“They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” Matthew 21:7-10
This Sunday, March 29th, is Palm Sunday and while attending three of them during the time while living in Haiti there were never any palm branches handed out before, during or after the services as is the custom here in the U.S. They still shared the story of His triumphant entry into the city riding upon the back of a donkey. They still sang beautiful anthems of praise to our Risen Lord and Savior on Palm Sunday. It was very different at Bon Berger Lutheran in Caredeux on Palm Sunday as they didn’t use hymnals or screens or worship folders as they sang the hymns from memory and while I recognized the tune I could only recall some of the words. Sometimes we look at the way others live, worship and enjoy life and compare them to our way of life and think that they need to change; none of us do. This young boy is preparing to cross this creek on his way to school, the same creek that we drove THROUGH because there was no bridge. This Palm Sunday, close your worship folder or hymnal and sing along to the anthem proclaiming to triumphant entry of our King and for a moment imagine yourself standing in Bon Berger…worshipping the true Light of this world. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘Ride on, Ride on, in Majesty’ that were written by Henry H. Milman in 1827.
“Ride on, ride on, in majesty! Hark! all the tribes hosanna cry. O Savior meek, pursue Thy road, with palms and scattered garments strowed. Ride on, ride on, in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die.O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin o'er captive death and conquered sin. Ride on, ride on, in majesty! The angel armies of the sky look down with sad and wondering eyes to see the approaching Sacrifice. Ride on, ride on, in majesty! Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh; the Father on His sapphire throne expects His own anointed Son. Ride on, ride on, in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die. Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain. Then take, O Christ, Thy power and reign.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.