Palm Sunday Reflection, Year C March 24, 2013
Episcopal Church of the Ascension The Reverend Dr. Howard J. Hess
I. Introduction. Palm Sunday is a day of swirling realities and ever-changing emotions -- from adulation and fanfare to treachery and execution, and from intimacy and self-giving, to utter isolation, betrayal, and desolation. The Christian story, our story, is all here on Palm Sunday. Sometimes we are joyful, sometimes we are clueless, sometimes we are walking with Jesus, and, at other times, we leave Jesus far behind and then wonder why he is not beside us. It is all here – this story of ours --- and it will unfold this week, slowly at first, quickening as the week progresses, and ending in the crescendo of Easter.
II. What more can we say about this day? We can say unequivocally that the events of Palm Sunday are all about power and politics. In 30 AD, an occupying Roman general entered Jerusalem wearing silver armor and riding a white charger. His procession into the city took two hours – a clear expression of unchallenged political power. Three years later, Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey – an animal ridden in procession by Jewish kings coming in peace. The contrast between these two processions could be more clear: Rome came to control; Jesus came to love.
III. Coming to love. At first, Jesus’ disciples were truly confused about his mission. They saw him as “King Jesus,” who would establish a desperately desired political kingdom that would be free from Rome. I daresay that we find “King Jesus” appealing as well – to help us accomplish our life dreams, to help us overcome political adversaries, or as some religious leaders currently advocate, to help us prosper. But then and now, expecting “King Jesus” to grant us our desires can become quickly disappointing. That is, because at the root of it, “King Jesus” is “Servant Jesus.” Over, and over, and over again, Jesus rejected the temptation to grasp earthly political power and control. Did he not respond to Pilate’s question, “Are you the King of the Jews?” by saying “you say so”?
IV. Carl Jung wrote a provocative statement about the relationship between love and power: “Where love rules, there is no will to power; and where power predominates, there love is lacking.” This week I would encourage us to reflect and meditate upon the “Servant Jesus” – the love he demonstrated by instituting the Eucharist; by washing his disciples’ feet; by remaining in the garden in spite of his pain and aloneness, by staying on the cross, and by promising a condemned criminal that this day he would be with Jesus in paradise. The “Servant Jesus” was motivated by love and has invited us to love him and one another in return. The “Servant Jesus” calls us to respond to him in the same passionate way he has loved and cared for us.
V. Conclusion. Paraphrasing Thomas Merton, when we learn this lesson [of passionate love], then our love of other[s] becomes pure and strong. We can go out to others without vanity and without complacency, loving them with something of the purity, gentleness, and humility of Jesus’ love for us. Amen.






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