Join the Parade - Palm Sunday 2022 (Lent 6 C)

<p><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #3598db;">Focus reading:  <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a style= "color: #3598db; text-decoration: underline;" title="Luke 19:28-40" href= "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019%3A28-40&version=NRSV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Luke 19:28-40</a></span></span></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>On Palm Sunday Jesus enters Jerusalem as the King. In Luke’s Gospel the crowd are there but it is all his followers who hail him as king. Jesus doesn’t stop them, even saying that the rocks would praise him if his followers were silent. He knew he was a king, but a king of peace and that he was riding to death and not to a glorious throne. The Pharisees want the crowd to be silent. They don’t want Jesus to stir up trouble. Who are you in the parade? Part of the excited crowd looking on, enjoying the spectacle? The disciples telling the world Jesus is the King, perhaps about to enter his glory, hoping for a quick victory? Or are you one of the Pharisees, friendly or unfriendly, believing that Jesus claim on Kingship will fail and cause nothing but trouble, maybe even violence and bloodshed? Desperate for the crowd to be quiet.</p> <p>************ Sermon Text ***************</p> <p>I want you to think about Jesus and what he was doing as he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and then I want you to think about who you are in this version - Luke’s version of the story. Are you like the crowd looking on? Are you like the disciples trowing your clothes on the ground and hailing Jesus as King? Are you like he pharisees concerned about the lack of discipline and the Roman reaction?</p> <p>As the federal election approaches and we are presented with lots of different models of leadership and authority it is good to be gathered on palm Sunday as we see Jesus’ model of Kingship leadership and authority presented. Whatever their feelings about themselves politicians have to push themselves forward as the best choice, the greatest the one who will solve all your proble