Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

April 11, 2014

After that dramatic reading of a dramatic story, I've struggled with what I could possibly add.  I've settled for some context, warnings and invitations.

We started this morning with the palm processional.  Jesus is coming to Jerusalem, and the people are giddy with excitement, singing loud Hosannas and waving their palm fronds.  The town was packed because many people traveled to Jerusalem for Passover.  This was a parade with the people's Messiah riding into town, the man who was going to save them, the man who was going to end the Roman occupation and bring honor and peace back.  The town is a buzz with all of the people, the upcoming holiday, and their messiah.

Fast forward not that far, and things have changed very quickly. Within a week's time, Jesus is arrested, tried, tortured, and killed, as the crowds yell "crucify him". The air is heavy with disappointment, disbelief, shock and sadness, especially with the loud Hosannas still ringing.

How is it possible to have that drastic of a change of heart that quickly?

I think it has a lot to do with expectations.  You see the people had built Jesus up to be a knight in shining armor, who was going to kick the Roman occupying powers back to Rome.  The Jewish authorities initially built him up to be a traditional Jewish Rabbi who respected the teachings and temple institutions that had been established. By the time he comes to Jerusalem, the Jewish authorities had realized he was not who they'd expected him to be, and they'd turned on him.  And in the short time between his entrance in to Jerusalem, and his crucifixion, everyone else also had a sense of intense disappointment. Disappointment because Jesus was clearly not going to forcibly evict the Romans.  Jesus was not going to be the savior they'd built up in their heads.  If he couldn't be what they'd made him out to be, they dismissed him and turned their intense joy to frustration, and from there, quickly to anger.

We do this all the time. We build something up so differently from what it really is, and when it doesn't live up to our expectations, we dismiss it.   We do this with relationships. With people. With events.  Christmas can disappointing because it doesn’t resolve long-standing family conflict.  A marriage is strained because one partner doesn't live up to the unstated, unrealistic expectations of the other.  That sports star or political figure is now evil, because they couldn't live up to the image that they, the media or we created.     When our expectations are dashed, we are disappointed, and can get angry.  Even when our expectations were not remotely realistic.

Today is the first day of the most Holy Week of the Christian Year, ending with our Easter celebration.  I can tell you that I am looking forward to some Easter renewal.  I can also tell you that if I'm not careful, I'll pile so many expectations about the day and my God, that I too will be disappointed.  Easter doesn’t promise to solve all the problems you have.  Believing in and following Jesus won't protect you from pain and sorrow.   All you have to do is look at the events of this week to know that.   And if you go into the week expecting the wrong things, you may come out the other end disappointed and possibly disillusioned.

What can you expect during Holy Week and with Easter? You can expect to walk in community with God, fully human through a incredible week.  You will be able to watch God experience the worst humanity has to offer.  You'll share very intimate human experiences and imagine what that was like for God in Christ to experience those things – the last supper with friends, the foot washing.  You can expect God will be walking with us every step of the way.

And as we'll celebrate in the Eucharist shortly, you can expect that through Christ's resurrection, we will be renewed, restored and forgiven.  That is true.   Hold fast to what  resurrection really holds, and we won’t be disappointed.

The other caution I offer is that there is a lot that happens this week, and if you're not here, you'll miss it.  To go from Passion Sunday and jump to Easter Sunday leaves out all of context and emotion  and stories - the last supper, the foot washing, the crucifixion, the salvation stories told at the vigil.  Those stories and context are part of what makes Easter Sunday so wonderful.

So the invitation.   Take the Passion reading home.  Re-read it.  Think about what that must have been like for Jesus.  For his friends.  For the crowds.  And take the opportunity to join with this community as we walk, day by day to that glorious Easter morning.  Doing that, it will indeed be glorious and we will again be singing loud Hosannas.