Worship begins this morning with Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, because here is a unique and inventive way of producing ‘community-on-line’ I think I have ever seen (with thanks to those who set me the link!) https://www.rotterdamsphilharmonisch.nl/en/pQlJNt2/rpho-online?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=20mrt-rphoonline
And having listened to the music, we use the words of a hymn set to this tune, as a prayer of adoration:
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee, centre of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest,
wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine. Amen
Henry J. van Dyke
A Palm Sunday hymn:
Make way, make way https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK6XuYhL7JI
Readings
If you are fortunate enough to have more than one person at home, try dividing the Psalm among different voices: Psalm 118 1-2, 19-29
Read the Palm Sunday story once more – Matthew 21:1-11
Familiar details
The problem with familiar stories is, well they are familiar and it is difficult to pause and read carefully. a quick recap of those familiar details:
The story is set in the two little villages of Bethpage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, but Jerusalem is glinting in in the sunlight in the distance (21:1) Two disciples are sent ahead to collect the donkey and the colt, with these enigmatic instructions, ‘the Lord needs them’ (21:2) Cloaks and palm branches are spread on the road. The crowds began to shout or sing words from the Psalms, specifically Psalm 118:25:
25 Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
O Lord, we beseech you, give us success! 26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.
A range of emotions
A crowd, of course, comprises many people with a wide range of experiences. Some who met Jesus already would have formed opinions on him:
Among the crowds would be people Jesus had healed, or fed. Many more had seen some of these miracles, or had listened as Jesus ‘spoke with authority.’ Through miracles and through stories, lives had been changed.
Many would hail Jesus with joy as they welcoming him, believing that he arrived as an earthly King, to re-establish the throne of David, and save his people from their enemies. The temptation to power and popularity experienced in the wilderness feels strangely close in this moment.
Maybe some were amused by what Jesus was doing. What a ridiculous image: a carpenter declaring himself a King! (Hold on to this thought for later) And maybe others remembered his family worried about his state of mind (see Mark 3:21) and would assume that this is just another episode.
Some would greet Jesus with a growing sense of anger – they would interpret this entry into the city, with the exaltation of Jesus, as arrogance & blasphemy against God. Although the scene looks joyous and affirming today, the coming days reveal the building tensions which lead to death.
What would you add to this list? How do you respond to this story?
Pause for a moment and use the tear-drop for prayer: firstly to confess our inability to respond to God and to other.
Then pray for others. In national life, we remember those who work in care homes, prisons and other close communities, and we pray for all staff in the NHS.
Life in lock-down Britain may feel harsh, but pray for those in refugee camps who cannot even wash their hands; those struggling to return home, especially in India, and for the people of Spain.
The tear-drop prayer is powerful, particularly in the light of a comment from Nancy Rockwell;
This is a heart-breakingly lonely story. And in it, Jesus is never alone. The story assures us, heart-break is essential for resurrection. A trail of tears – our tears – is the way to Easter. In this story all hearts get broken. Herod’s heart, twisted to evil as he places the crown of thorns. Pilate’s heart, shamed as he sighs and washes his hands and remains unclean. The soldier’s heart as he cries out, Certainly, this man was innocent. Even Jesus’ heart, when he prays My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Tears and sorrow are necessary for the journey to Easter. Grief, not faith, will get us there. Nancy Rockwell, The Trail of Tears That Leads to Easter,13,03.16 https://www.patheos.com/blogs/biteintheapple/the-trail-of-tears-that-leads-to-easter/
Royal arrival
Occasionally, when looking at a picture, there is a sense that somehow there is a piece missing. in this text, what is missing amongst the familiar, is the sense of political theatre. The drama is better seen through the beginning of the books of Kings when David makes preparation to hand over the kingdom to Solomon. (I Kings 1:32-37)
Here David gives orders for Solomon to mounted on the king’s mule; no longer a lowly beast of burden. no wonder emotions began to run high in a political powder-keg, and a festival-packed city, as Jesus rides in on a donkey. Hearts are certainly about to be broken.
Ride on, ride on in majesty
Worship at home 