Sermons
Palm Sunday Homily - 2006
The Rev. Rob McCann
Interim Rector, St, Matthew's Episcopal Church
February 26, 2006
The Last Sunday of Epiphany
I had the privilege of being in Jerusalem to celebrate two Holy Weeks. On one occasion, it was according to the Western calendar; on the other occasion, the Orthodox one. They are both compelling in point of view - and quite different in presentation.
I must say that the most extraordinary ceremony took place on the Vigil of Easter in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Eastern Patriarch goes into the aedicule, or shrine, that honors the traditional burial place of Jesus and emerges with the "Holy Fire."
Every candle is lit from the one candle. It begins to spread throughout the church; it is taken immediately on a plane to Athens - and begins to come down from the hills.
Two images pop into my mind when I think about the history of Palm Sunday.
The first image is of a person; the other that of a place - Both provide clues as to the meaning of Palm Sunday. Egeria, the nun, who with her imagination, determination and scribal talent gave us a picture in the 4th century of how this Holy Week was celebrated. Her departing words from the convent after having sung 2am Matins, was to wave tata to her community of sisters. She was heard saying - "Don't worry. I'll write." And did she!
Egeria's Travel is one of only two manuscripts on early Christian pilgrimage to the Middle East; the other being The Bordeaux Pilgrim. Her manuscript was misfiled by a non-credentialed monastic librarian - and was out of public sight for 700 years.
It's quite a rhythm that is established starting on the Saturday before Palm Sunday.
The pilgrims meet at El Assaria - or the place of Lazarus. There we heard the section of the Gospel of John about the raising of this friend of Jesus and brother to Mary and Martha. This seventh sign of Jesus as recorded by the Evangelist sets the tone for Holy Week - providing an Easter resonance.
There we received our palm and marching orders. She talks about the Christian community worshiping at this church - and goes on to describe how the procession then wound past so many Muslim sitting on their front steps. It continues its way on top of the ridge and then down the hill and into the city of Jerusalem.
Why did Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem? One writer suggests that "to die" was not the avowed purpose of Jesus' journey - although it became the outcome. I can't help but reference The Gospel of Judas, available after 1700 years. By the way one of the top scholars on Gnostic Writings is Elaine Pagels, an Episcopalian at Princeton. Jesus went there, rather, to make a final prophetic appeal to the people in the very center of their national and religious life.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not? Would that even today you know the things that make for peace? But they are hidden from your eyes.
Jesus entered the City through the Golden Gate - one of the most beautiful of Jerusalem's eight Old City gates. It was the one that was traditionally connected with the prophets
.Today the two arches of the gate are sealed shut and stand in silent contrast to the hubbub of the Jaffa Gate on the west and the Damascus Gate on the North. Scholars are not sure when the golden Gate was mortared in. It may have been locked for security reasons during the various Arab-Crusade conflicts from the 11th to the 13th century.
It's a gate with memories.
Jews pray there as they do now at the Western or Walling Wall.
Muslim still want to be buried near it because the Koran connects Allah's final judgment with this gate.
Christians have always associated the Golden Gate with Palm Sunday as well as with the second coming of Jesus.
It's the side of the walled City that faces Gethsemane. It's the place that has the traditional burial sites for all three faiths.
As the procession entered the City Jesus performs the first of two deliberate and prophetic acts. Namely, riding a donkey intentionally re-enacting a passage from the prophet Zechariah that spoke of peace. His kingdom was of peace, not war.
The second act was to enter the temple mount and expel the moneychangers and sellers of sacrificial birds. Those who were selling religion instead of suggesting a change of heart and mine. It was a provocative scene.
My house is a house of prayer. But you have made it a den of thieves
What does the Gospel of this Sunday suggest to a Christian Community? That we gather in memory of Him and that we hear the radical message proclaimed and respond to its challenge.
When churches hear the word radical they usually become twitchy and fearful. Radical means like a radish, like a root. Basic and essential. It's not way-out but way down! Every Christian community needs periodically to examine itself and ask - what prophetic stand have we stood up for? As I meet more and more people in the parish, I'm stunned by the private commitments of faith. One person has led a conversation and service at San Quintan for the past 14 years.
Like sharing our faith with one of our neighborhood churches?
Like when we assisted financially our churches devastated by Katrina.
Like when we reach out and help build a house.
There is no question that when we reach out beyond ourselves--we change. And we affect change on a deep, personal level.
Jesus has called us to a greater consciousness of love -
- To turn the other cheek
- To walk the extra mile
- To give the second cloak
George Gallup, Jr., a few year, ago completed a poll among Episcopalians that suggested that a substantial majority would like to see us become more involved in the areas of justice, peace and ecology.
A deepening of prayer and our liturgical life with a real willingness to witness to the prophetic spirit is the message of Palm Sunday.
I hear it loud and clear. What do you make of it?
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