[Propertalk] Palm-Passion Sunday c 2016

[Robert P Morrison]

Folks,
I was typing up the P/P Sunday sermon and was listening to NPR's
evening news programme and heard about the prisoners just released
from solitary confinement in Louisiana, and liked what I heard. I
don't know whether the quote gives something specific to the sermon or
if it detracts. I'll need to think.

The sermon tomorrow comes after the Liturgy of the Palms Gospel,
before the procession into the Worship Room and the rest of the
Liturgy, ending with the Passion Gospel and silence.
Bob

	THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY PALM-PASSION SUNDAY- c

	LUKE 19-28-40 20th MARCH, 2016

	ISAIAH 50:4-9a PSALM 31:9-16

	PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11

	LUKE 22:14 – 23:56

	 “The Lord needs it.”

	 To me, these seem such extraordinary words. Jesus was nearing the
end of His earthly ministry, something of which He must have been
acutely aware. He’d had encounters with people in the countryside,
the lake shore and the city. He’d spoken to thousands, and fed them,
physically, more than once. He’d healed people’s emotional,
spiritual and physical ailments. He’d made a lot of friends – AND
a lot of enemies. He’d gathered together, in the old style, a school
of close followers to whom He’d talked in depth about how God’s
love would always sustain them. He’d given warnings about not
thinking highly of themselves, but told them, instead, that it was
absolutely essential that they identify with whoever was the weakest
person or group in the community.

	 People had listened. They hadn’t yet, however, taken in the full
implication of what He’d said but, since He’d brought Lazarus to
lfe after death, they were willing to believe anything. Now they were
about to enter the Holy City for the most sacred remembrance in their
faith and Jesus was about to give a wonderfully encouraging symbolic
gesture to the world. He was going to enter the city as had been
described by the prophets.

	 What could be more uplifting? Actually to be there when God’s
grace was about to descend on everyone. The crowd didn’t know, of
course, nor did the disciples really imagine, that the week was going
to end so horrendously badly. All they could see and hear was the joy
of fulfillment. Everything was going to be wonderful!

	 Most of us have been there at one point in our lives. Questions been
resolved; frustration has been decreased; health issues don’t appear
to be quite so pressing. If any or all of these are part of our lives,
we begin to breathe a little more easily. If our neighbours and those
who move around town seem to be in an equally decent mood, so much the
better. Finally, things seem to be falling into place, so we do what
we need to do each day with a little more confidence. We take time to
look at all the different blossoms bursting out on the trees. We smell
the freshly-mowed, damp grass and either run for cover or we stop to
inhale, depending on our level of allergenicity.

	 Spring is here! And, yes, the Vernal Equinox was at 9:30 last night!
So if the rain comes back; if our eyes water and our noses run; if we
have to do some extra work; it’s not that bad, especially if those
around you are celebrating with you.

	 Of course, this WAS Passover week for the citizens and suburbanites
of Jerusalem. While Jesus was picking up a cheering crowd at one of
the city gates, a Roman Legion was entering through another gate.
There could be trouble at Passover at the drop of a helmet. Any number
of folk could go off in any number of directions and stir up a mob
just as easily as Jesus seemed to be able to pull a crowd together.
Trouble never was, trouble never IS, far away. It’s the way of life.
There’s always something, planned or completely unexpected,
something which seems to blow us apart and take the joy out of what
seeed so promising. Yet Jesus goes on, joining with the boisterous
crowd. WE are invited to go, no matter what may seem to be about to
cloud our day.

	 In fact, some of the community in Jerusalem tried to get Jesus to
quieten the folk down, to stop the pleasure, the anticipation of
grace. No one really knows why they were nervous and anxious. Of
course, Jesus knew how fickly he crowd could be. Of course, Jesus knew
how quickly pain, and loneliness, and frustration can come upon us.
Yet He said, simply, that God’s, coming in ways that none of us can
understand, at times none of us can know; God’s grace, said Jesus,
is so powerful that, somehow, even inanimate objects can appear to
reflect the glory of God.

	 Just as He said, “Let the children come to Me”, so He said,
“Let’s take advantage of every opportunity to find signs of
God’s Loving Presence in our midst.” He might have added that
it’s these signs that will help us get through all the hurtful
things which WILL happen, no matter how cloudless today’s sky may
appear.

	 One wonders just how much Jesus had guessed as He went into the
city. He must have known that the authorities were trying to put Him
and Lazarus to death, to rid themselves of anyone who might inspire a
crowd to think that THEY had standing and importance in life. Whether
or not Jesus new on what day it would happen is debatable. But He
knew. He knew. He could hear it in the air. Yet He didn’t stop the
celebrations. Right to the very last minute He was eager and insistent
to enter the city, to fulfil the prophecy; to show how one can
confront catastrophe and heartbreak.

	 So He didn’t shirk the displays of hope and faith. In fact, He did
everything He could to build it up. That was when He sent His
disciples for His colt. THAT was why He taught them to say, “The
Lord needs it.”

	 Jesus, who was the agent of creation; Jesus who knew how many stars
and planets there are; Jesus who restored sight and hearing; Jesus who
gave Lazarus new life; Jesus NEEDED something from someone. He
couldn’t begin this week; He couldn’t accomplish what He’d been
working towards all His life, unless someone helped Him.

	As it was then, so it is now. In order to celebrate; in order to draw
the crowds in the joy of God; in order for all of creation to sing,
Jesus needs you and needs me.

	In order to face the pain, the torment, the desperate loneliness,
Jesus needs you, and needs me.

	 “Albert Woodfox has spent more time in solitary confinement than
any man alive in the U.S. today — 43 years. He and Robert King, …
with the late Herman Wallace, … spent more than 100 years in
solitary confinement for the 1972 death of a prison guard, … No
forensic evidence tied (them to the) killing, and they always
maintained their innocence.”

	 Woodfox was freed a month ago, after three different court orders
for his release, on his 69th birthday. Now he

	says, "I am sure that I will continue to devote my life to defending
those that can't defend themselves and protect those who need
protecting." 1

	WE are part of the Gospel’s unfolding and preaching. We are all
necessary for God’s love to become apparent for others. So today we
DO sing; we DO process; and, shortly, we DO hear of the unimaginable
grief.

	Jesus, our Lord, needs us.

	NOTE:

	[1]
http://www.npr.org/2016/03/19/470828257/after-decades-in-solitary-last-of-the-angola-3-carry-on-their-struggle
[1]

Links:
------
[1]
http://www.npr.org/2016/03/19/470828257/after-decades-in-solitary-last-of-the-angola-3-carry-on-their-struggle

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