Excruciating Prayers

This Sunday is the day we commemorate Palm Sunday, a celebration of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of what has come to be known as Holy Week: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

But the week—and the service—turn quickly from celebration to passion (from the Latin “passio”, suffering), culminating in the crucifixion, a suffering so indescribable that a new word had to be coined to describe it: excruciation, literally meaning “from the cross”.

This is not to be pedantic (though I can be prone to that). It’s important to understand that “passion” doesn’t mean “really super excited”, and “excruciation” isn’t a word meant to describe an ingrown toenail, much as it might hurt. Because in this week’s Gospel reading, it’s at the height of passion, from the cross, that Jesus prays two of the most beautiful, comforting, and instructive prayers in Scripture.

See you Sunday.

Steve+