Palm Sunday 14 Apr 2019 Sermon

Palm Sunday 14.4.19 Continuity

The palms we held today can be seen as having two meanings.

The first is simply the jubilation we feel at the coming of the Saviour. We welcome Our Lord, whether it be His birth at Bethlehem, His Second Coming in glory; or any stage along the way.

His entry into Jerusalem we welcome because it means the moment of our liberation is coming closer.

There is an irony about His welcome to Jerusalem. He was cheered by the crowds, yet many of those same people would have been calling for His Blood a short time later.

We do the first but not the second. We cheer His coming, but we do not turn against Him.

For us the palms represent a continuity; there is no change of direction for us. No about face, no desertion.

The palm now serves as a mark of identity. We are not afraid to be known as His disciples. We will take any abuse which comes our way because we are His disciples. We will even go to the Cross with Him if required.

In any event we will use every moment of life remaining to us in His service.

The story of His Passion and death is a sad tale of human malice and weakness.

There are points in that story where we can say: I would not do that – such as Peter’s denial, or Judas’ betrayal.

And points where we would do that - such as the women who lamented for Him, or who stood near the Cross.

The Passion story is in one way fixed, and we have heard it many times. In another way it is still happening, insofar as we are the present players on the stage, and it is up to each one of us to determine how the story goes.

We can follow either the good or bad example the story provides for us.

We can always choose for the good, even if we have been on the wrong side previously.

The bad can come right; the good can get better still.

May this coming Holy Week be a time of profound reflection for each of us, leading us to a firmer than ever decision to follow Our Lord and Saviour, keeping that palm as a reminder of our jubilation and loyalty.