March 24 — Palm.Passion Sunday

Pilgrims carry palm branches during the Palm Sunday 

procession from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem's Old City.

GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images

[A sermon was not preached, as this Sunday we traditionally read the entire passion narrative—this year from Luke's Gospel.  Before I shared some notes/thoughts/reflections...]

A word about the translation, the passion, and the Gospel of Luke:

Before this reading, I just want to share a few thoughts here as we transition...

Transition?  From the excitement, fun, beauty of Palm Sunday to the angry condemnation and the words of denial from even Jesus’ closest friends, as we move into Holy Week...  

Everyone’s with Jesus when all is well, when Christ appears victorious.  When redemption in our minds’ eye seems likely, we’re on board 100%.  But how quickly we turn. 

Just to put a little more context on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, I think it’s helpful to remember a little about Julius Caesar (and to do so would be particularly Lukan):

*Julius Caesar — known for incredible speaking ability, magnetic personality, military genius, conquered all the way up to Germany, Britain, France, Belgium said to have known the names of every one of his men in battle — Pontifus Maximus @ 37 y.o.: the pagan high priest of Rome — reduced taxes for the rich, gave land to the poor, he became extremely popular — the gods must be on his side — victory proved him and when he rode into Rome, they waved palm branches and threw their coats on the road — called a “triumphal procession” — every leader felt they had to upstage the former triumphal leader (lavish perfumes spread) — becomes the sole power of Rome, of the world  
                                                                        •(M. Rinehart's podcast)

• The Caesar's rule characterized by pride, pomp, violence, force, power, beautiful power

*Contrast that to Jesus’ anti-triumphal entry today — 

• His procession to the cross is a parody of the triumphal processions of the Caesars…
• He rode, not a great white stallion, but a mangy donkey that the disciples found on the side of the road
• “Hail King of the Jews” is a mockery 
• And clothed in a mocking rag of purple, and a crowned with thorns, he is led, not to the capitol, the head of state, but rather to the skull on the outskirts of town, which was also where they threw the garbage

• Humility, simplicity (borrowed colt), gentleness, weakness, service  (Pope Francis, Oscar Romero [33^rd anniversary of his assassination])
• Christ's reign:  It's a different kind of fragrance.

This translation, like last year on this Sunday, comes from Eugene Peterson’s contemporary translation called The Message.  I describe Peterson’s style as “translating between the lines”.  He’s capturing precisely the mood and the meaning of the original texts, but he’s using turns of phrase that fall much more effectively, I think, on our 21^st century ears.  

Luke’s Passion of Christ, has a special emphasis on Peter.  And this year, in addition to being all large group parts, we as as the congregation, YOU, are also in the role of Peter.  Notice our how we’re all with Jesus, when all is well, but how quickly we can deny our Lord, when discipleship gets tough. 

[following the community reading of the Luke's passion…]

An Invitation to Keep the Three Days — 

Don’t let this do it for you.  Don’t just hear this story today and then come back next Sunday to revel at Easter.  That’s like going from one celebration to the next, and it flattens Easter, makes it just 2 dimensional. Dig into Holy Week.  Dig into these stories these high holy days...

Keep Holy Week holy.  Join us, or join some group of Christians somewhere, for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday this week.  If our service times don’t work for you, find some noon time services.  Make Easter 3 dimensional, by keeping the Three Days.  

A little bit about what we’re doing here, and what we’re about to do this Holy Week.  The best description I’ve heard of what we followers of Jesus do during these highest Holy Days of our church calendar comes from church & worship scholar, Gail Ramshaw:  

“(1) We tell the story and (2) enact its meaning.”

Today — We read the gospel, then wave palm branches.  We share in the passion narrative, then scatter, silence.  Commune in silence.

Maundy Thursday — We tell the gospel story (from John), where Jesus gives a new commandment — “Love one another.”  He redefines the meal of the ages as being HIS body, and HIS blood.  He becomes the passover lamb, who takes away sin.  We read it, and then we enact its meaning.  We come for forward to receive the laying on of hands and we hear Christ’s promise: “I forgive you all your sins.”  Then we’re invited to enact Jesus’ visible sign of that promise by turning to one another and washing each others’ feet.  Footwashing on Maundy Thursday isn’t to be a dramatic re-enactment of what went down hundreds of years ago; it’s about here and now!  Christ has forgiven us, and so we turn to serve our neighbor and the world…here and now.  And finally, we break bread and drink wine in remembrance of Jesus, yes, but he becomes our bread and our wine in the Holy Meal today, even and especially as we fall short, as we fail to wash one another's/the world’s feet.  Yet still the promise is there, even as we scatter.  

See how we’re, first, telling then the story and then enacting its meaning?

Good Friday — Probably the most different of our services, from what many of us may have done for most of our lives on Good Friday.  Traditionally the 7 last words of Jesus are lifted up on Good Friday.  These come from all 4 Gospels and are just squished all together.  That can be good, and rich, and powerful.  But it’s a little like taking 4 different gourmet meals from 4 different parts of the world and squishing them all up together.    

Our new hymnal (which came out in 2006) on the other hand, has gone back to an ancient church pattern which is to celebrate and center on the cross as the “tree of life” — lifting up the Gospel of John’s account of Jesus crucifixion, where Jesus on the cross equates Jesus on the throne.  He’s not stumbling, like in Matthew (carries his own cross), he’s not forsaken (like in Mark), he’s not sad (like in Luke).  In the Gospel of John, Christ is only LOVE, love outpoured for you and for this whole world that "God so loves" (3:16).  And so Good Friday is not a sad funeral for Jesus (let's bring our children!); it is a time to bask calmly and reflectively in the cross...to adore the tree of life, God’s love.  From the cross, that glorious tree of life, in the Gospel of John, Jesus has that beautiful exchange with Mary his mother and the beloved disciple.  And he says, “It is finished.” ELW #342