Palm Sunday of The Lord's PassionIsaiah 50:4-7Mark 14:1-15:47
PRE-HOMILY (invitation before the proclamation of the Passion):
Last Wednesday Dr Beth celebrated the first part of today’s liturgy
And some of you have those blessed palms with you this morning
But the opening hymn…All Glory Laud and Honor
(The perennial Palm Sunday Hymn)
Brings us back to that Wednesday celebration when we read about Jesus’
Triumphal entry into Jerusalem for what will be his final week
The mood is “ Sweet HOSANNA’s ringing!”
The word HOSANNA is a word of hope
It can be translated LORD. SAVE US…and the “na” at the end is like an exclamation point LORD. SAVE US…NOW!
The crowd of Jewish followers are pinning their hopes on Jesus
But we know what’s to follow
Those sweet Honanna’s stop ringing
They turn into
“Crucify Him”
This movement is the theme of today’s worship
The Prophet Isaiah
Acknowledges his vocation
“The Lord has given me a well-trained tongue,
that I might speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.”
I chose a more familiar translation because I love the word ROUSE
For the preacher, Isaiah’s words are defining
Lord---help me speak a rousing word!
We all need to be roused---
One rousing is not enough
Just ask my sister-in-law Mary Grace.
My innocent looking husband, Rob…
Mary Grace’s brother
Took his role as morning “rouser” seriously…to the point of cruelty
He quietly positioned himself by her sleeping head
And carefully squeezed a washcloth dipped in cold water
Drop by drop he roused her from her sleep!
That is one way to be roused!
Today’s reading of the Passion offers many ways for us to be roused
To rouse has implications
We are roused from something
We are roused toward something else, something new
This homiletical prelude acts as an invitation to listen…to hear
The Passion, like the stories of Jesus’ birth
Is so familiar that when the re-telling begins my inner voice says
“I know this one…I know how it ends…time for a quick nap!”
There is a spiritual practice called
Contemplation of place
It is a way of praying with scripture scenes
To begin…our imaginations need to be ignited…
We want to use our imaginations to see persons
To overhear their conversations
We want to smell the fragrances and odors
To notice the surroundings, the grumbling, the chatter, the anxiety and fear
We want to activate all our senses
With ignited imaginations we approach the story empty---like a blank canvas
---like we have never heard it before.
The overall movement of this liturgy from Jesus’ triumphal entry
is a move from adoring “Hosannas”
To condemming…to “Crucify Him!”
And within that movement there are characters, and actions and rich scenery
As we listen we wander through the scene.
And mingle amongst the characters…
So much to hear
What do I hear that rouses me?
What am I being roused from?
What am I being roused for?
[proclamation of the Gospel]
POST-HOMILY (reflection after the proclamation):
There was something about that woman from Bethany
Her shiny, heavy, cool, alabaster jar
The sweet fragrance of the expensive oil
There was something about her generous and intimate gesture
Am I open to being roused toward such generosity of heart?
And Judas. I saw him…he was trembling in his certainty and greed. It was his certainty and greed that pushed him to betrayal.
Am I open to being roused away from such gripping certainty?
How about the snoring disciples and their lack of stamina in the midst of such agony?!
Am I open to being roused away from my inattention to those around me?
Peter…Peter…Peter. Such bravado---at first. And then a controlling fear that keeps him warming himself by the fire.
Am I open to being roused away from fear that keeps me choosing comfort over speaking truth?
And that un-named disciple, the one who drew his sword and sliced off an ear…All that blood!
Am I open to being roused away from impulsive violence…violence of thought, aand word and action?
The High-Priest. I saw the way he carried himself…at home in his self-importance…perhaps even addicted to his power.
Am I open to being roused toward sharing whatever privilege and power I hold?
What about Pilate? Aloof…refusing to get involved---orchestrating the events so that blame escapes him.
Am I open to being roused away from indecisiveness and lack of courage?
There is always that perennial crowd …so fickle and quick to follow the loudest lead.
Am I open to being roused away from easy answers supplied by others and toward seeking true understanding and generous listening?
The soldiers. What is it? Why is demeaning and dehumanizing another such an quick & easy response?
Am I open to being roused away from my need to jeer and finger-point?
Simon. Simon the Cyrenian. A simple passer-by who takes up Jesus’ cross…I breathed deeply in that moment of grace. I know his name and his sons names…he is my neighbor.
Am I open to being roused toward solidarity with crucified people in my midst?
The Roman Centurian. He surprised me! A soldier whose life is completely bound to Rome…A soldier in service to Rome’s power. How does he know ANYTHING!
Am I open to whatever grace pokes and prods me to see something from a different perspective…to see with new eyes?
The women. I want to be among them. Some I know…others are new to me. The women…they haven’t completely fled. They look on from a distance. Whispering to one another they take note of where Jesus is buried. They are committed to returning.
Am I open to being roused toward staying faithful when it isn’t easy…toward seeking the community of others to support my shaky faith?
And finally, Joseph of Arimathea, perhaps uneasy in his position of power as he musters up his bold but risky demand.
Am I open to being roused to risk sure and present comfort in order to honor one abandoned and forgotten?
Today…this day
What are we being roused from?
What are we being roused for?
Let Holy Week Begin!
