Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion

April 11, 2022 Andrea Schmid

by Fr. Bill Garrison

Please note that the following sermon text was provided prior to the audio recording. The two versions may differ substantially.

Luke 19:28-40

After telling a parable to the crowd at Jericho, Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it.'" So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They said, "The Lord needs it." Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,

"Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!"

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."

Luke 23:1-49

The assembly of the elders of the people rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king." Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so." Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man." But they were insistent and said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place."

When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.

Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him."

Then they all shouted out together, "Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!" (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him." But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent." And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

We are invited today to relive Holy Week in one quick service. A little while ago Jesus entered into Jerusalem in great fanfare and excitement. The crowds were elated and were convinced Jesus was riding into the city in triumph. Their worlds would be changing swiftly and for the better.

Now it’s five days later and all their hopes and dreams have been crushed. They think it’s the end of the story. All hope is lost. Their dreams have been dashed. The world is dark, lonely, and dangerous. They walk with their heads down, crying tears of hopelessness in their anguish. It’s all over. The dream that seemed so real, so possible, is as dead as their savior.

It’s a bleak scene, isn’t it? Those closest to Jesus are retreating to be with each other, to talk about him, to wonder what has happened. How could this be? What do we do now, they wonder? Head back to Galilee perhaps? Go back to their old jobs, the old way of being? Their depression is massive and terribly heavy. It’s hard to put one foot in front of another.

I would venture a guess that almost everyone in this room has experienced feelings like this in our lives. I know I have.

Many years ago, I had reached what I was sure was the end of my life. The psychic pain was palpable and agonizing. Death felt preferable to what I was experiencing in those moments. What my problem was is immaterial at this time. Just take my word for it. I was hurting and hurting badly.

I found myself at my friend’s house, someone that had opened his home to me. It was about two in the morning as I recall. I lay there in pain. I was convinced I couldn’t take it for another minute. That’s when I reached out to the creator of the universe.

In that instance I experienced a soothing peace I will never forget. If I was to give it a color it was blue. It felt cool. I felt loved like never before. My pain was not completely removed. But I knew I would live. God had resurrected me from the hell in which I had been placed. I knew that once again I had a future.

The followers of Jesus were three days from their own resurrection with Jesus. They don’t know that today. All they can feel is the pain in the moment. They too wonder how anything can hurt so badly. They too reached out to God I am quite certain for relief.

The good news is that we know they hung on till Sunday. Jesus rose from the dead. And in that shining moment the pain ceased, the celebration began, and once again they had a future.

Palm Sunday: Walking with Jesus through Holy Week

March 29, 2021 Andrea Schmid

by Fr. Bill Garrison

Please note that the following sermon text was provided prior to the audio recording. The two versions may differ substantially.

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,

“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

—Mark 11:1-11 (NRSV)

As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, “Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.

Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.

It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.

When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

—Mark 15:1-39 (NRSV)

Good morning. I normally start with a joke but Palm Sunday is a tough one for me to think with much humor. We start the service with the celebration of Jesus entering Jerusalem and wind up in misery at the cross. So please forgive me today. There will be no joke.

Holy Week begins today. In many ways it feels almost silly to spend the time and energy we are called upon to spend this week. A huge percentage of our brothers and sisters won’t be doing so. They might pay some attention to Easter day, but not much if any attention to what happens during the week leading up to it. For many, I am sure, the energy and time of Holy Week during this era of pandemic makes even less sense to them that it usually does.

These are tough times. Suffering is everywhere you look. As human beings we come to the party armed with few answers for the hurting humanity suffers. Left to our own resources we have few if any answers. These are the times when religion becomes especially important. Religion provides lenses in which to view the world and to attempt to make some sense out of what goes on within it.

I have had the honor to teach about the world’s great religions. I have found that each provides a set of understandings about God, addressing the fact of suffering, and provides ways of contemplating this most basic of human issues. They each provide a lens to look through. For the Christian that lens is the suffering and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In Holy Week, which we begin today, we live through the last few days of the life of Jesus Christ. We begin in celebration, experience terrible suffering, and wind up with the greatest triumph of all time.

We cannot take this journey together this year in the confines of our church. But we can still travel down this holy road together online and with our families. We can once more stare suffering in the face and experience the triumph of the resurrection. And we can look forward to being together again next year as we tell the story once more.

So, when we head into Holy Week what may we expect to encounter? Perhaps a quick primer and reminder is in order.

After compline on Monday evening, we find ourselves involved in the service of Tenebrae on Wednesday night. Now I am guessing that for most of you Tenebrae is your least familiar Holy Week service. So, let me explain it a bit.

The word Tenebrae comes from Latin and means darkness. It is a service of singing and prayer as numerous candles are extinguished as the service proceeds. At the end of the service a loud noise is heard. At St. Matthias we hold the service on Wednesday evening, also known as Spy Wednesday. That name derives from Judas Iscariot’s intention to betray Jesus. The service is centered in the Passion of Jesus Christ as we move forward with him towards the cross.

Next comes Maundy Thursday. It is the last Eucharist of the church year before Easter and everything is removed from the altar and the surrounding area after that last communion. In some churches there is foot washing. Here we normally have hand washing, but this year that will be a virtual event as we rest in sacred chanting. It is a beautiful and moving evening of worship.

At noon on Good Friday, we observe the Stations of the Cross. It is a relatively short and moving service as we travel with Jesus to the cross and experience his death. Frankly, this is the service I personally cannot get through without shedding a tear or two. I remind myself there can be no Easter without the pain of Good Friday.

Good Friday evening is a service of music, chanting and prayer. The emotions are much as they were for the Stations of the Cross earlier in the day. Again, there can be no Easter without Good Friday.

And finally, it’s Easter Sunday. Hallelujah, Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed! Pain and death no longer are foes to overly concern us. Jesus Christ has paved the way to eternal life. It’s the most important day of the Christian year, a day for celebration and thanksgiving.

And here are my final thoughts for for today. Many people will not be celebrating Easter and many more will not be walking the Holy Week road for whatever reason. We wish all those that do not accompany us well and they may rest assured that God’s love for them and for us will not waver.

Yet for us that choose to walk the road we simply do it because we can. We look to curry no special favor with God. Instead, we just want to be there with Christ. We want to feel the emotions once again. We want to feel the elation of his resurrection one more time.

You see whether a person chooses to walk the road or not does not change the facts, nor does it impact the incredible gift we have all been given. Jesus Christ traveled the Holy Week road, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Jesus Christ changed things forever.