Palm Sunday
Isaiah 50:4-7
Philippians 2:6-11
Luke 19:28-40
Pop stars and celebrities pull in the crowds - the Pope in St.Peter's Square - St .Paul as he travelled to Rome where Christians walked miles to welcome him at the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. In most countries, presidents, royalty, heads of state, would-be leaders pack the squares. But not always to cheer. Sometimes the streets are filled with protesters seeking justice, demanding democracy and freedom. Peaceful protests can tum ugly, and violence can erupt. Celebration can end in tragedy, as happened on Palm Sunday.
The blessing of the palms focuses on Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem as king and Messiah, the long-awaited hope of Israel. In a dramatic change of mood five short days later, the Gospel narrative focuses on His vulner ability as He is betrayed, mocked, scourged, crowned with thorns and ultimately crucified at the Place of the Skull. Jesus is taunted with the jibe that, if He really were the Messiah, then He would come down from His cross to save both Himself and the two others being crucified with Him. The irony lies in the fact that it's precisely because He was the Christ, the Anointed One, that His death would save all of humanity, including one very unrepentant thief!
Of all those there on that day, with whom do we identify ourselves? We'd probably like it to be the good thief, but if we were strictly honest, perhaps it would be more likely to be gutless Pilate who knew the truth that Jesus had done nothing worthy to deserve death but still went along with the lies and the cruelty because he was afraid of the mob and for his position.
Then again, it might be Peter - brave, impetuous coward ly Peter who, under pressure, denied knowing his friend. Or, perhaps, the crowd ... not especially bad people, but a mixture of good and bad, influenced by slogans, propaganda, and the mood of the moment, whipped up by a frenzy of excitement in which they lost their individual reponsibility. Just another typical crowd! Like all the characters in the Gospel, our own lives run between acclamation and condemnation whenever we block Christ out of them, refusing to let Him in and run ning with the crowd baying for His blood, until we also seek forgiveness.
When we eventually feel shame for our sins, let's remember three things: God couldn't have done any more to show us that we are still loved. By rising from the dead, Jesus overcame sin's power to enslave us. We can ask the Holy Spirit at any time to help change our lives so that, like Peter, we gain sufficient courage to follow Christ again. As Holy Week begins, let's commit our selves to following more closely in His footsteps through these crucial days.
Lord, help me leave Your imprint on all whom I meet. Let others see Your face in mine. Help me both to give and accept relief when it's called for. Remind me always that there are people who care for me as much as I care for