The Palm Sunday Path

     “When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?”

Matthew 21:10

When Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on the back of donkey, surrounded by shouts of adulation, it signaled a sort of collision that had been playing out ever since he proclaimed, “The kingdom of heaven has come near!” In the triumphal entry into the city, the powers of the kingdom of God came face to face with powers of the world enthroned there. Jerusalem served as the political seat of power in Judea, just as the temple served as the spiritual center for the region, and this public parade would rouse the tidal wave of resistance that in only a few days would put him on the cross.

The same powers in this world push back against the kingdom we pray for in the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy Kingdom Come… on earth as it is in heaven.” This tension of kingdoms clashing plays out in the world around us, just as they work themselves out inside our own selves and in our very lives.

This upcoming season of Lent we will dive deeply into the Palm Sunday Path, specifically moments in the path Jesus walked from the palm parade, until the Via Dolarosa, meaning the way or path of suffering. At moments in his teaching, in his words, and in his actions, Jesus invites all who would follow him into the cosmic collision of kingdoms and ask, “which kingdom are you serving?” This question is pertinent in the season of Lent as we assume a penitential posture, examining our lives and offering confession to a God who will always be faithful. This question is also pertinent in this season as we see these powers colliding in the world around us, in our own cities and streets, leaving our neighbors in the wake of all the tumult.

Amidst it all you, me, all of us are invited to look with fresh eyes of faith at all that is going on around us – violence in the streets in our state, global institutions of power ignoring the needs of the most vulnerable around the world, and folks who are increasingly apathetic and despairing. Then we are a called to ask, how does our faith in Christ invite, compel, and sometimes drag us kicking and screaming to respond? Are we willing to be honest and confess our part? Can we muster the courage to challenge our own opinions and perspectives with the call to love our neighbor? All of our neighbors? Will the promises of God in Christ and our hope in the kingdom   we pray for move us?

In preparation for the season, I invite you to spend some time dwelling in the following texts that will serve as preaching texts for our worship life both on Wednesday evenings and Sunday Mornings.

Week 1: Luke 19:28-40 “The Path Jesus Walks”

Week 2: Mark 12:1-12 “The Cost of Walking”

Week 3: Luke 23:1-4, 13-15, 22-23    “Interpreting the Path”

Week 4: John 13:1–9, 33–35 “Widening the Path”

Week 5: Luke 23:39–43 “Walking the Path Together”

Pastor Matt