by Rev Donald Schatz

Palm Sunday.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.  Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.  So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere.  Look how the whole world has gone after him!” 
John 12:17-19, New International Version

‘Hosanna’, at home on the lips of angels,
on crowded human tongues tangles
at a first-day parade.

Offended opposition records the scene;
palms carpet the Via Serene;
stones voice a serenade.

Servant-Savior rides relentlessly on peace
to face humanity’s disease.
The crowd’s fervor must fade.

Mary, Mother, stores memories in her heart,
pondering mystery in moments apart;
eyes clenched.  Silent.  Afraid.

Christ’s spring-cleaning zeal sweeps out God’s dwelling place—
presaging God’s deed to erase
sin’s raucous escapade.

Bethany’s night shelters Suffering Servant,
brief peace before the storm’s fervent,
calamitous cascade.

Father’s heart; woman’s seed; Spirit testify;
in the soul’s silence there now lies
Hope who comes to our aid.

The cast of characters thickens about Jesus as the Sunday of palms dawns.  Holy Week begins with a parade.  In hindsight it might seem more like a caricature of a parade, but it isn’t.  Jesus parades still.  Jesus parades daily.  He parades to your heart, still on a mission of merciful peace.  Peace be with you.  Jesus be with you.  Join the parade.  Follow Jesus in the Word, all the way to Friday, but don’t stop there…another Sunday is coming.

Lord Jesus Christ, do not stop parading to my heart, my mind, or my soul.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO