Mar 24, 2002

Today is Palm Sunday and Confirmation.

The first one deals with our faith. Confirmation is about how to live. Therefore the Confirmands have learn The Ten Commandments.

On Palm Sunday Jesus enters Jerusalem. He is honored by a large crowd with palms and they spread cloaks on the road. This is like they are expecting the king. They were shouting: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! But was it the same people that a few days after cried out: Crucify him? Something went wrong.

Since that time many have been wrong. What about ourselves? Do we have a kind of picture of Jesus that is not true? Do we have some ideas of God that are not real?

What is Palm Sunday all about?

It is a strong connection between Christmas and Easter, between Advent and Passion! A king was born. A king is walking Via Dolorosa! The Path of pain and suffering! He is driven by his love. That is the love for the human being that expected wrong.

Is He the one we want to be the king? We think we need Him. We think we like Him. There are so many things we want different. We really want for ourselves success and happiness and a safe future. Nothing is more wanted than a God that responds to all our dreams and meets all kinds of needs. We want a God that takes away our troubles and concerns. Sometimes we want God to stop the power of evil and destroy our enemies. We wish God could take our responsibility and our burdens. We do want a God that is for the sake of the humanity. The one who does put into order our chaotic world and our chaotic lives. We want God to take action from our prayers.

But Jesus does not enter Jerusalem for the purpose of fulfilling our desires. He did not come to take away our responsibility. He came in order to renew our responsibility. And he came for the purpose to hand himself over to mankind. What they did to him reveals for what reason he came.

He certainly did not take away the responsibility and the uncertainty and the fear. He did not reveal a Creator that wanted our responsibility and freedom back. He reveals a God that put us to act well and respond properly. And he reveals a God that does put himself to death for our sake and at the same time is our Lord. That is the love that has power and authority over death.

This is the secret of Palm Sunday. He did not accept the crowd’s honor as king in order to meet all our expectations but to fulfill the dream of God’s act of creation. Therefore he cries out to the people: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. To one of the criminals crucified with him Jesus said: Today you will be with me in Paradise.

In this way Jesus proclaims what is the main message in Christianity: The Kingdom of God and the forgiveness of sins.

Though we try to get rid of our responsibility He tightens us to what is our duty. He holds us on to what is our guilt and at the same time he offers forgiveness. He gives to us the true love and life. He does promise future and hope. He holds the future in his hands.

Many people misunderstood.

It was Judas, the betrayer.

It was Caiaphas, the high priest that manipulated and misused his position.

It was Pontius Pilate that ordered the crucifixion and washed his hands.

It was Peter, the one who denied, but he regretted and became a devoted disciple and a leader and apostle in the Church.

It is about Mary who anointed Jesus. It was a tradition to anoint the coming king and the one who was dying. Mary for sure understood who Jesus was and his doing. He was the king on his walk to death. She believed Him and loved Him and honored Him.

Today we have confirmation. They are two nice young people wearing white robes. One time previous to this they attended church wearing white robes. That was for Baptism. They are baptized and educated in Christian faith. They are marked with the sign of the cross, as we all are as baptized member of the Church. Today they attend their affirmation of their Baptism. They are kneeling at the altar rail and receiving the blessing. May they be blessed to have a good life. We wish them exciting and joyful years ahead. We wish them Christian life filled with faith and hope and love.

Jesus said to his disciples: You did not choose me but I chose you and I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:16

Baptism and Confirmation affirm that they are chosen. They are the loved ones of God. He has a plan and a service for them to do.

This is like a Confirmation to all of us.

Let us affirm our baptism and together with the Confirmands renounce the devil and confess our faith in God the Trinity. He is the Creator and the Savior and the Spirit our helper.

During the Holy Night on the Bethlehem fields an angel said: Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people; to you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

Palm Sunday is a follow up showing the Lord who is going to die for the whole people. To give life to all.

Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

From here we will enter Holy Week with reverence and prayer.

Amen.

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716