SERMON FOR PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2020
SHOUTING
Text: Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29; Matthew 21: 1-11
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“LOOK OUT!” Shouting gets out attention. If one person is shouting, or if we hear a crowd of people shouting together, the loud vocalization pierces the ordinary hum and buzz of everyday life that we are accustomed to hearing. Some shouts convey warning: “FIRE!” - others share joy – “CONGRATULATIONS!” What a difference a word and volume make.
“HOSANNA!” people in the streets of Jerusalem shout out when Jesus passes by on the back of a donkey. Others hear the shouting. Some join in. Others ignore the commotion and carry on as usual. Shouts of joy they were – yet underneath was a desperate plea “HELP!”
“HOSANNA!” Translation: “SAVE US!” Save us – from what do the people need to be saved in first century Palestine? From many of the same things that we face: fear – fears about their future and survival. An unwanted foreign power had taken hold of their nation, threatening their spiritual lives and places of worship, exacting huge financial burdens as they had to pay taxes to the Roman government, disrupting their ordinary routines, contaminating their way of life.
The invasion of a foreign power – threatening, exacting financial burdens, disrupting, contaminating – sound familiar? The people of Israel had an advantage that we don’t – they could see their enemy. Ours is invisible to the human eye.
On this Palm Sunday during a global pandemic, one would expect lots and lots of loud shouts of: HOSANNA! SAVE US, LORD!
The word “HOSANNA!” is both a prayer and a profession of faith, a prayer of petition: “help us,” and a profession of what we believe: “God saves us.” The word conveys both: the assurance that the God to whom we pray will save us, deliver us, and restore us – from anything and everything that threatens to separate us from the love of God. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer – HOSANNA – help us - as we profess what we believe: You are the God of all creation who can help us and who does help and who will help us. You are the Lord of the universe who is already at work saving us from all things that threaten to separate us from Your love.
HOSANNA! Save us! Let us offer this prayer of petition and profession in anticipation of the Lord who has come, is coming, and will come again. Like the people on the streets of Jerusalem, we want the good Lord to hear our shouting “HOSANNA!” as He comes into our lives, into our hearts and minds. God hears our shouting and our quieter prayers, and God knows that we are preparing room for Him – room in the inns of our hearts – different from how it was when the Savior of the world came into the world in Bethlehem. We are quite familiar with the story of the Lord’s birth: Mary and Joseph were led to a stable because there was no room for them in the inn. Shepherds and angels and wise men shouted and sang words of praise – in the heavens above and on the earth below – “Hallelujah!” Praise God! For God had indeed answered the prayer of many a heart: Lord, have mercy upon us. Hosanna – Save Us! In a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in manger, God came into the world to address our every need, then and there, here and now, right where we are.
HOSANNA! In the highest heaven! Let us ask and profess. In our voices and in our minds, in our hearts and hands, let us make this profession of faith: God will save us – from the current crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and all the setbacks and consequences that will follow.
HOSANNA! This word, some word – may get through – to our own hearts and minds – like a seed where it takes root, grows and develops, and bears fruit for the glory of God.
“Preach the gospel at all times! When necessary, use words.” The words of this saying are attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, though scholars cannot find from historical records to support that he actually said it. Actually, the medieval saint was known a fiery preacher who traveled from town to town with great passion in his words:
“Our man clearly spent a great deal of time using his words when he preached, ‘sometimes preaching in up to five villages a day, often outdoors. In the country, Francis often spoke from a bale of straw or a granary doorway. In town, he would climb on a box or up steps in a public building. He preached to … any who gathered to hear the strange but fiery little preacher from Assisi.’ He was sometimes so animated and passionate in his delivery that ‘his feet moved as if he were dancing.’”[1]
HOSANNA! Shout the Gospel at all times! If necessary, use words! Words matter. Deeds matters. Hand in hand. We need both. We are people of the Word, God’s Word, the Word made flesh who came and lived among us. When words do not match deeds, when deeds do not match words, it raises questions, doubts, confusion. And the consequence – people are turning away from the voices, ignoring warnings and encouragement, at the risk of staying on paths that lead to death and destruction, sin and sorrow, the end of the journey God designed for us.
HOSANNA! Help us! God saves us!
On this Palm Sunday morning, we cannot be together physically in worship, waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna! as we usually do at this time of the year. Nevertheless, we can still lift our voices with praise and thanksgiving in a different way, maybe even a more meaningful way. Let us pray and think about anyone who needs to hear a HOSANNA shout out from us.
Today at noon, as Governor Hogan proclaimed, we are called to observe a statewide moment of prayer and reflection in honor of those we have lost, those who are sick, and the doctors, nurses, clinicians, health care workers, and first responders on the front lines.
Shout out your prayers with a handwritten or typed note to someone who saves, heals, protects, and defends us – with words such as:
“In the intercessory prayers of our congregation, we gave thanks to God for you – for your commitment and sacrifice, for your courage and compassion, for saving and protecting our lives. We are praying that the Lord blesses you and yours with safety, healing mercy, and strength.”
Needless to say, use your own words, too, instead of – or – in addition to – what I suggested. HOSANNA!
No doubt Jesus was encouraged and strengthened by the shouts of “Hosanna!” that He heard on the day that we celebrate as Palm Sunday. Only a few days later, maybe the shouts of the people were in the mind of the Savior of the world when He was praying in the garden of Gethsemane, when He stood before the religious leaders, when He endured a brutal beating, when He was nailed to a cross, as He suffered through the crucifixion. On the third day, when He rose from the dead, perhaps Jesus Christ remembered the chorus of voices of people calling out “HOSANNA!” The Risen Lord stepped forth from the tomb to help us – and to save us – thanks be to God.
HOSANNA! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Amen.
[1] Quoting from Thomas of Celeno, the first biographer of Saint Francis of Assisi who wrote about the itinerant preacher three years after his death, from the article by Glenn Stanton, “FactChecker: Misquoting Francis of Assisi,” The Gospel Coalition, July 10, 2012.
Text: Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29; Matthew 21: 1-11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“LOOK OUT!” Shouting gets out attention. If one person is shouting, or if we hear a crowd of people shouting together, the loud vocalization pierces the ordinary hum and buzz of everyday life that we are accustomed to hearing. Some shouts convey warning: “FIRE!” - others share joy – “CONGRATULATIONS!” What a difference a word and volume make.
“HOSANNA!” people in the streets of Jerusalem shout out when Jesus passes by on the back of a donkey. Others hear the shouting. Some join in. Others ignore the commotion and carry on as usual. Shouts of joy they were – yet underneath was a desperate plea “HELP!”
“HOSANNA!” Translation: “SAVE US!” Save us – from what do the people need to be saved in first century Palestine? From many of the same things that we face: fear – fears about their future and survival. An unwanted foreign power had taken hold of their nation, threatening their spiritual lives and places of worship, exacting huge financial burdens as they had to pay taxes to the Roman government, disrupting their ordinary routines, contaminating their way of life.
The invasion of a foreign power – threatening, exacting financial burdens, disrupting, contaminating – sound familiar? The people of Israel had an advantage that we don’t – they could see their enemy. Ours is invisible to the human eye.
On this Palm Sunday during a global pandemic, one would expect lots and lots of loud shouts of: HOSANNA! SAVE US, LORD!
The word “HOSANNA!” is both a prayer and a profession of faith, a prayer of petition: “help us,” and a profession of what we believe: “God saves us.” The word conveys both: the assurance that the God to whom we pray will save us, deliver us, and restore us – from anything and everything that threatens to separate us from the love of God. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer – HOSANNA – help us - as we profess what we believe: You are the God of all creation who can help us and who does help and who will help us. You are the Lord of the universe who is already at work saving us from all things that threaten to separate us from Your love.
HOSANNA! Save us! Let us offer this prayer of petition and profession in anticipation of the Lord who has come, is coming, and will come again. Like the people on the streets of Jerusalem, we want the good Lord to hear our shouting “HOSANNA!” as He comes into our lives, into our hearts and minds. God hears our shouting and our quieter prayers, and God knows that we are preparing room for Him – room in the inns of our hearts – different from how it was when the Savior of the world came into the world in Bethlehem. We are quite familiar with the story of the Lord’s birth: Mary and Joseph were led to a stable because there was no room for them in the inn. Shepherds and angels and wise men shouted and sang words of praise – in the heavens above and on the earth below – “Hallelujah!” Praise God! For God had indeed answered the prayer of many a heart: Lord, have mercy upon us. Hosanna – Save Us! In a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in manger, God came into the world to address our every need, then and there, here and now, right where we are.
HOSANNA! In the highest heaven! Let us ask and profess. In our voices and in our minds, in our hearts and hands, let us make this profession of faith: God will save us – from the current crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and all the setbacks and consequences that will follow.
HOSANNA! This word, some word – may get through – to our own hearts and minds – like a seed where it takes root, grows and develops, and bears fruit for the glory of God.
“Preach the gospel at all times! When necessary, use words.” The words of this saying are attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, though scholars cannot find from historical records to support that he actually said it. Actually, the medieval saint was known a fiery preacher who traveled from town to town with great passion in his words:
“Our man clearly spent a great deal of time using his words when he preached, ‘sometimes preaching in up to five villages a day, often outdoors. In the country, Francis often spoke from a bale of straw or a granary doorway. In town, he would climb on a box or up steps in a public building. He preached to … any who gathered to hear the strange but fiery little preacher from Assisi.’ He was sometimes so animated and passionate in his delivery that ‘his feet moved as if he were dancing.’”[1]
HOSANNA! Shout the Gospel at all times! If necessary, use words! Words matter. Deeds matters. Hand in hand. We need both. We are people of the Word, God’s Word, the Word made flesh who came and lived among us. When words do not match deeds, when deeds do not match words, it raises questions, doubts, confusion. And the consequence – people are turning away from the voices, ignoring warnings and encouragement, at the risk of staying on paths that lead to death and destruction, sin and sorrow, the end of the journey God designed for us.
HOSANNA! Help us! God saves us!
On this Palm Sunday morning, we cannot be together physically in worship, waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna! as we usually do at this time of the year. Nevertheless, we can still lift our voices with praise and thanksgiving in a different way, maybe even a more meaningful way. Let us pray and think about anyone who needs to hear a HOSANNA shout out from us.
Today at noon, as Governor Hogan proclaimed, we are called to observe a statewide moment of prayer and reflection in honor of those we have lost, those who are sick, and the doctors, nurses, clinicians, health care workers, and first responders on the front lines.
Shout out your prayers with a handwritten or typed note to someone who saves, heals, protects, and defends us – with words such as:
“In the intercessory prayers of our congregation, we gave thanks to God for you – for your commitment and sacrifice, for your courage and compassion, for saving and protecting our lives. We are praying that the Lord blesses you and yours with safety, healing mercy, and strength.”
Needless to say, use your own words, too, instead of – or – in addition to – what I suggested. HOSANNA!
No doubt Jesus was encouraged and strengthened by the shouts of “Hosanna!” that He heard on the day that we celebrate as Palm Sunday. Only a few days later, maybe the shouts of the people were in the mind of the Savior of the world when He was praying in the garden of Gethsemane, when He stood before the religious leaders, when He endured a brutal beating, when He was nailed to a cross, as He suffered through the crucifixion. On the third day, when He rose from the dead, perhaps Jesus Christ remembered the chorus of voices of people calling out “HOSANNA!” The Risen Lord stepped forth from the tomb to help us – and to save us – thanks be to God.
HOSANNA! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Amen.
[1] Quoting from Thomas of Celeno, the first biographer of Saint Francis of Assisi who wrote about the itinerant preacher three years after his death, from the article by Glenn Stanton, “FactChecker: Misquoting Francis of Assisi,” The Gospel Coalition, July 10, 2012.