[told from the viewpoint of Jesus in Bethany on the night of the Palm parade. the hymn Ride on, Ride one, from Iona group is sung during the sermon.]
Ahh, back in
Bethany for the night.
The crowds
are growing each day ...
I know it
cannot continue like this;
people come to
see what is happening
People come for
healing
People come because
they hope for the Messiah.
It is good to
be back in Bethany for the night
A refuge amid
the busyness
A quiet space
to think, to rest
Some say I
should quieten down,
not upset the
leaders so much.
My parents
took me to Egypt as a child, worried I would be killed by a jealous King.
There will be
no leaving this time
There will be
no turning away from my path.
What’s that
Mary?
What have we been
up to today?
We walked into
Jerusalem this morning; it is quite busy leading up to Passover.
Today, some extra
Roman soldiers were arriving.
They arrive
like a procession, a parade, to make an impact. Big horses, full uniforms,
jangling bridles.
They come in
a show of force to keep the ‘peace’
Yes Mary, it
isn’t really peace, as much as squashing any potential issues.
In true
prophet style, I was in a parade as well.
We borrowed a
donkey, and I rode into Jerusalem;
people shouted
and threw their cloaks on the road. It was amazing.
People were
shouting ‘Hosanna’
Praise God!
Save us!
You know Mary,
I wonder if people saw what I was doing; if they realised, I was mocking the
Romans with their chariots.
Challenging the
Roman idea of peace?
Ride on, ride on, the time is right:
the roadside crowds scream with delight;
palm branches mark the pilgrim way
where beggars squat and children play.
Ride on, ride on, your critics wait,
intrigue and rumour circulate;
new lies abound in word and jest,
and truth becomes a suspect guest.
After the
parade, I went to the temple. It was extra busy with people coming for Passover.
It was a nightmare, not just the number of people, but the jostling to get in. The
money changers and sacrifice sellers were taking up so much space, I cleared
them out.
Jeremiah [ch7]
spoke about the Temple being misused by people who thought they could do whatever
they wanted as long as they came to the Temple to worship and offer sacrifices.
The temple is for worshipping God, not putting in barriers.
How did it
all go so wrong.
God gave the
earth and life and food and water
Dreamt of
people living together in true peace
But people
fought with each other, over God’s land
over where to
worship, ….
When there
was space, people came looking for me to heal them, the blind can see, and the
lame can walk.
Peace and
healing, wholeness is what I am about
Transforming lives,
reconnecting relationships, building community.
Not everyone
agrees with my mission, some are scared, some benefit from the current system
of patronage. I feel for those who struggle under the oppression of Rome. they
are looking for hope, they are not sure if I am the hope they seek.
I know, Mary,
I am hope, but not what they look for.
they are looking
for me to overthrow Rome, that is not my way. Violence begets violence.
I am a man of
peace.
Rise on, ride on, while well aware
that those who shout and wave and stare
are mortals who, with common breath,
can crave for life and lust for death.
Ride on, ride on, though blind with tears
though dumb to speak and deaf to jeers.
Your path is clear, though few can tell
their garments pave the road to Hell
the sweetest
sound today was children shouting praises. They see things that adults do not. It
was one more thing the leaders didn’t like.
I can feel
them breathing down my neck.
I know you
are worried about me Mary. Passover is coming, the time we remember and
recognise how God saved the people from slavery in Egypt. It is like the Temple
worship is so clipped and copped it has lost its power and beauty, and also the
ability to help people recognise God.
I know Mary,
this kind of talk will get me in trouble in town. The leaders are after me.
Soon they
will have their chance.
This is a violent
regime which does not tolerate peace.
An oppressive
regime that does not tolerate freedom.
No Mary, I won’t
stay here,
Every day is
a good day to bring healing and hope into a troubled world. Even if it is at
risk of my life.[i]
Fear is what stops the world being more like what God planned.
I will not be
held back by fear, by what people might do to me.
I have told
the disciples I will die at the hands of the Roman and religious leaders. They don’t
understand. I’m not sure I exactly understand either.
But I won’t
toe their line, I won’t get caught up in the system of violence and oppression.
Ride on, ride on, the room is let,
the wine matured, the saw is whet;
and dice your death-throes shall attend
though faith, not fate, dictates your end.
Ride on, ride on, God’s love demands.
Justice and peace lie in your hands.
Evil and angel voices rhyme:
this is the man and this is the time.
…………………
We know the
next part of the story.
We will hear
on Thursday evening about the arrest in the garden and on Friday morning, the
trial and crucifixion.
We know the
story, but this week i encourage you to sit with the story.
Which part
resonates with you?
Is it betrayal,
isolation, pain, plotting, shouting Hosanna?
Do you follow
the Jesus of the cross, the one who brings peace and wholeness?
Or follow the
ways of empire, of uniformity and peace by suppression.
[i]
https://sicutlocutusest.com/2019/04/11/the-next-day-a-palm-sunday-reflection/?fbclid=IwAR0gcQHAeDMzTjOQIZQjNVBCSLNH_xszYaGbgeRwY1REQQYGdvw-GFysyYo
