Palm Sunday 2010
Saint Paul’s Cambria
Father Fred Heard
Jesus Christ reached the peak of his popularity this week, riding in a triumphal procession into the holy city of Jerusalem. It ended up as both good news and bad news.
There was a big parade with lots of pomp and circumstance, everybody turned out, the disciples were very impressed, and it was soon recognized that this simple Galilean teacher had been greatly underestimated.
We have heard about public approval polls and on this day, Jesus was riding the crest of public approval. He went to the temple, the very center of the Jewish faith, and he began to teach and preach.
From Sunday to Thursday Jesus was unstoppable. His enemies tried to trick him several times -- but to no avail; each time he turned the tables on them and exposed their treachery.
Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers and let the sacrificial birds loose. No one complained really. He even established what he would call the greatest new commandment, the one that says: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
We have a lot of ceremonies in the church. Jesus started a new one. He used bread and wine. Eventually, this would become the sacrament of Holy Communion.
But I referred to the bad news. So, what is the bad news?
On Thursday he was betrayed and arrested, and on Friday he was hung on a cross and he died.
Today, the palms and tomorrow the passion—good news and bad news. The same people who shouted "Hosanna" on Sunday shouted "Crucify him," five days later. Polls can plummet. Approval ratings can nosedive. Everybody's hero became a bloody sacrifice. On Friday, Jesus was an object of scorn and hatred.
Is there anything we can learn from this? "Don't cheer one day and jeer the next. Be faithful and see yourself as the loyal follower of Jesus Christ every day and every moment, of your life." More than likely, you will not stand and jeer but the jeer of 2010 might be indifference. It might be the attitude, “It was a long time ago, and I really have other priorities. I don’t have time to walk with my Lord during the events of Holy Week.” I will just come on Easter, and I don’t have to do the “in between.” Well, you know what? Jesus did the “in between” and it is because of this that we are here today with a Savior who lives today. That message lies underneath our prayers and our litanies this Palm Sunday. That is why we baptize four people today, and that is why we are still following the example of our Lord as John the Baptist baptized him in the River Jordan. These four people will become a part of the Community of Christ and are sealed with Jesus Christ forever.
I would like to suggest, that perhaps there is something we may learn from putting ourselves in Jesus' place. What if Jesus had stayed in Galilee and retired an old rabbi full of wisdom and compassion? This question helps reminds us of something we find easy to forget—namely it reminds us that Jesus CHOSE his path. He CHOSE to leave the safety of Galilee and his ministry and CHOSE to confront the powers of both politics and religion in Jerusalem—the heart of his opposition.
The downhill, good news—bad news, palms one day—passion the next, had nothing REALLY to do with what Jesus was about. Jesus’ purpose was to proclaim and preach a new relationship with God…one of intimate love. There was no room in this relationship for popularity or acceptance.
Jesus was neither expectant or deceived by the tumult of the crowds. The treachery and desertion were not surprises. He could and did endure it all. Jesus knew what would happen to him.
He even knew, Peter would deny him…his closest disciple and friend.
Peter would claim to not know him when put to the test.
Jesus was not ruled by the feelings or events of the minute, but rather was walking step by step along a path which would lead him to the only source of true and lasting meaning for him and ultimately for us. He was moving toward the fulfillment of God's will, for him and through him for us on this day in 2010 in Cambria.
Jesus chose to be true to his mission, he chose to be obedient; knowing, hoping, praying, regardless of what might happen, he would be undergirded, surrounded, and encompassed by the presence, the mercy, and the love of God.
That is the lesson for us to remember. This week, my dear Brothers and Sisters, as you walk through Holy Week services, remember it is up hill or down hill, it is the destination which counts and no one's life can be more well spent than in seeking to find and do God's will. May you be richly blessed during your Holy Week journey, and may you press forward in obedience to God because it is trust in God’s love that will bring us to Easter morning. The meaning of life is to be found in the knowledge and love of God and in sharing that knowledge and love with those who accompany us on the journey. AMEN
Saint Paul’s Cambria
Father Fred Heard
Jesus Christ reached the peak of his popularity this week, riding in a triumphal procession into the holy city of Jerusalem. It ended up as both good news and bad news.
There was a big parade with lots of pomp and circumstance, everybody turned out, the disciples were very impressed, and it was soon recognized that this simple Galilean teacher had been greatly underestimated.
We have heard about public approval polls and on this day, Jesus was riding the crest of public approval. He went to the temple, the very center of the Jewish faith, and he began to teach and preach.
From Sunday to Thursday Jesus was unstoppable. His enemies tried to trick him several times -- but to no avail; each time he turned the tables on them and exposed their treachery.
Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers and let the sacrificial birds loose. No one complained really. He even established what he would call the greatest new commandment, the one that says: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
We have a lot of ceremonies in the church. Jesus started a new one. He used bread and wine. Eventually, this would become the sacrament of Holy Communion.
But I referred to the bad news. So, what is the bad news?
On Thursday he was betrayed and arrested, and on Friday he was hung on a cross and he died.
Today, the palms and tomorrow the passion—good news and bad news. The same people who shouted "Hosanna" on Sunday shouted "Crucify him," five days later. Polls can plummet. Approval ratings can nosedive. Everybody's hero became a bloody sacrifice. On Friday, Jesus was an object of scorn and hatred.
Is there anything we can learn from this? "Don't cheer one day and jeer the next. Be faithful and see yourself as the loyal follower of Jesus Christ every day and every moment, of your life." More than likely, you will not stand and jeer but the jeer of 2010 might be indifference. It might be the attitude, “It was a long time ago, and I really have other priorities. I don’t have time to walk with my Lord during the events of Holy Week.” I will just come on Easter, and I don’t have to do the “in between.” Well, you know what? Jesus did the “in between” and it is because of this that we are here today with a Savior who lives today. That message lies underneath our prayers and our litanies this Palm Sunday. That is why we baptize four people today, and that is why we are still following the example of our Lord as John the Baptist baptized him in the River Jordan. These four people will become a part of the Community of Christ and are sealed with Jesus Christ forever.
I would like to suggest, that perhaps there is something we may learn from putting ourselves in Jesus' place. What if Jesus had stayed in Galilee and retired an old rabbi full of wisdom and compassion? This question helps reminds us of something we find easy to forget—namely it reminds us that Jesus CHOSE his path. He CHOSE to leave the safety of Galilee and his ministry and CHOSE to confront the powers of both politics and religion in Jerusalem—the heart of his opposition.
The downhill, good news—bad news, palms one day—passion the next, had nothing REALLY to do with what Jesus was about. Jesus’ purpose was to proclaim and preach a new relationship with God…one of intimate love. There was no room in this relationship for popularity or acceptance.
Jesus was neither expectant or deceived by the tumult of the crowds. The treachery and desertion were not surprises. He could and did endure it all. Jesus knew what would happen to him.
He even knew, Peter would deny him…his closest disciple and friend.
Peter would claim to not know him when put to the test.
Jesus was not ruled by the feelings or events of the minute, but rather was walking step by step along a path which would lead him to the only source of true and lasting meaning for him and ultimately for us. He was moving toward the fulfillment of God's will, for him and through him for us on this day in 2010 in Cambria.
Jesus chose to be true to his mission, he chose to be obedient; knowing, hoping, praying, regardless of what might happen, he would be undergirded, surrounded, and encompassed by the presence, the mercy, and the love of God.
That is the lesson for us to remember. This week, my dear Brothers and Sisters, as you walk through Holy Week services, remember it is up hill or down hill, it is the destination which counts and no one's life can be more well spent than in seeking to find and do God's will. May you be richly blessed during your Holy Week journey, and may you press forward in obedience to God because it is trust in God’s love that will bring us to Easter morning. The meaning of life is to be found in the knowledge and love of God and in sharing that knowledge and love with those who accompany us on the journey. AMEN