Isaiah
50:4-9a
Phil 2:5-11
Luke 23:1-47
Today is Palm Sunday when we celebrate the
triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem on his way to die. We read the story in the gospel reading. It was all very carefully stage-managed, and
Jesus was very carefully fulfilling several prophecies about the Messiah and in
so doing, proclaiming himself messiah and forcing the hands of the Jewish
authorities. God sometimes intervenes and forces the issue – not waiting for people
to get around to doing what they say.
He knew that they would take the challenge, and
that they would have to take action and probably kill him because he knew that
they were planning to kill him anyway - remember when Lazarus died the
disciples didn't want him to go to Bethany, so close to Jerusalem, because the
Chief Priests and Scribes were planning to kill him then?
So why did he do it?
To "break
the spell"
(tell Yellow fingers story with Sir Galahad)
We often feel as if we are under some sort of
spell - listen to what St Paul says in Romans 7. Rather like being turned into a frog and
every time you want to sing, a 'gribbet' comes out! In fact, these stories of evil spells are really
paradigms of spirituality, and the rescue by the virtuous, innocent one is the
motif for the gospel story. The princess has to kiss the frog - the worst and most humiliating thing she could
have to do, but also the most loving
action towards something apparently unlovable. Also Beauty and the Beast.
Essence of Fall was disobedience and a desire
for power. Jesus is obedient and humble,
so reverses the pattern and is able
to remain without sin, and thus breach the stronghold and break the sin. He was the first one to enter Hades and be free to leave it. It is hard for us to understand the
redemption process, and every parallel we use has a weakness somewhere, as does
this one.
Where does
that leave us?
Are you still
under the evil spell of Satan, or will you step out of your castle and be free,
for look, your King comes, obedient and lowly, riding upon an ass, the foal of
an ass. And he has come for you. Because he loves you more than you can ever
begin to imagine.
Amen..
FormorePlam Sunday photos, click here: https://goo.gl/photos/wpXtPt8KKWacpqiH8
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