Palm Sunday 2014

Children scurry down the aisles

Of churches small and large

Waving green palm fronds in the air

In memory of 

Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem
On what we now call Palm Sunday. 
On that day so long ago

The crowd spread cloaks and palm leaves

Before  Jesus' donkey's feet.

 People exulted.

Hosannas filled the air.

Soon the Romans would be gone,

They believed.

Jerusalem would be theirs alone.
But Jesus had warned them
That was not his message.
He came to usher in  God's kingdom
Not to fight the Romans.

As the days passed,
The cries of joy faded,
Turned to shouts of anger

By the High Priest's perfidy.

Christ was

Arrested,

Condemned

And

Crucified.

His body placed in a tomb.

Did Jesus know what was to come

As he rode into Jerusalem?

I think he did.

And still he came to Jerusalem

For God.
For us.

Palm Sunday 2013

 

Children scurried down the aisles

Of churches this morning

Waving green palm fronds in the air

In memory of 

Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. 
On that day so long ago

The crowd spread their cloaks and palm leaves

Before his donkey's feet.

 People exulted.

Hosannas filled the air.

Soon the Romans would be gone,

They believed.

Jerusalem would be theirs alone.

But the cries of joy faded

In the wake of the High Priest's perfidy.

In one week, 
Christ would 

Be arrested,

Condemned

And

Crucified.

His body placed in a tomb.

Did Jesus know what was to come

As he rode into Jerusalem?

I think he did.

And still he came to Jerusalem

For us.

Palm Sunday 2012

In Christian churches today,

Children carried palm fronds down the aisles

In memory of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. 
On that day so long ago

The crowd spread their cloaks and palm leaves

Before his donkey's feet.

Hosannas filled the air.

In one week, 
Christ would 

Be arrested,

Condemned

And

Crucified.

His body placed in a tomb

And

Resurrected.

Did Jesus know what was to come

As he rode into Jerusalem?

I think he did.

And still he came to Jerusalem.

Pentecost 2011

Photo by Lawrence CP

On this day,
Peter speaks
To those who have seen
The Holy Spirit descend.
He quotes Joel:
"God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people."
"Even on my servants,
Both men and women,
I will pour out My Spirit..."
The day is Pentecost.
Fifty days from Easter.
Ten days from Jesus' ascent into Heaven.
God as Comforter comes
As Christ promised.
This was the Feast of the First Fruits.
Was this the first harvest for Christ?
Too many churches
Turn from Pentecost
In dread of the Holy Spirit.
What they fear
Does not exist.
The Holy Spirit
Completes the Trinity.
The Holy Spirit
Is the Love
That binds Creator and Word.
The Holy Spirit
Is God's love
Washing over "all people."
Share that love.

The Gladness of the Moment Palm Sunday 2011

Photo by Etwood

"This is the day the Lord hath made.

Let us be glad and rejoice in it."

I quote these words as I rise each morning.

But can I follow this biblical command?

Sometimes I find it difficult to be glad,

Sometimes I find it impossible to rejoice.

Was it difficult for Jesus

When He stood on the hill over Jerusalem

And contemplated the tragedies to come?

He longed to gather those who dwelt in Jerusalem

Into his arms.

Did God weep that day for Jerusalem

Or for all humanity?

Where was gladness?

Saved for the day Jesus entered that great city,

And palm fronds fell at His feet,

And Hosannas echoed

From dried brick walls.

Just as the Psalm commanded:

"With boughs in hand, join the festal procession."

Jesus shared joy that day

As he would share suffering later

When  he hung on the cross.

On Palm Sunday,

I will feel the gladness of the moment.

Even if I know as He did

The sorrow of tomorrow.

Summer Prayer

Our Protector, who surrounds us,

Great and holy are you.

May your grace abound.

Let us follow your example

As we live and as we die.

Give us living water

To slack our thirst.

Shield us from the burning sun

As we guide others to the healing shade.

Keep us from seeking treasure in the desert,

But guide our steps into the arbor of your love

Where we are hidden from evil's glare.

Your word can bring the cool of dawn

And once more create an Eden on earth.

Palm Sunday

Christ rode into Jerusalem
On the back of a donkey.
Before him the crowd put clothes
And palm fronds on the ground
For his donkey to walk on.
They greeted him with "Hosanna."
They welcomed him as a king.
One week later when Pilate asked,
They said "Crucify."
Are we like those fickle crowds?
When we first encounter Jesus,
We are overcome with joy.
As his yoke settles on our shoulders,
We wish him gone.
We must remember Peter who denied him,
Was greeted with open arms.
Jesus waits,
No matter what our transgressions,
With open arms for our return.
We are his forever.

Photo by alibree