Lent VI commonly called Palm Sunday- Mark 11; Matthew 27

This last Sunday in Lent is commonly called Palm Sunday by many Christians. The triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem at the beginning of the first Holy Week started being observed publicly in Palestine in the early fourth century. However, Books of Common Prayer from 1549 until the 1928 revision did not call it Palm Sunday. The 1928 BCP restored the title Palm Sunday, and it included the account from St. Mark 11 for an alternate Morning Prayer lesson. In addition, many Anglicans have included the Liturgy of the Palms from other sources.

Certainly, the story of Christ's entrance into Jerusalem should be remembered. The occurrence was rich in symbolism. Jesus came on a donkey as a peaceful king from the ancient East would come to be enthroned. And the children and humble people present that day welcomed and praised Him. He deserved the praise and recognition. He was the true king of God's people, the divinely anointed deliverer. Unfortunately, the crowds still did not really understand Jesus. They did not really accept His spiritual way of being a leader. They were looking for a political deliverer, and as disappointed crowds are apt to do, they would quickly turn on Jesus and accept His crucifixion. 

Thus, the Palm Gospel naturally leads us to the Passion Gospel (Matthew 27) which is the main reading on this day. The events surrounding Christ's Passion are key to the whole Christian message. Holy Week and Easter are the goals of the Incarnation. The Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ are the greatest acts of God for our salvation. Without them, Jesus' birth and ministry would fade into insignificance. Without them, we would have no hope of redemption from our sins, no hope of eternal life. A faithful response to the events of Holy Week and Easter is central to what it means to be Christian. So let us take time throughout this week to listen, read and meditate on these painful but mighty acts of God.

Fifth Sunday in Lent, commonly called Passion Sunday- John 8:46-59

At various times since the Middle Ages, the Fifth Sunday in Lent has been called Passion Sunday. In nineteenth-century Anglicanism, it became common to view the last two weeks of Lent as Passiontide, a time to highlight Christ's sufferings. During the early twentieth century, Lent V was designated Passion Sunday in some revisions of the Book of Common Prayer, including the 1928 American version. 

The traditional Gospel for Lent V is St. John 8:46-59. This passage is part of an extended discussion between Jesus and His Judean opponents on many issues, including the question of who He is. This passage reflects a rising tension and points to His rejection and suffering. Much of the tension is related to a dramatic increase in Jesus' claims about His identity. 

First, in St. John 8:46, there is an assertion of Christ's innocence as He asks who can convict Him of sin. This is a unique claim which cannot be ignored. Either Jesus is without sin or His claims are false. Those who hear this claim cannot remain neutral; they must agree or disagree.

Secondly, in John 8:51, Jesus asserts that those who follow Him will never see death. His opponents sense that claiming the capacity to deliver from death makes Jesus greater than Abraham and the prophets. If He can deliver from death, He is greater than all the patriarchs and prophets; if this claim is false, He must be rejected as a madman or charlatan.

Finally, in St. John 8:58, Jesus says, "Before Abraham was, I am." This is the greatest claim possible because in the context of the Hebrew Scriptures "I AM" is a name of God. Christ's opponents are incensed at what they consider blasphemy, and so they want to stone Him. Although it is not yet His time, this is an anticipation of Jesus' suffering and death for human salvation. Jesus confronts hearers with an ultimate choice. He claims to be God come among His people and asks to be accepted in faith. He leaves no room for lukewarm human admiration.

So, how does this passage apply to those who wish to follow Jesus Christ? Throughout the discussion, people are called to believe in Him. He offers grace and calls for faith. He delivers believers from death and offers true life. He asks for an acknowledgment of His great claims. He does not leave His hearers the option of viewing Him simply as a nice guy or an interesting teacher. To believe in Him means recognizing that He is innocent and that He is greater than the greatest examples from the preceding religious tradition. Indeed, true belief in Jesus Christ means accepting Him through grace as the eternal God who has come to earth as a true man to save us from our sins.

Lent IV- Spiritual Nourishment- John 6:1-14

The Gospel for Lent IV from St. John 6:1-14 is one of the four accounts of the miraculous Feeding of Five Thousand found in the gospels. These accounts have several themes. First, there is the general truth that Christ has power over natural elements. Secondly, the miracle manifests Christ's concern for human need, especially need among those who hear Him and hunger for righteousness. Thirdly, especially in St. John's presentation, there are Messianic references. Jesus goes to a mountain like Moses, He provides food in the wilderness as Moses did, and at the end, the people acknowledge Him as "that prophet that should come into the world" (John 6:14). Fourthly, there are also associations with the Lord's Supper any time Christ breaks bread with His followers, and these associations become even more explicit later in John 6.

All of these themes can be related to our Lenten preparations, but this time, let us highlight the theme of spiritual nourishment. One great purpose of Lent is for us to seek renewed nourishment for our souls. During this season, we journey with Christ toward the cross, the tomb, and resurrection. And such a journey demands spiritual sustenance. Ordinarily, Christians feed their souls in three main ways: through reading/hearing the words of Scripture, through a regular prayer life (morning, evening, and other times), and through the appropriate Sacraments.

During Lent as in other seasons, we are called to "inwardly digest" the Scriptures. We seek to allow Biblical stories, teachings, and ideas to permeate our hearts, minds, and souls. Private and common prayer should also be a constant element in Christian life, and Lent is a good time for additional or special devotions.  Then we have the visible, tangible expressions of the living Word in the Sacraments. We have received the gift of Baptism, and in our devotions, we should renew our Baptismal commitments daily. And of course, there is the Lord's Supper or Eucharist. Christ offers to nourish and refresh our souls in a unique way in Holy Communion.  So as we pursue our Lenten disciplines, let us seek increased spiritual nourishment by being more open to Christ as He comes to us through Word, prayer, and Sacrament.

Lent III- Luke 11- Spiritual Housekeeping

The Gospel for this Sunday refers to several themes related to Christ’s ministry and the kingdom of God. In the midst of all these themes, there are three verses about spiritual housekeeping that have sometimes been applied to Lent. These verses are Luke 11:24-26. “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest; and finding none he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when he comes he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.” (RSV).

These verses are a brief parable or comparison about moral and spiritual cleansing and healing. In a way, the verses encourage moral and spiritual housekeeping, but they are also a warning about how we pursue such housekeeping. The ways we clean up our lives and what we do afterward can be as important as the cleansing itself.

In this world, many human beings admit that they need to cleanse their lives. Many people know that there are bad or destructive forces and tendencies in their lives. They sense that bad habits, poor attitudes, mistaken loyalties, and various mental and spiritual weaknesses need to be cast out. 

During Lent, some of us emphasize spiritual housekeeping. We may stress better moral and spiritual habits. We give up certain things. We emphasize penitential attitudes and a variety of devotions. Such moral and spiritual housekeeping and external disciplines are useful. However, we also need to move beyond mere external disciplines- even beyond good disciplines involving certain degrees of self-denial. 

As we clean our spiritual houses, we do not need to leave them empty. We need to fill them with goodness. As numerous Scriptures remind us, we must allow our Lord to abide or dwell within us. In other words, the Christian message must include positive aspects as well as negative ones. We are called to do more than just cleanse our hearts, minds, and souls of evil. We are asked to allow God to dwell or reside within us, and the real purpose of all our spiritual housekeeping is to make room for Him. It is to open us up to divine grace and love.

This point is always true, but it has a special relevance to Lent. Of course, we could all use more self-discipline and more sincere self-denial, but those things are not sufficient. By God’s grace in Christ, we also need to fill our hearts, minds, and souls with good things such as faith, hope, and love. We need to allow God to dwell within us and transform us for worship and service.