Palm Sunday – Our Faith in Dark Days

Lectionary Readings for April 10, 2022       Palm/Passion Sunday, Year C
Isaiah 50:4-9a v4 The Lord has given me the ability to speak as a man well taught, so that I, with my words, know how to sustain the weary.
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 v1 Give thanks to the Eternal because He is always good. He never ceases to be loving and kind.
Luke 19:29-40 Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Psalm 31:9-16 v16 Look toward me Lord, and let Your face shine down upon Your servant. Because of Your gracious love, save me!
Philippians 2:5-11    v8 Jesus humbled Himself, obedient to death – a merciless death on the cross!
Luke 22:14-23:56     The Lord’s Supper, Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial, Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives, and Jesus’ Betrayal, Arrest, Trial, and Execution

Peace through Leadership Quotes

“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”  ~ Saint Augustine

“We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining – they just shine.”  ~ Dwight L. Moody

If we can let the light of our faith naturally shine, more people will be able to see God’s love within us and moving through us. When that happens, we will naturally be able to share peace with the people around us. Find ways to let the light of God’s love shine brightly in the words you use, the tones of your voice, and the looks on your face. This is our faith… in action… nurturing peace.

Any time I preach or lead a group, regardless of age, I start the same way. I’m going to say three short sentences. Please repeat each sentence, with enthusiasm.
God made me. God loves me. God has plans for me.

Preface to Today’s Scripture Readings

Our first reading from Psalms sounds like a “Greatest Hits” collection of memorable verses. The author uses a cascade of metaphors to describe God’s presence in our lives. This is a joyful song of praise for God’s endless, tireless love.

The author begins asking God to “open wide the gates” and give him full access to God’s glory. Why? For one reason only: so that he can give God all the thanks and praise God deserves.

We can easily imagine Jesus’ followers singing this as they await His greatly anticipated arrival in Jerusalem, just before Passover. Indeed, this Psalm has been part of the Jewish Passover service for thousands of years as a way of remembering God delivering the Israelite slaves from their Egyptian persecutors.

One verse reads “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we beg you, O Lord!”

Verse 22 declares, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” What humanity – in all its practical wisdom – has rejected, God has used as the foundation for building something new. Jesus was an itinerant (i.e. homeless) guy from an insignificant town.

When have others decided that we weren’t valuable or useful enough to keep? When have we felt rejected and cast aside?

How is God trying to tell you, “I don’t care what the world says about you; you are My precious child, and I can work with you to create great things!”

How can we help others discover their value in our community of faith?

Read Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29.

Our second reading is Luke’s greatly abbreviated story of Jesus’ “triumphal” entry into Jerusalem. We get the short version of how the donkey was acquired. One little detail that caught me and everyone else in our Bible Study group by surprise was verse 35, “The two disciples brought the colt to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on it, they set Jesus on the colt.” How have I missed that?!?

As the Passover celebration began, Jesus’ faithful, loving disciples lifted Him up – in glory and honor – for all the world to see.

Just a few short days later, callous, hate-filled people lifted Him up onto a cross – in agony and naked shame – for all the world to see.

Seeing the commotion of Jesus’ entrance, some of the Pharisees in the crowd feared how such a public show of excitement might attract unwanted attention from the Roman occupiers. The Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop shouting this.”

Jesus famously replied, “I tell you, if my followers were silent, the stones would shout out.”

This short reading begs a question for each of us to ponder this week, “What about my faith will cry out no matter what happens in my life?”

What about your relationship with God is so powerful, so fundamental to who you are, that no matter how good or bad your life may be, you can’t help but tell others about it?

Could it be that God created you?

Or that God loves you no matter what and for all of eternity?

Or maybe that, no matter what people have said about you or done to you or you have done to yourself, God has hope and dreams for your future?

What about God’s presence in your life is so powerful that you HAVE to tell someone about it?

Read Luke 19:29-40.

Our third reading from “Second Isaiah” (chapters 40-54)  The author pats himself on the back for waking up every morning ready for whatever message God wants to share with him. The author tells us that he is a good listener and obeys God.

He goes on to explain that his faith in God’s loving and saving presence is so great that he does not fear or flee from how people mock or abuse him. His suffering seems to be a result of his obedience to God’s leading.

The reading ends with the author inviting – almost taunting – his accusers to meet him in a courtroom-like setting where God is the judge of who is right and honorable.

This passage should NOT be misinterpreted to say that people in abusive relationships should remain there until God miraculously saves them. Rather, this section offers us insight as to how the suffering author makes sense of his suffering.

Today we might think of the millions of Ukrainians – and other suffering populations around the world – who are unable to escape their abusers. They long for some degree of mental and spiritual comfort as they tenaciously hold on to the hope that one day they will be delivered from their suffering, and their innocence will become known to all.

During this week’s Bible Study, Pam reminded us that “we need to pray for people to not become bitter against God or humanity through their horrible experiences.”

Whether we connect these verses with the ancient Israelites, with Jesus’ arrest and torture, or with today’s Ukrainians, Dennis observed, “The blood dripping from one person gets the blood moving in other people.”

What abuse or bloodshed will compel us to stand up as God’s protection?

Read Isaiah 50:4-9a.

Just three and a half months ago we celebrated Jesus’ humble – even shameful – birth in a non-descript room with only his mother Mary and his father to comfort Him. A lonely way to come into the world.

On the night of His birth, Luke 2:13-14 tells us that in a distant field attended by poor shepherds, “suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly angels, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, goodwill among all people!”

Today, the reading from Luke included verse 38 where a multitude of Jesus’ followers praise God saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”

In a few days, Jesus will die a humble – even shameful – death on a non-descript cross with little more than his mother Mary and His heavenly Father to comfort Him. A lonely way to exit the world.

Dennis pointed out what I’ve never read in any commentary: these two events serve as mirrored bookends to Jesus’ unique life. Jesus’ birth story challenges us to look for God’s presence in unexpected places and people. Jesus’ death story reminds us that we are imperfect creatures, prone to fear and putting our own safety and comfort first.

May we always be open to God’s presence, and may we develop a faith so bold that the stones don’t have to shout praises to God. Amen? Amen!