Palm Sunday, this year will be indelibly etched into my mind. I shall not have another like it. We began the morning with our familiar Palm Sunday liturgy and the Blessing of Palms in the college front garden and a procession into Saint George's Anglican Cathedral.
Bishop Suhail Dawani celebrated and preached in Arabic and English, and the church was packed! it was a great start to a very special day.
A quick lunch at the Guest House, and we were off to Bethphage for the start of the procession from The Mount of Olives into Jerusalem. Our plans were altered when Israeli police, responding to the bombing of the Coptic Church in Egypt, pushed the safety perimeter surrounding Bethphage another mile back, which meant disembarking from the bus a good two miles from the staring point. This turned out be be bad news for me, since we had to hurry to reach the starting area, and my hurry ain't what it used to be. So, I was already feeling some physical stress before the procession even began.
I should pause briefly here to explain that, although by scripture, Jesus began his journey from Bethany the disciples went to Bethphage for the donkey, or two donkeys depending on which gospel you read)
Bethany is now cut off from the traditional way to Jerusalem by the security wall which the Israelis imposed some years ago. So, today, Bethphage has to be to starting point.
Gathering at the Church complex at Bethphage was an eye-opener in itself. The diverse assortment of people and groups, not to mention an offical donkey lent an aire of festivity and celebration which I would not automatically assign to Palm Sunday, even the Triumphal part. After all, we all know what happens next!
Having failed to do much advanced research, I assumed that we would be processing down The Mount of Olives, which we eventually did, but, from Bethphage one first has to walk up The Mount of Olives, and a steep and difficult walk it is, especially when accompanied by several thousand people, and, remember, I was already feeling the strain.
Miles of marchers, singing, dancing, chanting. Crowds of by-standers shouting at people who were marching and offering vocal encouragement. Some groups carried whole amplifier systems, and many guitars and tambourines along with a few brass instruments. Oh, it is a sight and sound to behold. Here, I think, a picture is required, maybe two.
There are any number of compelling memories that I will retain concerning this experience. How exihilarating a feeling it was to be in the midst of so many diverse, but intentional people, all celebrating, one way or another, their faith and common calling as disciples; how such a massive crowd could show such courtesy and co-operation with no external force controlling them; how many young people turned out to show their faith, and how endlessly enthusiastic and energetic they remained to the very end! How obstacles and delays just became excuses for more singing and dancing, and thwarted any signs of impatience or irritation; how many ways there are to carry, fold, weave and decorate palm leaves; that people bring small children in strollers and various kinds of carriers for an ordeal like this; that people who are old and crippled seem to be in better shape than I am. And so on......
One last observation: A large majority of the pilgrims were Palastinian Christians or Arab Christians from other countries sympathetic to the Palastinian cause, and many carried Palastinian flags just like other national groups carried their flags and ensigns. When the procession reached to Lions Gate into Jerrusalem, the Israeli police confiscated all the Palastinian flags and symbols before the marchers were allowed to enter the city to complete the procession. It is that kind of senseless discrimination that keeps tensions at such an elevated level in Israel. One always has to wonder, to what end?
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