Grace to you as we reach the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday in Chuckatuck. It has been a wild week of sorts in Chuckatuck and in the life of St. John’s. We have been blessed with the breaking of spring and all that comes with it: the buttercups are busy blooming in the yard, the milkweed is starting to emerge, and the rhododendron are beginning to bloom. New life abounds. We are getting ready for a renewed celebration on Easter with the first Community Easter Sunrise service at 6:45 next Sunday. Tell your friends and come join us in our celebration of a new beginning and the reminder of God’s eternal presence.
In worship we were reminded of our connection to God through Jesus on the cross. Our journey through life is sustained by the passion and death of Christ as the means to restore our relationship with God. Our Hebrew scripture was taken from the Prophet Isaiah, the 3rd Servant song. Isaiah reminds us and his community that when God helps us we are not declared truly guilty – even when society tries to tell us we are. Our Psalmist sings to reminds us that regardless of the pain we feel, we are not alone without God. If we look, God is lighting our way into eternity. The letter from Paul to the Philippians invites us to “have the same mind as Christ” and to be willing to surrender our (perceived) privilege to follow God’s call. The greater portion of our service was informed and focused on the Passion gospel from Luke.
The detail of the lessons should stand alone, but our humanity can misinterpret the story. Jesus is not sorting “ins and outs” but is offering a reminder that individuals can fill many spots in God’s story. We can all be Judas, Peter, the Jews, the Romans, or the Gentiles – and may be all of them at some time in our lives. We are reminded that Christ’s Passion is for every single person, not just the “perfect.”
I invite your comments,
Les+
Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 22:14-23:56
Video of Worship: https://youtu.be/498ZhrLKklk
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