PALM SUNDAY 2008

March 16, 2008

(Matthew 21:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2 & 19-29; Isaiah 50:4-9a; Philipppians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66)

The Rev. Ken Kroohs

THE OTHER 98 %

St. Christopher’s, High Point, NC

MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER   AMEN

     Hosanna !  Welcome Jesus!  Thank you for coming Jesus!!  Hosanna!

     Crucify Him !  Get away from me!  Go away !  Crucify Him!

     Every year when we get to Palm Sunday I am struck by those contrasts.  (This is very much one of those sermons – “if I am not talking to you, take a break for a few minutes and let me talk to others and about me”) …. I am struck by the contrasts we see in the lessons.   We begin with the shouts of “Hosanna --- isn’t Jesus wonderful --- PLEASE be part of my life” and then a few minutes later we get “go away Jesus!  Go away and don’t come back!”

     Every year I think about how that reflects our lives.  MAYBE not quite as dramatically but certainly there are times we fervently invite Jesus … welcome Jesus into our lives.  There are times when we beg Jesus to stay with us, to be more a part of our lives.

     And then … there are times when …. We may not reject Jesus but we certainly push Him away.  Times when we know what Jesus would/is saying to us and we essentially tell Jesus --- “go away ---  I don’t want to hear it”

     Now I recognize that historically the people shouting “Hosanna”, were almost certainly not the people shouting “crucify Him”   Almost certainly the people shouting “crucify Him” were the temple leaders …. The people the Pharisees could count on shouting the RIGHT response …..  the people who never were Jesus’ followers.

     The people who earlier shouted “Hosanna” almost certainly were NOT the temple leaders.  Most likely they were of the “lower class”.  Most likely the Pharisees who criticized Jesus also wrote down some names and reported those people to the temple!  These were not the same crowd at the two events.

     Still, it does help us to reflect on how each crowd represents us during parts of our lives.  As we do that we might reflect on who the leaders are who want us to say:  “go away Jesus”.  What are the influences in our lives which take us away from Jesus? 

     Most likely we will find it difficult to find such influences.  My suspicion is that most of us respond:  “No one, no force, no situation is trying to have me tell Jesus to go away”

     Maybe true, probably not but we can discuss that another time.  Today let’s consider that we are not represented in either crowd.  Rather, the group that represents us the most is the 98% of Jerusalem who were not in either crowd.  The whole city was asking “who is this?”  One percent of the people were on the road and another one percent were in the courtyard but 98% were neither place … they may never have heard of Jesus. 

     Or, and this is the group which represents us …. Or at least represents ME …. This is the group who had heard of Jesus but have just too many other things to do to pay much attention.  They had too much else to do to spend time with the Son of God.

     Phrased that way it sounds a bit ridiculous …. Other things and people are more important to us than the Son of God.  What possibly can be more important than the Son of God? ……. Our lives seem, at least at times, our lives seen to answer:  Lots of things!

     I don’t think we are shouting Hosanna or Crucify Him.  In fact we are not shouting anything.  We are not saying anything.  We are not even whispering anything.  I suspect ….. and remember I said that if this does not describe you, just take a break for a couple more minutes  ….. I suspect if there was a phrase it would be:  “ignore Him” ….. ouch ….. That our voices may not say it but the majority of our lives shout:  “ignore Him”.

     The people on the road loved and respected Jesus enough to place palm branches on the road so even his donkey’s feet would not get dirty.  ….. Consider that …. Wanting so much to show love and respect for Jesus that they would seek to keep his donkey’s feet clean. … amazing. 

     The crowd on the road left an eternal legacy of love and respect for Jesus.  The crowd in the courtyard left an eternal legacy of rejecting Jesus.

     What is our legacy?  If someone wrote our story – how would it relate to Jesus?  If someone wrote our story would the reader notice Jesus’ impact on our lives? ….. If someone wrote our story would the readers notice Jesus’ impact on us, and the way Jesus’ impact on us is shown in the rest of the world?  Which 1% group are we in?  Or do we stay in the other 98% – those ignoring Jesus?

     Today is the beginning of Holy Week … the week leading up to Easter.  And this is the last week of Lent …. The church season focused on our reflections about our lives … a season designed to help us understand ourselves better so we can admit our flaws, accept our strengths, and move into a deeper relationship with God.

     If Lent this year has not accomplished much of that for you, Palm Sunday provides another opportunity to begin the process.  The week provides lots of opportunities to worship and reflect.  All of the services now through Friday are designed to encourage such reflection.  All of these services are relatively quiet and low key to encourage more of a focus on reflection and understanding.

     Of course it is all designed and intended to help us to change our lives.  Nothing simpler or less dramatic than that …. To change our lives.  To focus more on Jesus in our lives and to show that to the people around us.  I don’t mean standing on the street corner shouting slogans!  It is probably not our mission to shout “Hosanna” on the street corners.  But if we live out our Christian life it will become obvious to the people around us.  They will know which group we belong in.

     I remember the year I was Senior Warden … long before ordination! …. I noticed two members of the Vestry coming 30 minutes early and going into the library to pray.  They never said anything.  I don’t even know how many other people noticed them.  But their actions influenced at least one person --- me.

     I remember small groups who got together every week to talk about their lives as Christians.  A powerful way to help each other deepen their relationship.  To help people stay within the “Hosanna” 1%. They influenced each other.

     I remember someone who announced one day at a church they would take time every Sunday after the service to read the Bible and invited anyone to join them.  The next week 12 people sat in the hallway --- there was no other space – and did Bible study.  Notice the influence.

     I’ve heard about a couple people who said there were homeless families who needed a place to sleep …. And now there are hundreds of Interfaith Hospitality churches around the country.  The influenced many people.

     Those people are within the “hosanna” one percent.  We might not be called to begin something, but none of those activities worked unless others came to the Bible study, the small group, the IHN or Open Door activities.

     All of us are called by God to change our lives and thereby help change the world.

     I offer to you this week the reflection of what parts of our lives are shown in each of the shouts:   Hosanna …. Crucify Him …. Or Ignore Him …..

           AMEN

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CLICK HERE TO RESPOND: I would enjoy reading your comments about this sermon. Please feel free to discuss content or presentation.  (If you wish to use another email system send your comments to:  ken@st-christopher.com)