God's Sign of Hope

Blessed is the one 

who comes in the 

name of the Lord

Psalm 118:26

It may come as a surprise, but there are no palm branches in Luke’s Gospel. None. In fact, comparing Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we only find cloaks and branches mentioned. Palm branches are mentioned only once: John 12:13. 

OK, palm branches are fun to wave around, watch kids play "swords", and parade around the church. That's hardly the point though, is it. 

Matthew, Mark, and Luke each tell Sunday's story with a different twist, but with two similar themes.

First, Jesus is a political activist riding into town on a young donkey. Israel’s kings did this and it's what people were expecting and awaiting. Kings change things.

Second, Jesus is making a theological statement declaring himself the long-expected king promised by the prophets. That's why Luke's people cheer, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Ps. 118:26).  God is fulfilling promises.

Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a young donkey to a cheering, welcoming crowd, making a political and theological statement. Why then, do the Pharisees want Jesus to silence the crowd? 

Who are these people that if silenced the stones would shout out? 

They are the unheard, the poor, the oppressed, the outcast. The ones longing for God's kingdom of justice and mercy. 

Jesus riding into Jerusalem is a sign of God's hope for these people.

Who is shouting to be heard this Holy Week? 

Followers of Jesus are called to listen to the silenced ones. When we do, the Gospel comes alive transforming the silenced ones with God's hope of fulfilled promises. 

Who is longing to be heard where you are? The homeless? Immigrant women caring for children and older parents? Transgender teens? People of different a religion or race?

What stories do they long to tell? 

Are you listening and hearing?

Zacchaeus' Story

For the Son of Man

came to seek out

and to save the lost.”

Luke 19:10

There is a joke that asks, "which person in the bible couldn't start a car?" Answer: Zach couldn't find the chaeus. 

Moving right along......

To better understand the story of Jesus and  Zacchaeus, it's essential to recognize its tensions. 

The tensions begin when Jesus is rejected by the people and delivered to the Gentiles. 

Jesus then meets a man blind because of his sin, who is probably outside the community as an example of one who needs to repent. He cries out to Jesus who heals him, he sees Jesus and glorifies God.

Jesus next meets Zacchaeus. He's a tax collector, probably corrupt, practicing extortion, skimming extra for himself, and exploiting his fellow Israelites by collecting for Rome. He's a sinner. Big Time. He's one of the people who has sold out to “the man”  and remains outside the in-crowd of the community.

Jesus goes to Zacchaeus' house for dinner causing people to grumble because he's eating with a sinner. Zacchaeus repents by promising restoration of his possessions. Jesus tells Zacchaeus salvation has come to his house. 

Consider this irony. Jesus says he "came to seek out and to save the lost”  who are not only found, seen by Jesus, but then see him. 

Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.  That's Good News for the unemployed or those who find work meaningless. It's a message of hope for those changing careers often to find purpose in life. It's a message of peace to those feeling so angry they have to find somebody to blame for changes. It's a message of promise to those suffering racial or religious abuse.

Jesus stops today to meet us wherever we are. Something inside us knows that as Jesus hears the blind man and seeks Zacchaeus, so Jesus hears and seeks us. 

The Words of My Mouth

"May the words of my mouth

and the meditations of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Psalm 19:14

Unholy, hurtful words have consequences. My definition of unholy, hurtful words are ones that inflict pain on people because of race, religion, or gender. Some of the consequences are violent ones as people are assaulted. Some consequences are emotional ones as people continually strive to maintain dignity and worth in the continual bombardment of degrading speech.

In my opinion, unholy, hurtful words reveal a soul stained with loathing towards others.   I believe these stains are learned from other adults or from a personal experiences that generalize a specific race, religion, or gender. 

In short, unholy, hurtful words are not pleasing in the sight of the Lord. 

I think it is unreasonable, if not impossible, to unlearn or nullify an experience. They are what they are. 

In my opinion the way to address the issue is be an imitator of Christ. Be an imitator of Christ by being clear, gracefully, that we do not accept their use because of the indignity and pain they cause another child of God to experience. 

We can be imitators of Christ by letting people know plainly and clearly that unholy, hurting words are in opposition to the faith on which we stand. 

As imitators of Christ, we can also point out that there are choices as we confront these situations. One choice is awareness through education and conversation with people experiencing unholy, hurting words. Another choice is to apologize and commit to compassionate behavior towards people whose life experiences we don't understand. Another choice is to remain silent thereby perpetuating the use of unholy, hurting words.

Faith and Fearful Times.

So do not fear, for I am with you;

    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

On Wednesday, January 6th, I was dumbfounded as a mob stormed the Capitol attempting to overturn the presidential election results. The mob included people aligned with far-right groups, citizen militias and white supremacy groups. People were seriously injured, two of our leader's lives were threatened and damage was done.

On February 26, the Capitol police discover a plan to bomb the Capitol building during the State of the Union address. 

On March 3rd. fences remain in place, legislative sessions postponed, and the National Guard is still on duty because domestic terrorist groups threaten to storm the building again.

We live in fearful times with chaos and confusion.

But in the broader context, chaos, confusion, and fear are part of life. Sometimes they are brought on by unexpected personal events. Sometimes it may be living in poverty with the fear of hunger and eviction or living in a hostile environment. 

Chaos, confusion, and fear result in the trembling of ones faith. That's when the deepest part of our soul says, "Lord, have mercy. Where's God in my fear?"

God is with us by strengthening us through the Scriptures. One of  my favorites is:

Isaiah 40:31

but those who hope in the Lord

    will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

    they will run and not grow weary,

    they will walk and not be faint.

God is with us by strengthening us as we quiet our minds. Each day I take time to "Be still and know that I am God". Through centering prayer I let thoughts flow through my mind without focusing on one. I let God take care of it.

What parts of your faith help you through fearful times?

God's Comfort Amidst Loss

The Lord will surely comfort Zion

and will look with compassion on all her ruins;

he will make her deserts like Eden,

her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.

Joy and gladness will be found in her,

thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

Isaiah 51:3

I was deeply moved by the memorial service led by President Biden. His words of comfort at White House candlelight ceremony spoke meaningfully of grief and loss.  The Whitehouse draped in black bunting, the candles lit, the sign of the cross all spoke to me in the "ruins" of 500,000 Covid-19 deaths. Surely, the Lord provided comfort through the words, images, and rituals of that moment.

Coping with loss is no easy thing. Loss leaves space in your soul, an empty place where love used to be that cries out for some sort of filling. That loss may be a loved one, a friendship, a job, a marriage, or a physical limitation due to health. Whatever the loss, it cries out to God for some sort of recognition of the pain of emptiness. 

I assure you, as Isaiah does, God hears that cry and leads us compassionately through our grief. 

Isaiah is talking to people who have tried remaining faithful, even in exile, and that will lead to success. 

As you remain faithful, look back at what God has already done. The wastelands will be like the "garden of the Lord." Continue, Isaiah says, by looking forward; "joy and gladness will be found". 

Consider using Wesley's Means of Grace to look backward, and then forward.

Use Prayer, for example, to give thanks for all the blessings you have received. Prayer is also the way to cry out to the Lord for relief from your suffering.

Search the Scriptures to find passages of hope or simply read some of your favorite Bible stories.

Through these Means of Grace, God will comfort you. This is how our loving God works to help you experience compassion in your time of loss.