Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion, 03/20/2016

Sermon on Luke 22:14-23:56, by Bradley Everett

“But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things” (Lk. 23:49)

As we prepare to enter Holy Week let’s pay close attention to the actions of Jesus’ disciples in this verse. They did two things—they followed and watched.

They didn’t go with Jesus, because only he could die on the cross for the salvation of the world. But they did what they could—what they had been doing for so long—they followed, even if it was at a distance. And lest we’re tempted to judge this distance as cowardice, remember crucifixion was so terribly gruesome on so many levels they are to be commended for continuing to follow the Lord, even if at a distance.

And besides they couldn’t have been too far away because St. Luke also says they were watching. They were paying attention to what all was happening, taking it in, as horrific and heart breaking as it was. Granted, they had no idea they were watching the Divine drama of salvation being played out before their eyes, but God knew what was going on and as we read Holy Scripture we see how the Holy Spirit used these events to form those disciples so they might grow in their knowledge and love of God and thus transformed, share this gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with the world.

This coming week, in the days leading up to Maundy Thursday and then through the three holy days of the Triduum culminating in the feast of the Resurrection, let us follow Jesus and watch all these things. We can follow and watch by prayerfully reading the accounts of his passion in the gospels. We can follow by coming to the services of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil, and watch by participating in these liturgies with their unique texts, prayers and rites.

There are no promises as to what one might experience over the course of the week, but most of discipleship is not about of intense, emotional experiences but rather it is a matter of showing up and allowing God to work in us as He wills—and that’s exactly what this is. Showing up to follow our Lord through Holy Week and watch, trusting that as the Holy Spirit made use of that experience with the disciples, so to by the grace of God the Spirit will use this time we give as He sees is best fit.

And as we do, let’s keep foremost in our minds that the events of Holy Week were for love of us—for nothing less than our forgiveness and salvation, the restoration of our relationship with God that we might more fully know and live in His love in this life and the life to come. While I don’t want to presume how the Holy Spirit will use the time we offer this week, what works He might begin or accomplish in our bodies, hearts and minds—don’t discount the gift of intentionally spending a week to place yourself in the position to be reminded that Jesus died for love of you.

So follow and watch, confident that you do so as the those first disciples did—in the company of your brothers and sisters in Christ—but also knowing that the Holy Spirit is present as well, to continue His work of grace in your life.

Pastor Bradley Everett
Ascension Lutheran Calgary
E-Mail: everettsts@gmail.com

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