Palm Sunday

They brought the donkey to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.  As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road… The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:  “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus,
“Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
– Luke 19:35-40

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  The words of the crowds echoed the chorus of angels at Jesus’ birth:  “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” – Luke 2:13-15

Glory to God and peace on earth and heaven, is a prayer we continue to lift up to the Lord, even today.  With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, places of violence and danger throughout the world, increased substance abuse, suicide and despair – we all pray for peace.  Jesus was called by the prophet Isaiah the “prince of peace”.  But it was through violence that he gave us peace.  It was through his death that we have life.  It was through his resurrection that we found hope.  It is through his promise that we rejoice.  As we walk towards Holy Week beginning this Sunday, may you experience God’s love, grace, and peace.  May you feel the depth of God’s sacrifice of love for you.

We have special Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services on April 14 and 15.  We will share in the celebration of Resurrection Sunday on April 17.  Let’s worship together.

Questions for the week:  Do I love the poor and do what I can to help, even if it means sacrifice on my part?  Do I envy other people’s lives or possessions? Have I taken what is not rightfully mine?

Holy God, For many reasons from many places, we come, carrying wrongs and rights, some unsure, some very certain, each with a story.  We are called to be loved and to love, to see and be seen to be made and re-made, perspective shifted, spirits moved, bodies in motion; to be transformed into the body of Christ, ready to help God transform the world.  Amen.