PALM SUNDAY
An Invitation into this Space
Take a moment and be still. Focus on your breath and allow yourself to settle where you are. Accept each breath as the Spirit moves through you. When ready, read this poem and meditate on the artwork provided.
The Box is closed.
Sure, the shouts of “Hosanna” in the street make it seem like worship.
But, the crowds aren’t shouting for the Messiah that arrived.
They are shouting for the Messiah in their minds;
the one who would free them from outward oppression.
But, HE IS NOT HERE.
That hero to save them from Rome hasn’t come.
What DID arrive was a savior who wishes to save them from themselves;
diving for their sins to set them free.
The Box is closed and their expectations are set.
Who do you say he is?
Meditate on the Words of this Scripture
“Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”
Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
(Luke 9:18-22)
A Reflection
Where is Our Savior?
Throughout history, the people of Israel longed for a Messiah, a Savior who would deliver them from their suffering and oppression. In the time of Jesus, this expectation filled the air. They were waiting for someone like Moses, who had confronted Pharaoh and called down plagues to liberate the Israelites from Egypt. Many hoped for a military hero like King David, who would rise against the Roman occupation and restore the kingdom of Israel. Others expected a prophet in the spirit of Elijah, someone who could call down fire from heaven to destroy the enemies of God. But when Jesus appeared on the scene, He didn't fit the mold of these expectations. He didn't wield power in the way they anticipated.
In Luke 9:18-22, Jesus questioned His disciples about who people said He was. Peter correctly identified Him as the Christ. Yet, even Peter struggled to grasp what this meant, as Jesus immediately began to speak of His impending suffering, rejection, and death—something unimaginable for a victorious Messiah.
HE IS NOT HERE. The Messiah that everyone wanted hadn't come.
What came was a Lawgiver like Moses, but not one who merely etched commandments onto stone tablets. Jesus was deeply concerned with the condition of the heart. He challenged people to look beyond the letter of the law to its spirit.
What came was a King, but not one who would reign over an earthly kingdom. Jesus proclaimed a kingdom not of this world, a kingdom where the last would be first, and the first would be last.
What came was a Savior who sought to save us not from our external enemies but from ourselves—our sins, our pride, our tendency to hate and destroy. Jesus was willing to lay down His life to free us, offering salvation far more profound than political liberation.
Are we missing God's presence in our lives because it doesn't look like what we were expecting? Just as many in Jesus' time struggled to recognize Him as the Messiah, we too might overlook God's work in our lives because it doesn't align with our preconceived notions. Perhaps we are looking for grand miracles or dramatic signs while God is quietly working in the ordinary, the humble, and the unexpected.
