This night, we enter the holy paradox at the heart of our faith: Jesus Christ comes among us as both glorious king and suffering servant. We, too, live within that tension. Like Peter, we long to follow Christ with courage and devotion, yet we know our own fear, hesitation, and denial. Tonight we lift our branches in praise as Christ comes into our midst, and already we begin to follow him on the way that leads to the cross. In the midst of this mystery, we are drawn into the promise of life through his broken body and outpoured love, given for us in bread and wine. So we begin this great and holy week, the center of the church year, awaiting the fulfillment of God’s astonishing work of salvation.


Preaching: The Rev. Bridget Gautieri
Director of the ELCA Wittenberg Center