Hallo again to all.

Yesterday we, like millions of others across the world, attended one of several sibling marches of the "March for our Lives" protest in Washington, D.C. Though we attended a local march, we saw images from friends attending marches in large cities like New York, Paris, and London, as well as small university towns, state and provincial capitals, and mid-sized residential communities. Though modern large scale gun violence seems a uniquely American problem, the hostage situation in a grocery store in southern France last week reminds of the growing concern in the west over gun safety and regulations. This is what brought a diverse community of millions from their homes and regular Saturday activities into the streets.

Today similarly brought us out of our comfortable place and into the street as we remembered and reenacted Jesus's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem with palms and shouts of 'Hosannah.' Children 'sword fighting' with palms and adults looking out to see if anyone they know might be passing by. We wonder if those in the crowd who welcomed Jesus felt similarly out of place. Though they believed in their cause, did they greet other visiting preachers arriving on the back of a donkey with palm branches and shouts? What of dignitaries or civic or religious leaders?

By the end of the week the crowd had turned. We do not know if those in the crowd who went out to greet 'the one who comes in the name of the Lord'* were the same same as those who later shouted 'Crucify him', but clearly some sentiment had turned.

Or perhaps people just felt burnt out? Or had moved on to other things. When the week, or month or year is over, we hope that there is still outrage over the senseless loss of life at the hand of those with high-capacity firearms. We fear, however, that when the immediate conversation and feeling of horror is over, people will go back to their lives and those who have much to gain from the continued easy procurement of these weapons will be waiting for that moment to ensure legislation remains unchanged. Riding the wave of eventual apathy and those who feel it 'isn't their battle,' or that action is 'someone else's responsibility'. That is, until the next time one of these tragedies occurs, and the cycle begins again.

On this Palm Sunday we wonder how many who greeted our Lord came forward to defend him later, and how many stayed away from the angry mob. Or how many were part of both movements.

Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then 'Crucify!'
is all their breath,
And for His death
they thirst and cry.

Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries!
Yet they at these
Themselves displease,
and ’gainst Him rise.**

We wish a thoughtful and blessed Holy Week to all, during what seems like increasingly frightening times across the globe.

See you next week, with prayers for peace.

All of us at Anglicans Online