From the Pulpit: Preparing for the Final Act

The key to Lent and the upcoming Holy Week isn't just to remember the story, the Rev. Patrick Keyser says, but to be transformed by it.

Preaching from the Gospel story where Mary anoints Jesus with precious perfumes and oils, Patrick says:

This story of Mary’s anointing of Jesus is presented to us on this fifth Sunday of Lent as a call for us to likewise prepare for the celebration of our Lord’s passion that soon awaits us.

When we return next Sunday, everything will be different. While we begin with rejoicing, with waving of palms and cries of hosanna, we were then confronted with [Jesus’] betrayal, suffering, death and burial as once again. Jesus is anointed with ointments and spices and his dead body placed in the tomb. In a moment when all seam lost the light of the world, the resurrection and the life is dead and all we like sheep are scattered. Although we know there is more to come on the third day,

We must still walk the way of the cross through all that the week that we call holy and great holds for us. The invitation the church offers us is to journey with our Lord — to not simply recall events of the past that Christ did for us, but to enter into those mysteries and allow God to transform us through them.