And So It Begins
Gate Pa – Palm Sunday 2024
Readings:
Psalm Psalm
118:1-2, 19-29
Gospel: Mark
11:1-11
What I want to say:
I want to help people enter
into this story to
Where are we in this story?
What do we see?
What I want to happen:
Who is Jesus? Let go of our
stereotypes and engage with the one presented in the gospels
The Sermon
this
symbolic journey
neatly
planned
the colt prepared and ready
begins
in Bethany
this
revolutionary act
begins
on the hill
overlooking
the
holy city
we
begin
on
our hill
Pukehinahina
in
Hori Tapu
hidden
behind trees
old
memories of battles and deaths
under our feet
as
we look back
and
remember.
it
begins with his friends
his
disciples and supporters
those who have risked everything on
him
men
and women
all those who have journeyed to this point
with
shouts and joy
they
throw clothes on the colt
sing
the psalms of ascent
crying
hosanna
a cry of gratitude
and a plea to be
saved
confident
and hopeful
and
yet
and
yet….
in
their midst
knowingly
Jesus
sets out
on
this last journey of provocation
down
into the shadow
others
join in
people
of Bethany who know them
people
of Bethany who rejoice with them
laying
branches from the fields in his way
at
this safe distance
they
sing the psalms of defiance
supporters
for now
they
will accompany them down the hill
down
to the Kidron
but
maybe
not
all the way
danger
lies
in the shadow
of
that great city.
Pilate
has arrived
atop
his war house
surrounded by
battle hardened legionaries
here
for business
the
business of keeping order
the
business of dealing
with any expressed longing
for Rome’s end.
slowly
they are engulfed
other
pilgrims at journeys end
weary and
expectant
here
for Passover
here for preparation
some
are excited to see Jesus
some
are uninterested
some
keep their distance
some
have no idea who he is.
Jesus
leaves his donkey
and
becomes one of them
a
pilgrim
washing
in the pool
walking
the way
up the hill
into the holy place
joining
in the songs of hope
held
in the words of those psalms
hosanna
is such a dangerous word
they
pass the locals pedalling their wares
offering
sustenance
making the most
of this pilgrim throng
unaware
of who walks past
simply
there to make ends meet
oblivious.
up
the grand steps
up
under the arches
through
the internal walkways
emerging
into
Herod’s magnificent renovations
the
second temple
marvellous!
they
stand.
they
stand
under
the watchful gaze
of
the temple guards
suspicious
alert
to the unruly
to all who would
bring upheaval
safeguarding
the temple hierarchy
the
priests and their work
ordering the
sacrifices
ordering life
keeping peace with Rome.
and
there above them all
sits
the Antonio
the
Roman fortress
locked
on the end
overseeing
all
safeguarding
Rome’s interests
into
this steps Jesus
a
single figure among so many
into
this movement
he
stands
and
sees everything!
everything!
everything!
so
where are we in all this?
a
disciple risking all
in
the Bethany crowd waving and cheering
some close with
peril
some simply
enjoying the moment
some keeping a safe
distance
a
fellow traveller on the same road
a
bemused pilgrim
a
local living each day
oblivious
a
temple guard holding order
among
the priests keeping peace
or
with Rome
in the Antonio
overlooking.
as
we gather
here
on
this hill
on
this day of remembering
where
are we?
what
is the everything that Jesus sees?
what
is it we are invited to see?
Comments