The Pastor's Sermon - Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday - April 1, 2012

 Disclaimer: At the request of a few of the congregation, I’m ‘publishing’ the text of my sermon ‘as written.’ I cannot guarantee that I will deliver the sermon ‘as written.’

• Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus... he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
• This day is called Palm Sunday. It is also called Passion Sunday. It is the beginning of our Holy Week celebrations that culminate in the celebration of Easter. We're using the shortened version of the Passion because most everyone attending today goes to the Good Friday service.
• It's also the second to the last sermon on the 7 words of renewal put forward by our national bishop, Bishop Susan Johnson. Putting the two together will not be an easy thing. Personally I dislike the idea and practice of forcing a theme upon a festival, especially one as big as Palm Sunday.
• Still, Paul's theology of the “emptying” of Jesus is quite attractive in its own way and it fits with Bishop Susan's theme of “give.”
• When we talk about giving, no one – NO ONE – goes beyond Jesus. He “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.” Paul's letter takes this as an example of how to live as a disciple. This living involves following the example of Jesus and emptying oneself.
• Of course, we'll do this imperfectly because we are what we are – imperfect, often broken people, and -dare I say- sinners. Still, we strive in God's grace to be the face and hands of Jesus Christ in this time and place.
• Why should we give? Because of the need? Yes, and there has always been and always will be need. Maybe we give because we actually need to. As Christian writer and preacher Barbara Taylor Brown has said: “Stop waiting for a miracle and participate in one instead.” When we give whatever we give, we participate in what God is doing in our world. We take part in the emptying of ourselves, following the example of Jesus.
• It is time once again – in fact it is always time – for us to put on the mind of Christ and let the same mind be in (us) that was in Christ Jesus.
• Read the Passion of Jesus for yourselves, from any of the Gospels. Then think again how to respond in your daily lives. Think again why we give. Think again how we give. Think again, pray, and then act.