In Search of Hope
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 fulfill 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; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A 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?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
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Palms waving, chants are filling the air, and the people are taking off their cloaks and laying them on the ground as Jesus comes riding into the city of Jerusalem. Can you imagine it? This morning, however, is different. There are no palms in the sanctuary; there are no songs of praise, no hosannas to be sung by a congregation or choir, yet even though the sanctuary is empty, the Spirit of God is moving in the air. The Spirit of God is moving and is calling us still to shout out songs of praise and loud hosannas. As Jesus rides into the city of Jerusalem, he begins to set into motion an expansion of God's hope and salvation and shares it with the world. It is not something that can be contained in a building or borders, but something that must break free and enter into the vastness of creation!
As the people followed Jesus through the city, they were shouting and calling out to Jesus, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in God's name! Blessed the coming kingdom of our father, David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" Hosanna. It's a word that we have come to associate with praise, with jubilation, with celebration. But Hosanna is much more nuanced than that. It can also mean, "Save us now, we pray." You, we, might feel like we are in a place where we need help, where we need a saving presence. Perhaps you've found that you are having more "nighttime chats" with God. You know the conversations where we list everything that is on our minds and keeps us from falling asleep at night. And if you find that you're in that position right now, I encourage you to reach out, either to myself or one of the elders/deacons, or someone who you trust. Because you aren't alone, and you are someone who is loved by God and doesn't have to face these things by yourself.
So as we wave our palm branches or palm branch substitutes as we follow Jesus into the city of Jerusalem. We aren't sure what to expect, we know though that something important is happening. And so we join in with the crowds of people (who are practicing social distancing) and lift songs of praise and joy. This entry into Jerusalem is one that carries a mixture of emotions. There is hope, comfort, and anticipation, but also a sense of unease and perhaps a heavy hope that weighs on the mind of Jesus. The disciples might not have known what they were getting themselves into when they followed Jesus, and we may not fully understand either. Still, this Holy Week, we have indeed tasted the bittersweet feelings that arise as we approach that Easter morning.
Now I just mentioned "heavy hope," and I guess I should clarify what I mean. I'm talking about a type of hope that is everything that we could want, but with a catch. Jesus knew what this heavy hope was as he rode into Jerusalem, knowing full well that the unfolding events would end with his crucifixion on the cross. And we now understand this type of hope as well. So much has been given up so that we can keep others and ourselves healthy and safe. So much has been given up that it means we are not able to gather during this high holy season. However, there is so much that has been gained during this time. We may not know what we have acquired during this season of life; it may be something simple like finding time for family or friends or appreciating the beauty of creation.
I often think of heavy hope as being that part in an action or hero movie where the main protagonist turns to their companion and tells them that the only way their plan will work is if they sacrifice themselves. Afterwards they usually have a scene where people are celebrating and their lives start again. In those moments of tension, we must look for the hope that is coming for all of us. I see this hope in the stories about business owners making hand sanitizer, neighbors who shop for their at-risk neighbors, and people who make face masks and cards of appreciation for health care workers. The hope this Palm Sunday, the hope of this Holy Week, is a heavy one. Yet it is laced with seeds that will bear fruit if we continue to embody the teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ. There is hope to be had this Holy Week! It may look and feel a little different, but believe me, the Spirit of God is still moving!
As we head into Holy Week, let us continue to join the crowd in raising songs of praise and loud hosannas. As we head into Holy Week, may we also ask the questions that the people in Jerusalem were asking, "Who is this Jesus that has come into our midst?" Lifting our hymns to the heavens and getting to know Christ more deeply and the hope that follows will carry us through our continued Lenten journey. So let us pick up the palm branches that we set on the ground and pick them up from the ground as we continue on our pilgrimage to the place where Jesus is calling us. That's why, as a community of faith, we wave palm branches. It's why we come together, both physically and virtually, to offer our praise to God. It's why we come together with one another, people who were created in the image of God. May we continue to follow, continue to persevere and grow, and embody the upcoming Easter hope. Amen.