Palm Sunday
Scripture: John 12:1-18
Listening closely to the hymns of Palm Sunday, one theme – among many – reappears. It can be found in the 2nd Apolytikion:
“We were buried with you through baptism … and thus by your resurrection, we have been granted immortal life.”
Some churchgoers understand baptism to simply be a ‘rite of passage.’ Something you do when you have a baby. But, it’s actually much, much more.
The reality is that baptism is a lifelong process. St. Paul says that when we’re baptized, we die with Christ. This means that baptism is a journey that leads us to the cross, which is a confrontation with evil.
For us, that may may be alcoholism or drugs. It may be anger or pride. It may be control or envy. It may be depression or jealousy. Perhaps, it’s gluttony or gossip. All of our demons are different.
But, for Christ, it is a confrontation with evil and death. And, in the end, he rises victorious.
But, because our baptism is a journey to the cross and a burial with Christ, we also rise victorious with him—no matter what we struggle with.
Through baptism, we’re united to Christ so that we can be reborn and shout:
Hosanna!