Preparing for Holy Week Part 1

 

Next Sunday, April 13, we join in the Palm Sunday parade and welcome Jesus with the word, “Hosanna”!!  This is more than cheering or a hip, hip, hooray!  Hosanna means, “save us”.  We all live in the gap between where we are and where we want to be.  This is true financially, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and relationally.  The gap between the you that stares back from the mirror that you who is reflective of the image of God in which you are continually recreated (resurrected) day after day.  The gap between what is and what your mind/heart/ soul longs to be.  In that gap there is the beautiful/tragic reality of life.  Fredrick Buechner puts it this way, “The grace of God means something like: "Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are, because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It's for you that I created the universe. I love you.”

 

Where does your heart need saving?  Not just another self-improvement book or zoom session or herbal remedy that promises to cure you. 

Where does your soul need saving?  Not by pious prayers or some morning meditation, but through a grace that comes unexpectedly.

Where does your life need saving?  Not by buying another planner or planning a destination vacation to some exotic location.

 

Now, what is saving your life right now?  Remember grace shows up disguised as your life.  Grace comes unbidden at the time we are unbound, unaware, unexpectant, un-showered with only Cheez Whiz in the cupboard to serve God because we haven’t been to the store.  Richard Rohr says, “Grace is not something God gives; grace is who God is. Grace is God’s official job description. Grace is what God does to keep alive—forever—all things that God has created in love.”  Grace comes in songs, a hot meal, a hand held in yours, a silent moment, a walk, music blaring or silently sitting.  Grace comes in petting the dog, laughing, watching a good show, dancing, and texting.  Grace comes in the form of a savior on a donkey riding down a dusty pathway to the prayerful pleas of peasants at the same time many believe Caesar’s army was parading in the front door of Jerusalem in a show of power.  Palm Sunday didn’t just happen, it is happening.  Every time the pomp and circumstance of power is paraded around in a show of strength.  Every time leaders decide that war and violence is better than conversation and compromise.  Every time leaders berate and belittle, dehumanize others as political scapegoats.  Every time we take to social media to tell off that friend whose politics or beliefs or posts offended us - thinking somehow these tweets make a difference.  Every time we bash another verbally or gossip, even if we do end it by saying, “Bless his heart.”  Every time we let the color commentary in our mind berate and belittle ourselves for some bone headed mistake.  We need saving.  You and I pray the word, “Hosanna” every day in a thousand small ways.  Where does your heart, soul, mind, life, family, community, country, creation, world long for space for Jesus to ride on, ride on in majesty right into your life?  May that question swirl and spin and swim in your heart all week long.  Amen.