Easter Basics 2019

I have never been a person to travel far from home around Good Friday and Easter. This year, family circumstances meant that I was far from home, and there was no liturgical congregation nearby. Yet, I did have a Bible and a Book of Common Prayer.

So I said Morning and Evening Prayer and read the appointed lessons from Scripture. This was more low-key than most years, but it was meaningful. I focused briefly but intensely on Jesus' passion, time in the tomb, and resurrection. And if anything, I had a greater than usual appreciation for St. Paul's exhortation in Colossians 3- "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."

Such a perspective should be the goal of all our observances, elaborate or simple. We Christians think that the death and resurrection of Jesus are core historical realities. We must affirm these events, but beyond that, we need to see the application to our personal and corporate lives. As Christ has died and risen, so have we through baptism and faith. Therefore, we should set our affections on heavenly and spiritual matters and live accordingly.

Palm Sunday as a Warning

Very often Palm Sunday is a beautiful observance. Whether there is a procession or not, there are likely to be palm branches ( or some local green substitute). A Gospel about Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem is likely to be read, and there are probably some rousing hymns or songs of praise. Christians of all sorts like to praise Jesus, and even many "nice" unbelievers don't mind joining in if it is a pretty spring morning.

Yet, in truth, sometimes we don't stop to consider the deeper meanings of the commemoration. Jesus comes as a peaceful and humble King to claim His throne, and the crowd seems to have a partial appreciation. They use Messianic titles and shout "Hosanna" which means "save now." This expression, Hosanna, is great, but we should beware. A crowd may have divergent views about what it means to be saved and differing understandings of what happens "now." Many in the crowd were looking for political salvation from Roman oppression, and they hoped that now- that Palm Sunday- the great Jewish Revolt was starting under the leadership of Jesus the Messiah.

They misunderstood. They had not really listened to or understood Jesus for a long time. They had overlooked the spiritual and moral implications of salvation. They did not see that "now" was a time of repentance and conversion, a time to choose a higher way. Now was a time of humility and suffering and sacrifice. It was not a time for a great military or political victory, but a time for victory over sin and death through cross and resurrection. And because of their misunderstanding and impatience, many members of that crowd may have been among another crowd that would soon shout "crucify him."

For us then, Palm Sunday is a warning. Although we have long heard the message and the story of Jesus, our understandings and applications are often incomplete. We tend to focus on great displays and worldly blessings just as the Jerusalem crowds did. And we want such things "now."
Therefore, let us focus on the spiritual dimensions of Palm Sunday and Holy Week. We need to understand the spiritual character of salvation through Christ. We need to be patient and see that the "now" of our salvation is to look to, understand, and have faith in Jesus as the deliverer who comes in the name of His heavenly Father.

Lent V- A Passion Sunday- Luke 20

An old name for the fifth Sunday in Lent is Passion Sunday. Although modern liturgical revision has assigned that title to the last Sunday in Lent, commonly called Palm Sunday, such a name is also appropriate for Lent V. The Gospel from St. Luke 20 is the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, and it is one of several predictions of Christ’s passion and death. God has sent His Son to give the tenants (the religious people and their leaders) another opportunity to turn from wickedness. But they will not do so. They see Jesus the Christ as a threat to be eliminated. They will not admit openly that He is the Son of God. Yet, in their hearts and souls, many of them sense His unique authority, and their rejection of Him reflects their rebellion against God the Father.

Ultimately, Christ is rejected and murdered because men refuse to acknowledge the rights of God. People offer other reasons and excuses for opposing Jesus. But by this parable, Jesus is exposing the truth. He sees through all the posturing and knows that the religious people of Jerusalem are really rebelling against God. That is the root cause of Christ’s Passion and Death. And telling the truth about it just makes His enemies all the more angry.

This historical truth has abiding personal meaning for every human being. All are called upon to acknowledge God and His Son. All are asked to repent and accept divine authority. Unfortunately, many human beings continue to behave as the wicked and rebellious tenants. In arrogance and greed, we tend to overestimate our own importance and power. We assume too much for ourselves. Clergy and laity, we forget that we are just tenants who look after the Bible, the Church, and its spiritual and moral heritage for the true owner, Almighty God. Keeping this in mind can help us turn from our self-centeredness and appreciate the Passion more deeply.