March 16, 2008 Sermon
This page is offered for those unable to attend the service or who would like more time to study the message.
Palm Sunday - A 2008
Allan Conkling
March 16, 2008 Emmanuel, San Angelo
Today begins the most sacred week of the Christian year. This day is so full of symbolism and activity that we scarcely have time to comment on it. Indeed one can spend a lifetime discovering the meaning of Palm Sunday. For those who are new to our church I always point out that for over 1,600 years the church has reenacted the final week of Jesus' life through the streets of Jerusalem, in medieval European villages, in grand parades and in simple symbolic "procession" like ours this morning. As they walked they carried palm and olive branches, said the 118th Psalm and shouted, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" Since about 900 AD Christians have sung All Glory Laud and Honor...the same music and words first in Latin, then in French, German, Spanish, English, etc. This is a day of contrast and irony:
We form living plants into the shape of a Cross;
Green plants and Red Hangings representing life and death;
What begins in victory ends in defeat;
Jesus is hailed as King one minute, and condemned as a Criminal in the next;
The source of life is put to death: The Savior killed by those he came to save;
The One sent from God is left abandoned by God.
The crowd cries "Hosha-na" which in Hebrew means, "Save us now!" It always baffles me that people in Jesus day were so blind. How could they have done this? How could anyone be so hard hearted and cruel? Even the 12 who had shown such promise deserted him. Just a few of the women stayed on, surely having their doubts as well. I would like to think that things would be different today. We wouldn't crucify Christ wouldn’t we? Down deep I know the answer to that question.
Palm Sunday invites us into the story, to see our own lives and faith reflected in the characters. Every generation will have Caiaphas, Pilate, Peter, Judas, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and John. Every group will have bystanders, hecklers, soldiers, guards and bandits.
Even within ourselves we have moments when different characters play their parts: Hope, frustration, conflict. What makes this story so universal is that it transcends time and space. Who is the servant girl today? Who are the elders and priests? When are we like Judas, or Peter? Who is the Simon of Cyrene who picks up the cross of Jesus; or Joseph of Aramathea who surrenders his private burial plot? With what part of surrender, and forgiveness do we have the most problems?
The point of this service is not to evoke feelings of guilt or poor self-esteem. No, this is a service of victory. The story that is begun today will be completed next week, and the week after that and the week after that.
For now though you hold in your hand your free ticket to the events of Holy Week: you’re Palm Cross. Keep it close by this week, and share in the story. Then stick it in a book or on your mirror, and find it again from time to time. Be challenged by it; healed by it, changed by it.
"In thy most bitter passion my heart to share doth cry,
with thee for my salvation upon the cross to die.
Ah, keep my heart thus moved to stand thy cross beneath,
to mourn thee, well beloved, yet thank thee for thy death."
(Hymn 168, v.3)
Copyright © 2003 Emmanuel Episcopal Church. All rights reserved.
Revised: 03/31/08