St. Paul’s Church in
Bergen, Jersey City NJ
April 13, 2014
Year A: The Sunday of
the Passion – Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-11
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Matthew 26:14-27:66
Hosanna! Save Us!
What
we’re doing here this morning is very ancient.
We
know that since at least the 4th Century some Christians have been
remembering and recreating Jesus’ seemingly triumphant arrival in Jerusalem.
And,
of course, since the very beginning of our faith, Christians have been
gathering together to remember and retell the story of Jesus’ arrest and death.
And
so, since what we’re doing is so ancient, it’s also decidedly low-tech.
In
recent years I’ve read lots of news articles about how people today so much
time looking at screens.
At
work many people spend just about their whole day working at the computer. I
know that even my job finds me spending too much time sitting at my desk
tapping away at my keyboard.
And,
of course, many of us are pretty well addicted to our so-called smart phones.
We compulsively check our email. We – especially our young people but lots of
us – repeatedly text family and friends and update our facebook, and instagram
and whatever other social media we’re into.
A
lot of people worry that we’re getting disconnected from each other – that we
don’t really have many face-to-face conversations. It’s been suggested that
kids today have trouble reading facial expressions because their senses haven’t
properly developed staring at all those screens.
And,
in part because our eyes are glued to all our screens and devices, people just
don’t participate in community events the way they used to.
And,
I think that’s all true.
But,
you know, people still, as the old song goes, “love a parade.”
The
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade still attracts millions of people and millions
more watch on TV.
And
even smaller, local parades still attract people.
Here
in Jersey City, just a few weeks ago, people lined the Boulevard for the St.
Patrick’s Day Parade. This summer, the plan is for St. Paul’s to march in the
West Indian Day Parade, which always draws a big crowd.
And,
each Sunday here in church we have our own little parade of acolytes, choir
members and me at the start and finish of our services.
Today
we started the service with a bigger parade than usual – as we carried our
palms from the Parish Hall into the church, remembering and imitating the
parade long ago when Jesus entered Jerusalem.
We’re
told that there was a crowd of disciples and others ready to greet the one they
called the Prophet from Nazareth.
The
crowd has gathered for a parade – they wanted to witness a big show as a new
king enters his capital city.
As
Jesus enters the city, they cried “Hosanna” – a combination of two Hebrew words
meaning “save us.”
Hosanna!
Save us!
The
people looked to Jesus – hoped – that Jesus would be the long awaited messiah
to save them from the Romans – to get them their independence – to restore
their greatness in the eyes of the world.
But,
right from the start there are signs that the crowd is in for a surprise and,
yes, maybe even a big disappointment.
Rather
than riding a mighty horse, we’re told that this odd king from Nazareth enters
Jerusalem riding a donkey. This humble king isn’t going to challenge the Roman
occupiers as many people had hoped. This meek king isn’t going to rule over a
new golden age of Israel. This Son is going to be a very different monarch than
King David.
Hosanna!
Save us!
But,
it won’t take long for the crowd to realize that Jesus doesn’t offer that kind
of salvation.
It
won’t take long for the crowd to realize that Jesus won’t challenge the empire
– at least not in the way that they expected.
There
won’t be a great military showdown – no glorious battle for the underdog to
defeat the world’s mightiest empire.
For
Jesus, there won’t be a crown of gold and jewels.
And
so, out of disappointment and disgust, the people – people just like us, really
– will choose to save the bandit Barabbas.
Just
like us, people two thousand years ago looked elsewhere for salvation.
Hosanna!
Save us!
And,
finally, Jesus the meek and humble king will submit, will take all the brutal
punishment human beings can dish out and die a disgraceful death on the cross.
What
no one grasped at the time was that Jesus, the meek and humble king, really was
offering salvation – was really offering salvation to all of us.
Jesus
saves us by showing us who God really is – the God who loves with a bottomless
love.
Jesus
saves us by showing us who we really are – who we were always meant to be.
Jesus
saves us by calling us to love and live as he loves and lives – to love with a
self-emptying love – to give away our lives – to give away ourselves in loving
service to each other, in loving service especially to the poorest and the
weakest.
Back
in Jerusalem two thousand years ago, people came out for an old-fashioned,
low-tech spectacle – people came out for a parade welcoming the new king to his
capital city.
Not
long after, people came out again for another kind of old-fashioned low-tech spectacle
– the people came out for another parade – this time to watch this
disappointing meek and humble king die a criminal’s brutal and humiliating
death.
In
one sense, today and again on Good Friday we’re recreating those parades, those
spectacles.
But,
really, we are here for a different kind of spectacle – to see – to remember - to
experience – the self-giving love of God poured out into the life, death, and,
yes, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Hosanna!
Save us!
Amen.
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