Sermons (Page 141)
Easter Vigil
This is the night. This is my favorite night. Oh, what a night! It’s my favorite night mainly because it both clarifies & muddies resurrection. Oh, what a night, that I will remember.
Now, in contemporary Christianity, I think we’ve taken the resurrection and limited it far too much. You see, in our continuous repetition of a figure of speech sometimes we turn a metaphor into a definition. For example, since the church seldom calls God “rock,” the language is recognized as metaphor, but because the church often calls God “father,” some people imagine God to be literally a father in the sky…
Good Friday
For three years, Jesus spent his ministry challenging authority. He spent time with the outcast and the marginalized – ate with them, healed them, walked with them, loved them. He faced those who were in power – criticized corruption, subverted oppressive structures, advocated for religious reforms, and challenged the Roman Empire itself. He inspired many and threatened many. His was a message of love and a vision of justice for all people. But this message threatened those in power so much that they decided to execute him. They took this man of hope and killed him as an enemy of the state and threat to the peace of Rome. On this night we remember how God came to us bringing love and justice for all people and it was so offensive to this world that we literally wanted to kill God With Us by nailing Jesus to a cross. It’s enough to leave us feeling hopeless – feeble – alone…
Palm/Passion Sunday
Today is arguably the most confusing liturgical day. We start with joy shouting hosanna and processing around the neighborhood. Within moments, our direction changes to Jesus’ suffering and death. It’s important to remember that Jesus’ procession was not a first-century version of a World Series Championship parade. This entry was a statement – a political and religious statement. It signified that Jesus was the returning king and the Messiah. Those laying cloaks and branches expected Jesus to overthrow the Romans and to change the religious order. This simple journey was an act of defiance, and it informs us why Jesus was killed. Jesus’ transportation indicated future. Instead of riding on a horse like a war-raging king, Jesus arrived on a donkey, which symbolized peace. ..