God.

It’s Palm Sunday.

It’s a day that feels a little like trap.

We celebrate with the people who recognized you as a king.

We wave palm branches.

And then we get warned that those same people shouted to have Barabbas released and you killed. And the branches are gathered up and burned to make the ash for next Ash Wednesday.

Like I said, God, it feels like a trap.

What we want today is a way to acknowledge that we are far from perfect and we are completely loved by you.

What we want today is a way to celebrate you even as we know that we are in the process of learning to actually mean that we celebrate you.

What we want today is to stop feeling that the judging from other people reflects you. And start accepting that their judging reflects their fear more than our failure.

What we want today is to laugh in a moment of delight.

What we want today is to weep in a moment of relief.

What we want today is to admit our weakness in a moment of safety.

What we want today is to join your procession, your passion, your pilgrimage, on our way to your coronation parade.

May we join you?

Through Christ our Lord?

Amen.