Sermon for Palm Sunday
The
Liturgy of the Palms
The Liturgy of the
Word
Today marks the
beginning of Holy Week. A week full of
emotions that are so powerful that many people may choose not to
participate. It is a week that starts
today with the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. On Maundy Thursday we will gather here to
remember our call to be servants for God and to remember the institution of the
last supper – to hear the commandment to Love one another. On Good Friday we go to the tomb – to death
on the cross. A day that is hard. So hard.
I am not looking
forward to Good Friday – as usual - but this year is hard. I am not sure that I am ready to remember the
way of the cross so soon after walking along the path where Jesus took his last
steps when I visited Jerusalem in January – but on Friday I will go there
again.
So what is with
today? We get an encapsulation of Jesus
the King at the beginning and then have the reading of the passion
narrative. Our emotions today go from
elation as we proclaim Christ the king to despair at leaving Christ in the
tomb. It really is too much. And really you don’t need a sermon. The narrative is powerful. But let me share with you what stood out for
me.
As I was reading
the Passion Narrative getting ready for today one part stood out for me this
year. It is Jesus at the mount of
Olive.
The Mount of
Olives is a beautiful place. From it you
can see Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley.
Even today it is a peaceful place.
There are olive trees that have been confirmed to be from the time of
Jesus still growing on the Mount of Olive.
Lets listen to
that part of the Gospel again.
“He came out and
went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed
him. When he reached the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not
come into the time of trial." Then he withdrew from them about a stone's
throw, knelt down, and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this
cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." Then an angel from
heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more
earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the
ground. “
In its beauty the
place where Jesus likely prayed before his arrest and crucifixion is
powerful. It was one of the many thin
places I found in Israel where the veil between this hurting planet and the
dream of God – the reign of Love are close to each other.
The Mount of
Olives was obviously a place where Jesus found a thin place as well. There are a number of stories recorded in the
Gospels of Jesus withdrawing there to pray.
And during his
last night as a free man – just before his arrest he withdrew and prayed. “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup
from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." Jesus prayed that the moment
Jesus knew was coming could be avoided – a truly human response. And the text says God sent an Angel to be
with Jesus and to give him strength. And
Jesus continued to pray – to pray for himself and for strength in the trials
that were to come. And Jesus prayed for us – He prayed so
earnestly that his tears where like blood.
Our invitation on
this most holy of weeks is to join Jesus in prayer. To follow the story as we leave the Mount of
Olives on the way to the cross. We are
invited to find those thin places in our world where we can sense the presence
of God’s Love. To find a way this week
to accompany Jesus from the shouts of a crowd welcoming a king to the shouts
for crucifixion.
We are invited to
follow Jesus all the way to the cross and the tomb. It is a hard journey. One that takes much prayer – and one that is
hard for many. Like some of Jesus
followers we may fall asleep. Like the
disciples we may only be able to witness the events of this week from a distance. We may want to stay on the Mount of Olives
until next Sunday – the day we remember that the Love we hung on a Cross
refused to die. And that is OK. If the Mount of Olives is as far as you can
come on this Holy Week stay there and pray.
As I said at the
beginning of this sermon I am not sure that I am ready to take the final walk
with Jesus to the cross this year. But I
know I will go there - and I invite you to walk with me. To spend time today on the Mount of Olives in
prayer with Jesus and to follow him to the cross.
This week’s
journey is hard. And I invite you to
join the Church on the journey. A
journey that leads to the cross. But
ultimately a journey that leads to the celebration of the empty tomb on
Easter. A journey where we remember that
God’s love will not die.
Amen.
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