Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020

Palm Sunday. For any Christ follower or even lover of history, Palm Sunday is an important day. Matthew 21 and 22. Mark 11 and 12. Luke 19 and 20 and John 12. All books tell a similar story in a slightly different way. Christ's re-entry into Jerusalem, riding on the back of a donkey while onlookers laid coats and waived palm branches...no one could have predicted that in less than one week Christ would be put to death and later rise from the grave.

My reflection today is the connection point...the through line if you will...between Christ's time in Jerusalem, prior to his crucifixion and our time, right now.....April 5th through 12th, 2020, in the middle of the worst pandemic to strike America, and perhaps the world, in my lifetime.

I'm intrigued by Christ's actions during this week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. The stories read that he spent time each day at the temple. He observed what was happening there...didn't like it...and did everything in his power to change the daily happening/environment within the "church" of the day.

I'm fascinated by Christ's teaching during this week when he was asked, which of God's commandments are the most important...Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is just as important, "Love your neighbor as yourself."

I was interested to watch several news productions this morning, as I watched the sun rise, to hear the commentators discussing how we might emerge from this pandemic. The consensus was clear. First, the current health crisis must be managed. The commentator described the second activity as follows, related to our economy; "It's like our economy has been placed in a forced coma to allow the body to heal after a traumatic accident." So, first, manage the health crisis. Second, allow the "body to heal" during this forced fiscal shutdown, and last and perhaps most important, "Come together with as much care for every country of the world as we care for our own. Truly work together as partners in the world, to recover together."

The interesting, fascinating, and motivating similarity between Christ's words and the dilemma we face today are eerily similar from my perspective. We have an opportunity, in this current pandemic, in everything we do to follow the advice that Christ offered to the "expert on Jewish law" so many years ago.

Our world would be an amazing place if we:

• Each take accountability for our own actions to manage this crisis to the best of our abilities. Take personal responsibility.
• Be patient. Allow people to heal. Allow this virus to run its' course without being so focused on dollars and cents that we rush to re-engage fiscally which would most certainly put more lives at risk.
• Love our local, state, national and world neighbors as ourselves.

This last bullet is the one that I marinate on the most. ALL lives matter. Borders don't exist in the most human consideration of all people in the world. I pray that we're able to find a way to work together, internationally, in a way that honors human beings from any locale in a positive and affirming way.

It's my hope that each of us, would consider how it must have felt to watch Jesus take on the merchants and money changers in the temple, so very long ago. We each have a role to play in complying with the expectations to resolve this issue and also to do our part to drive out and fight against the wrong doing that we observe daily from various pulpits in our nation and around the world. 

I'm frequently reminded that just because the words are spoken behind a pulpit or in the briefing room does NOT mean that those words are the words we should be heeding or responding to. We were given amazing minds and historical examples to think for ourselves and make decisions to make the world a better place.

There have been many pandemics, world crisis and opportunities to shine. On this day, Palm Sunday, 2020, the decision as to our actions and responses is once again in our hands, our full control to make a difference, to move forward and together, or to follow false counsel and be deceived.

Think. Follow your heart. Do good!