Jesus’ statement; his teaching was not about the powerful but about them. And they praised him, whilst the powerful, worried about the challenge to their position, were plotting his downfall.
He had offered hope.
Likewise, against the prevailing trends, our young couples celebrated hope for their respective communities.
We all know the seemingly triumphant evil outcome for the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and High Priests; blood, violence, and death. But what we really know is that in Jesus, goodness overcame evil, and we received “An Easter of unending joy”.
This event became a legacy to inspire and uplift countless generations of people over the last 2000 years. You and I are recipients of that historical encounter.
Let each celebrate the 2022 Memorial with great joy, despite the evil around us.
Have a blessed Holy Week
Mons Frank