A Different Palm Sunday
This is what was shared with the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church. What are your thoughts?
Processional Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11
1When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” 4This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
5“Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
The Processional Gospel is what we normally read in the fellowship hall as we are all gathered with palm branches at the ready for blessing. We process together to the sanctuary singing All Glory Laud and Honor. Jesus processed into Jerusalem as he approached his death.
This year there is no gathering in the fellowship hall. There are no palm branches. There is no singing together in the same place. This is the year of the Coronavirus. And so…is there still Palm Sunday? And what about Easter? There won’t be any Easter or will there?
The point of this scripture text is to illustrate and act out who Jesus is. This is Jesus’ messianic, kingly entry into the city of Jerusalem. However, he is unlike other kings who long to hear their names praised, who ride on steeds of war, demanding obedience.
Jesus is a king who serves. He serves the Father and he is the humble servant who gives his life for all. He is the servant of Philippians 2 to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
It is this Lord who walks with us, sits with us, cries with us in the middle of all of our troubles associated with COVID 19—lost businesses, lost lives and so much more. “Hosanna” means help. Isn’t this an appropriate time for each of us to cry out to Jesus for help—not only for ourselves, but for so many others? Help, Lord!
Comments