St Thomas Blog
Palm Sunday
Sunday 5th April 2020
Rev Eliza Getman
We join Rev Eliza on the journey into Jerusalem this Palm Sunday.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
All: Glory to you, O Lord.
Matthew 21.1-11
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, 'Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, "The Lord needs them." And he will send them immediately.' This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
'Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
'Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!'
When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, 'Who is this?' 11The crowds were saying, 'This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.'
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, O Christ.
Rev Eliza's Reflection
This year there is no public procession through the street. There is no trumpet to lead us. And yet instead of being stuck at home - we are safe at home and each of us is making our own inner pilgrimage. Digging deep to find our inner resources. To know that we are not alone. That we will have enough to get through. That we are travelling through these strange days together/apart. In South Africa, they talk about physical distancing and social solidarity.
I saw a photo recently of the interior of a big empty church captioned - "it's not empty: the church has been deployed."
Our community is forging stronger bonds through our common redeployment. We are finding new ways to be the church. We are reminded that a church is not a building. It is the living stones. It is the community gathered. It is also the community scattered.
We wave our palms and cry: Hosanna! Hosanna! (Save us! Save us!)
And we put our boots on and we find ways to be the hands and feet and heart of Christ in the world. We are here to do the work we are called to do. Through activity, yes - but also through presence and prayerfulness. Salvation is not passive. We are active in the process and we are still on the journey and still processing.
The winding labyrinth pilgrimage is when we place one foot in front of the other wherever we find ourselves. Our companions near and far are still the ones with whom we share our bread. Whether that is spiritual communion or virtual meetings or sitting at the kitchen table. We are all in this together. And Covid19 has unmasked the illusion that we were ever separate or ever in control. Jesus the servant king still leads us into Jerusalem on a humble donkey. Turning our whole world upside down.
The poet Rumi said:
"Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead, let life live through you. And do not worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?"
Jesus practices redistribution- he gives his disciples strange unexpected orders:
"Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, "The Lord needs them." And he will send them immediately.'
A whole new understanding of power and ownership and leadership and servanthood is being ushered in.
How will we make our individual and collective processions this lockdown year? What crowns of ego and alienation and control can we throw before our humble king as he rides into Jerusalem to die?
Jesus' strange victory march is telling us: Don't be afraid. Even death has no dominion. Easter is still coming. The church is shining in the empty streets and behind closed doors and will experience a resurrection like never before.
Hosanna! Hosanna! We are part of our own transformation and salvation. We can never go back to the way things were - but perhaps - just perhaps the upside-down world will be better than the one before.
Amen
If you'd like to see and hear Rev Eliza this Palm Sunday, you can do so by viewing below.