LK 19: 28-48
Laterally Luke…Palm Sunday…(Liturgy of the Palms)…Revised 2019
I’m on a ‘hobby horse’ here, I know, but why the Church persists in jumping the gun by reading the Passion narrative on 'Palm' Sunday beats me! What's the point of pre-empting the punch of the Good Friday liturgy - in whatever form we celebrate that -on Palm Sunday? Or, from a congregation’s point of view, maybe, why bother to worship on Good Friday if it’s all been pre-empted on Palm Sunday? Anglican tradition at its best keeps the flow of liturgy strongly connected with the flow of the Gospel story. The Gospel unfolding keeps us connected wth God, & each other, as strongly as can be as we worship week by week. So, why not preach Palm Sunday on Palm Sunday?
Jesus Himself is a great example of always building on earlier chapters of the continuously unfolding God-story. Always connecting with YHWH God via His Hebrew Bible roots. As we are to stay connected through our roots in both Testaments. In borrowing that donkey, Jesus even gives his followers a kind of pin-number! The whole story, like Jesus Himself, is immersed in ZECH 9, PSS 24 & 118, & other O.T. connections we might ponder.
How many of the crowd of followers go the distance with Jesus? As far as the city? Into the city? Beyond the city? To the green hill outside the city wall? How far are we ourselves prepared to go? How far does our vision of God go? Not back then, now?
As I journey I find it helpful to bear in heart & mind that I can’t earn the title of either Jesus’ Disciple or Friend. But we can receive it by Grace, despite our shortcomings. What someone once called the Grace of Stickability! I like that.
There’s always room for us in God's procession, whether we can only manage to wave a bit of broken-off palm or olive branch, or can afford a cloak or only a bit of one. Whether we can go the whole distance or not, all this is a matter of Grace. Grace alone. And there’s always plenty of Grace to go around.
The clash with the 'establishment' in the Temple (like the raising of Lazarus before it) helps trigger Jesus' Passion. Today, challenging the misguided powers-that-be in our churches, is still on God’s agenda for us. Calling us & equipping us to venture beyond our normal limits. Take Courage, yet another gift of Grace!
Brian
Afterthought: God is never still; always on the move. Into & through & out the other side of today’s Jerusalems, come what may. And, surprising though it may be, always has room for, & welcomes, the company of fellow travellers like you & me.
