“How Long Can You Wave? How Long Will You?” was preached at Sunnyside Presbyterian Church on Palm Sunday,
April 14, 2019. Inspirations for this sermon included Scripture, commentaries (specifically Jill Duffield's reflection),
ecumenical conversations, active participation of the congregation, and even a little exhausted desperation. You can
listen to an audio clip of this sermon here. You can watch a video of the
entire worship service here; the sermon starts at 25:25. I highly recommend watching this sermon!
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I
have a request for each of us today. I want us each to wave our palms during my
sermon today. I’m serious. Don’t injure yourself or put yourself out of breath.
But wave it for as long as you can. I’m going to do it too. And I’m sure I’ll
be distracted by you waving your palms; and I’m sure you’ll be distracting each
other. And somehow I have to flip my pages because I preach from a manuscript,
but I’ll do my best to figure that out. But go ahead and wave your palms.
As I
read from our Gospel text this morning, I want us each to listen from the
perspectives of the disciples who were with Jesus during the triumphant entry
into Jerusalem. I want to you to imagine what they must have felt seeing their
teacher ride into Jerusalem, not knowing all the would unfold later that week.
Go ahead. Take a moment. Put yourself into the shoes, or perhaps the sandals,
of the first disciples.
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Luke
19:28-40
28
After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29
When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of
Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of
you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been
ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying
it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 So those who were sent departed
and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners
asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.”
35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt,
they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks
on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of
Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with
a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,
“Blessed
is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace
in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”
39
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples
to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would
shout out.”
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Friends,
what did you imagine?
For
me, I imagined that it was on that day of all days of how incredible it was to
be a disciple of Jesus. Jess is riding a colt into Jerusalem, and as he does,
he is surrounded by large crowds the entire way, with seemingly no end to their
numbers nor their shouts. It was a roar; joyful praise and adulation! People
throwing down their cloaks in adoration; this was the BEST day!
Think
of our kids, just a few moments ago, the fun they had as the waved their palm
branches. How cool is it that we get to do that in church?! To scream and yell
and just celebrate the coming of our Lord? That’s the joy millions felt as
Jesus rode that colt into Jerusalem. The world bowed at his feet, threw cloaks
on his path, and sang of his greatness. And the disciples got to be a part of
that as the inner circle, his closest friends and followers.
And
can we blame them? Who wouldn’t want to be associated with Jesus on that day? On
this day? This is the Lord of all; and we march and celebrate with returning
war heroes and championing sports teams and newly elected political leaders! I
mean, we even march and parade celebrate national holidays and city festivals.
Heck, our neighbors in Plymouth even parade for blueberries; I would know, I
was there. It was awesome.
So
this is better than all of that; this is Jesus in a moment of power and status,
praise and triumph—this day of all days, I am with Jesus, just like the
disciples gladly were.
But
the disciples will soon leave Jesus. They eventually gather together one last
time to share in the Passover meal. You know the story. Jesus takes a loaf of
bread, blesses it, and breaks it. He then takes a cup, blesses it, and pours
it. Both shall be done in remembrance of him. And all the disciples
participate; it’s the last time before Jesus’ death that they are truly all
together; that they are with him.
The
moment Jesus goes out into the Garden of Gethsemane, his disciples will soon
scatter. They all leave him as he is arrested, tried, tortured, and then
crucified.
And
friends, as much I would like to question what the disciples were thinking, I
can’t. I don’t get to question why they left.. because I’ve left Jesus behind
too. And maybe, whether intentionally or not, you have too.
I
was recently talking to a friend about how often Presbyterians celebrate the
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Her, being a faithful Catholic, was appalled
when I told her that it’s about once a month. Her jaw actually dropped when I
told her our polity, as found in the Book of Order, only requires a minimum of
once a quarter. Catholics requires the Sacrament of Lord’s Supper to be
celebrated every week at the first least: that’s 52 weeks a year. Presbyterians
require a minimum of once a quarter; that’s 4 weeks a year. So Sunnyside, we’re
at least beating the minimum; good for us! My friend, in her state of shock,
then asked why do we only celebrate it once a month.
And
I slipped up and said the words that sent her into a tizzy. When she asked why
do we only celebrate it once a month; I said, “I guess we only celebrate it
when it’s convenient for us.”
And
although I didn’t actually mean it the way that I said it or the way it came
across, my friend started a truthful and just rant. I’m going to save you all
from that full conversation, but I will share a powerful line. In her rant, she
said, “Where in the Bible does Jesus say, ‘Take up your cross and follow me
when it’s convenient for you.’”
Heh.
She’s right.
Friends,
the disciples gladly were with Jesus during the Triumphant Entry. They didn’t
question anything; they didn’t turn their backs. They gladly walked alongside
him as people joyfully cheered and bowed and everything was easy and fun and
exciting. But the moment it wasn’t easy and fun and exciting; they left. And at
times, so do we.
I’m
not going to give examples of the ways we leave Jesus. I think each of us
already have an idea. I think each of us has our own thing or our own way. This
sermon isn’t supposed to make any of us feel guilty. That’s next month.
Kidding.
But
it is supposed to be a challenge and a reminder for each of us. It’s about
following Christ all the way from the Palm to the Passion, the joy to the
struggle, the life to the death, and then to the resurrection.
Who is still waving their palms?
Today
stand in the joyful shouts of Palm Sunday.
Look around and see the faces of those waving their palms. Let people
see you as your wave yours. I’m trying to wave mine because I can’t hold back
my praise for God for being seen and valued and healed and loved. I want to
wave my palm so much that my arm hurts; I want to wave it unashamed because I
want to show my gratitude to the grace that I have received. But sometimes it
hurts. And sometimes we have to stop. And that’s kind of the transition from
Palm into Passion. When although we want to still wave our palms and shout
cries of praise for Christ, we just can’t do it anymore.
But
friends, here’s the other promise. On the days we just can’t praise Christ, for
whatever reason, there is someone out there who is still praising Christ, and I
believe at those times, Christ knows that they are praising Christ on our
behalf. After all, we are all united together in full communion as the complete
body of Christ. And for whatever reason, if there is a day that none of can
praise Christ, and day that hasn’t happened yet, and a day I don’t think will
happen any time soon or even ever. If there is a day for none of us will praise
Christ, then the stones will do it on our behalf.
But
we won’t let the stones, will we? We don’t need them. Because if Christ can
defeat death; maybe we can wave our palms just a bit longer. Amen? Amen.
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