The Right Rev. Dr. Richard Bott, 43rd Moderator of The United Church of Canada
Credit:
The United Church of Canada

This year, as I walk through Holy Week,
I want to be honest with myself.

As much as I want to see myself
in the crowd, shouting “Hosannah!”
I know that I am more one of
the community leaders,
concerned about how this crowd
will look like an uprising to
the Empire.

As much as I want to see myself
as one of the women,
who stayed with Jesus,
to the cross and the grave,
I know that I am Peter,
a pile of rubble, when the pressure was on,
ready to deny my affiliation
for my safety;
or I am Judas,
so sure that I knew what Jesus
was supposed to do,
was supposed to sound like,
was supposed to say,
that I would push him into a corner,
sure he would fight NOW,
and the revolutionwouldbegin…

As much as I want to read myself
into the “blesseds”,
I know that Jesus was speaking to power,
the power that I have, and am,
when he was challenging with the “woes”.

…

If I’m being honest with myself.

…

This isn’t condemnation.
Just a reminder that my place
in Jesus’ story,
my place
in Christ’s Holy Week,
may be other than I imagined.

…

“Father, forgive them,
they don’t know what they are doing.”

~ posted to Moderator Richard Bott’s Facebook page on March 27, 2021