Palm Sunday People

Who were these people?

The city was busy.

Teeming with Passover revellers.

Why did they all feel the need

to come and welcome Jesus?

We were hoping, for once, to keep a low profile.

Tired of attracting big crowds wherever we went with Jesus

we thought, at least, we’d have a quiet Passover

Thought everyone would be too busy

with their own family preparations

to take notice of ours.

And it was also time that

Jesus got out of the limelight

We could tell the authorities didn’t like it

they were getting really antsy

It wasn’t just Jesus

though he kept attracting unwelcome attention

but, all the people, it seemed

were getting pretty feisty

and the authorities were getting nervous

clamping down on the most minor infractions.

Definitely NOT the time to be processing into the city

even on a donkey!

It was only a matter of time

before a ban would be imposed

on public gatherings

and demonstrations

the kind that had been breaking out everywhere recently.

So we’d hoped to enter the city quietly

to keep below the radar.

But, before we got anywhere near,

we could hear the shouts of the crowd

not angry, insurrectionist shouts

but the shouts of revellers

out for a picnic.

Maybe they were hoping for more miracles

a healing or two

or to be fed some more of those amazing stories

Jesus seemed to

make up as he went along.

Whatever they came looking for

they were not disappointed

There was Jesus

seemingly innocuous

riding on a donkey

but the people saw it

as something different altogether.

They always seemed to read into everything Jesus did

Saw mockery, even subversion

to the political era of oppression.

Why was it Jesus they flocked to?

Why turn their attention on him.

surely that day, the people signed his death warrant

as surely as if they had shouted

Crucify him!

 Liz Crumlish 2011


Another Palm Sunday Reflection here.

Part of the crowd

These worry dolls, picked up in Mexico on the RevGals cruise last month, provided the final symbol for our mid week Lenten worship. Each week, we have collected a symbol illustrating the gospel and allowing us to reflect during the week on Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and the people he encountered on the way. Tonight we were reflecting on how easy it is to be part of the crowd and go with the flow, even when we know we should stand up for something different. Hopefully, these colourful dolls will encourage us to "stand out from the crowd".

Toasting Peeps

This time last year, Easter was over and we were enjoying a break with good friends in Virginia. We were introduced to something that seems to be an integral part of an American Easter - marshmallow peeps! Cute, coloured marshmallow chicks and bunnies. We decided to barbecue some. As they caught the flames, the psychedelic colours produced testified to all the unnatural chemicals they contained.
Cute, but not harmless.
Preparing to celebrate Palm Sunday and, in doing that, give some hint of the Passion that is to follow the image of burning peeps keeps flashing into my mind. Not helpful - except as a reminder that, hidden in amongst the cuteness of children waving palm branches and singing Hosanna! is the barb of a crown of thorns. Before we get to that celebration of Christ rising from the tomb at Easter, involving fluffy chicks and bunnies and even marshmallow peeps, we must first witness Christ's death on the cross - in love for us.

It's all in the timing.

Have had a timely reminder, at the beginning of another week that God's timing is always perfect timing. No matter how impatient we get. No matter how frustrated. God brings everything in season.
That fact is so often evident in retrospect - the trick is - to remember it when we're caught up in the thick of things.
There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3

Following Christ

Approaching the end of a long, exhausting day, at the end of another long, exhausting week, just part of yet another long and draining liturgical season, it is tempting to question the point of all the effort expended. Why sit with those who are dying? Why laugh with those who celebrate the wonder of new birth? Why walk alongside those with so many questions, knowing there are no answers? Why seek to encourage others to experience the wonder of faith and worship? Why be constantly open to others' joy and pain and appreciation and censure?
Because our world, locally and globally needs to know the love of God. Love that is patient and kind. Love that does not envy or boast. Love that lasts for ever.
And so, while hierarchies posture and strategise, while the Church of Scotland as an institution reshuffles and reorganises ad infinitum and forgets that it is presbyterian, still God calls ordinary people to love and to serve. To use all that we have been given and all that we have learned in the service of the Kingdom. And when we see folk being rewarded disproportionately in this life and their skills seemingly valued over ours, yet we can know the satisfaction of practicing obedience. And be reminded of the path that Christ chose - a path that led not to greater renumeration or popular acclaim but to a cross.
And onward goes our Lenten journey.

It's all about me... and my kindle

How delightful to discover that the new picnic tables at the beach were designed to co ordinate with my Kindle cover.

Resurrection just around the corner

At this stage in Lent, I am impatient for Easter. I feel the need to get out of the wilderness. All around are signs of spring. Not just fluffy chicks and gamboling lambs but places being spruced up for a new season. And the spring like sunshine has aided and abetted the impact of longer days topped off with pretty sunsets.
But the whole point of Lent demands that we wait, that we stick it out to the end as Jesus did. The journey is not yet over. So we need to soak up that sunshine while it is available. We need to enjoy the signs of spring and allow them to lift our hearts. And return to the wilderness, keeping faith with Christ who went all the way. Resurrection IS just around the corner but we still have work to do. And our celebration will be all the sweeter if we hold back and savour the journey.