Bible Text: Psalm 118:19-29, Matthew 21:1-11 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes | Devotional:
Admittedly each week I have struggled with preparing these devotionals. Many of you know that I like to work well in advance- often having sermons done a few weeks ahead and service outlines prepared months in advance. But lately I have been working more on a week by week model because I’ve had to adjust to the weekly, sometimes even daily, changes we are experiencing. For example, the liturgy for palm Sunday, including the Children’s story, was completed over 2 months ago, before we had any indication that our services would look like this . I even ordered an item from Amazon to use during the children’s time for this Sunday and modelled it for my family when they were visiting. I debated saving it for another time, when I can actually have a children’s time again- but then I realized how timely and important it was. So, hopefully you will humour me for a moment.
When I was younger I liked to read comic books. I still like to watch superhero movies. Have you ever noticed how most superheroes wear capes? Sometimes, I like to put on a cape and imagine that I am a superhero. (PUT ON CAPE) But not all heroes wear capes- we have learned over the past few weeks that doctors, nurses, hospital staff, grocery store clerks, gas jockeys, postal workers and sooo many more people are currently our superheroes. Capes or not.
You know in Jesus’ day many people wore cloaks- which were very similar to capes. Cloaks provided protection against the harsh winds and blowing sand in the desert as well as protection from the hot sun. But today we hear a very interesting story about how these people used their cloaks differently.
When Jesus and his disciples entered Jerusalem, a very large crowd gathered to welcome him. And some of them spread their cloaks on the road for Jesus, while others cut branches from trees, and waved them in the air. This is because, whenever someone important came by, people would remove their cloaks as a sign of honour and respect. It meant that they recognized that the person walking by was more important then them. The people were greeting Jesus as a King. I take off my cape and lay it before all of those people who are working hard to keep us safe, nourished, in contact, and healthy. Today they are my heroes. Just as Jesus is my hero.
On Palm Sunday we celebrate that Jesus is being honoured- and yet in the background we know that by entering Jerusalem, Jesus will also be taken into custody and eventually sentenced to death. Right now, however, the cloaks of the disciples provide a cushion on the colt and the crowd’s cloaks provide a carpet.
But just as not all heroes wear capes- not all heroes do extraordinary things. At the beginning of this passage Jesus instructs some of his disciples to go and retrieve a donkey and colt so that Jesus has something to ride on when he enters Jerusalem. The disciples are performing a pretty basic task. Thomas Long an amazing homiletic writer once said that when he took his ordination vow, “Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination and love?” That he didn’t realize what kind of jobs that would entail. “Such language implies that ministry is a brave white-water romp over the cultural rapids toward global transformation in the name of Christ. Never once is it mentioned that serving people with energy, imagination, and lovee often boils down to stuff like changing light bulbs, visiting people in nursing homes who aren’t quite sure who you are, making a breathless Saturday afternoon run to the florist because you forgot to pick up palm branches, and as Jesus’ disciples found out, finding a suitable donkey at the last minute.” Oh, what I wouldn’t give to go back to those “basic” tasks. But Tom Long’s point is that essentially sometimes discipleship and ministry involves chores and running errands. If any of you need errands run for you- please let me know- we have a long list of people ready to help. Right now- that is what our palm Sunday looks like- doing basic tasks to help us stay connected and sane.
Once the colt or donkey is retrieved, our hero rides into town with shouts of hosanna and blessing. Jesus is treated as a king. However, our king rides on a donkey; our king proclaims the words and deeds of God. Yet, as we chant hosannas, we know the future: the sayings and deeds of our king’s life will culminate in the whole city seeking his death. At the outset I didn’t know how I was going to incorporate this devotional into our current situation but then as I read some commentaries and as the Spirit guided me it struck me that I often have expectations on what this Sunday will look like and this year those expectations would not be met.
In many ways, the crowd in their celebrations and shouts had expectations of what Jesus would do- they thought he was about to wage war on the oppressive Roman empire. They thought he was going to be like the Messiah as predicted by the prophets, coming in as a conqueror. Instead he came not only on a donkey, but died on the cross as a common criminal. Their expectations of Jesus were not met. This story causes us to reflect on what we celebrate in our lives, but also on what happens when our expectations are not met.
We also heard today the complementary psalm for this gospel lesson in which Psalm 118:27 says, “The Lord is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.” The Gospel author incorporates this sentiment into the story of Jesus’ festal procession up to Jerusalem. This is often a day of celebration- we would normally have the children wave branches as we sing the hymn that Carol Anne sang. But it doesn’t feel all that festive today. Maybe it even feels a bit basic- yet that is part of our discipleship and ministry. Perhaps today as we gather in our homes we actually feel the true sentiment that would have been felt by Jesus. Jesus knows where this is leading him. Not all heroes wear capes- some wear a crown of thorns. Amen