Blessing of Palms

(Thoughts on Matthew 21:1-11)

              As we follow Jesus in this impromptu parade that we commemorate today, we can imagine our Lord riding on a donkey, followers waving palm branches that carpet his path, cloaks and other garments laid on the ground.  …Still …we know what is to come, and all that may cloud our thoughts and vision.

              I learned a lot about dark clouds when I read this week’s issue of Signals, Akron’s local, non-profit news source.  I think this story also appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal in its digital edition.  The headline was “Be Cheechy—Memory of a Joyful 3 year old. Remembering sparks ‘random acts of kindness non-profit.’”

              The article recounts the short life of George Howley who was born with a genetic mitochondrial disorder.  Once he was diagnosed at Akron Children’s Hospital, his parents decided that whatever time he had left was going to be joy-filled. 

              This little guy with the big hair and the bigger smile affected everyone with whom he came in contact.  George was never able to walk or talk, but, according to his parents, he was such a joy-filled baby.  They were told at the time of his diagnosis to “love George and he will have the happiest life.”  Rather than be sad and miserable and live under a dark cloud, they rejoiced with their little guy.  Check out the article on your computers, and you will be blessed.

              This made me think of Jesus’ palm parade which we remember today.  We all know what is coming for him, as we begin our Holy Week journey, and, yet, early on this day, there was nothing but joy with people shouting “Hosanna.”

              So, for this time, let us be joyful and glad in this moment.  Tomorrow will take care of itself, with God’s help.

Passion Sunday

       “My Eyes Are So Heavy”

(Matthew 26:30-46)

…When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.  Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’  But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”  Peter said to him, “Even if all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”  Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”  Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.”  And so said all the disciples.

Then Jesus went with them to a place call Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated.  Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.”  And going a little farther he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want.”  Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour?  Stay awake and pray that you will not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”  Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.  So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words.  Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?  Now the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Get up, let us be going.  Look, my betrayer is at hand.”

              This Sunday is an odd one.  We go from parading around and waving our palm branches to feeling the disappointment of Jesus in today’s lesson.  He had asked the disciples to stay awake with him while he prayed in the shadow of his impending death by crucifixion. 

              So, why not lean into this parade?  This joy in the moment?  The parade is headed toward Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover (which for Jews in 2026 begins this Wednesday at sundown).  At the same time that Jesus’ fans were celebrating, Pilate, the Roman governor entered the city to try to keep the crowds under control.  He was trying to pretend that everything in the Roman Empire was just fine. 

              I found this quote from Lizzie McManus-Dail.  “Jesus knows these powers of empire will kill him, and yet there he sits, on a donkey, laughing at the devil with a few palm leaves as improvised, earnest props and a crowd of hungry, desperate, freedom-seeking people.” 

              And so we have arrived at this point in our service.  Our palm branch waving has subsided, the wonderful parade has become more like a funeral procession as we look ahead to this week.

              Friends, we cannot just jump from the Palm parade to the Easter Bunny and the joy of resurrection.  We must trudge through the Holy Week happenings.  We must accompany Jesus to Gethsemane, though we, like the disciples, would probably have fallen asleep in spite of his asking them and us to stay awake with him while he prays. 

              Our usual selves who would rather skip the misery might be asking, why did Jesus have to die, why do we have to go through his pain and suffering once again?

              Well, we don’t have to, but we must because we, too, will one day be suffering in this life, whether it be aching for a loved one who has been given a terrible diagnosis, or taking care of a child who has a disease; whether it be navigating our own painful journey that we never asked for or thought we would ever have.

              Amid all the unanswered “why” questions, amid our own pain and suffering, God joins us.  Our God is not a dispassionate spectator watching our struggles.  No, God jumps in with us.  As with Jesus, God joined him in his greatest helplessness.

              In the same way, God gives us our true hope, drawing near to us, assuring us that even death cannot take our hope away. 

              Together we can walk through this week, not avoiding our scripture stories, not pretending that we’re too good to fall asleep during Jesus’ time of greatest need (our eyes do get so heavy).  We’re going to let ourselves feel the pain of the betrayal of Judas, knowing that we, too, have, at times, let Jesus down by not standing up for the Gospel of love.  We even let him down by colluding with the powers-that-be in order to assuage our own fear or keep the “supposed” peace. 

              All our human experiences are under the microscope this week as we navigate our own feelings in this culmination of our Lenten journey.  We may be feeling especially sensitive as we prepare for the observance of the Last Supper with our Lord, and as we move through Good Friday and Holy Saturday.  Even though we know that the joy of Easter morning will come, these are hard days if we allow ourselves to sink down into them.

              All these disparate feelings are going through our minds and through our worship on this holy day.

              When I was a child, my mom would work so hard sewing my sister and me new fancy dresses for the Holy Days, but, interestingly, she had them ready for us to wear on Palm Sunday.  Palm Sunday was more like a little Easter 55 years ago.  I have no memory of what the preacher had to say on either one of those days.  Did he preach happy, happy, joy, joy on both Palm Sunday and Easter?  I don’t know….

              As a preacher myself since 1982 I am very aware that Holy Week lies ahead of us on this day, that there are ways to observe these coming days corporately such as the Maundy Thursday communion service this week and the Stations of the Cross which will be on Good Friday at Mother of Sorrows Church. 

But there are also ways for you to pray individually.  You can read the whole Passion story in either the Gospel of Matthew or the Gospel of John.  You can remember Passover with your families as Jewish folk have done for thousands of years.  Jesus was, in fact, observing the Passover when he gathered with his disciples in the Upper Room knowing that things were about to get very ugly. 

On Good Friday I used to hang around our church kitchen and polish the brass candlesticks so I was forced to give myself that time.  These days of Holy Week do allow us time to reflect on that which gives our lives meaning and upon the sorrowful capacity that we humans have to sell ourselves out for money, power or the fear of not being safe or even liked. 

              So, my friends, may you be blessed in this journey, knowing that there is light at the end of this tunnel, that God will never leave us alone and will be beside us through it all, that the Good News of Easter will come—but not yet….