The Twilight Zone on the Monday of Holy Week

Yesterday was a most unusual Palm Sunday and 25th birthday celebration with my grandson. I wasn’t at church and I wasn’t in Austin celebrating with my family. But, I was still present for both. I watched four beautiful church and mass celebrations via livestream and I was on FaceTime with my family. The day before, my Canadian cousin FaceTimed me so I could meet her two-year-old foster child. Tonight, and tomorrow night I will be on Zoom calls which provides for many of us to see each other, be together – while apart. Isn’t this something?

It is amazing to be in tumultuous yet tremendous times and be provided with far greater innovations than what any other generation has ever experienced when they encountered plagues, epidemics and pandemics. I’m providing a little motivation for us, lest we forget to be grateful for the blessings we have been afforded.

In the 60s there was a TV series called “The Twilight Zone”.Rod Serling welcomed us on a journey into the Twilight Zone. Each episode presented different stories where characters found themselves dealing with disturbing or unusual events, an experience described as "entering the Twilight Zone". It often had a surprise ending and a moral. Now, the phrase “twilight zone is used to describe surreal experiences -- like these surreal times we are in today.

Speaking of surreal, I think about Monday of this most blessed Holy Week of our Lord’s passion. The predominate happening on this day was Jesus chasing out the money changers from the temple. He was on purpose with every act, healing, and teaching. If we knew it was our final week of life, wouldn’t we be taking care of “loose ends”, like getting some things right that were very wrong? Wouldn’t we be giving family and friends some of our wisdom from life, encouraging and giving clear thought-out messages to help them carry on? If He knew He would soon lay down His life for us, then wouldn’t He make sure that everything He did was for our good to be used as visual references for us to follow?

On this day of Holy Week, Jesus returned to Jerusalem and came upon the shameful, greedy practices at the Temple. He was so passionate about His Father’s House of Prayer being abused. Formerly, it had been where the blind and lame came when they heard Jesus was in the Temple. As the children saw Jesus standing there and teaching, they began to shout again, “Hosanna, to the Son of David.”

On this Holy Monday, He cleansed the temple. Back to the “surreal” time we are in right now. The churches, temples, and synagogues have been cleansed, so to speak. Not only are the stores inside many of the mega churches closed, but so are the places of worship – everywhere. My take on this season that we’re in – is God is setting things straight – setting His people straight – getting His house in order. That the principal thing isn’t really about the church building. It is about His Body – THE CHURCH – being set right. Getting down to the nitty gritty of what really is most important to Him. Jesus will soon come back for His bride without a spot or wrinkle or blemish. He cares more about us than He does brick and mortar.

Today He desires to cleanse us and purify our hearts and minds so that we are more like Him – in our thoughts, our words and our actions. Maybe, this surreal time is about our Sovereign Lord getting His Body in shape for bringing the family home – sooner than later. Today I take this message personally. It is taking this cleansing of the temple as cleansing of my temple. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” (1 Corinthians 10:19) The Lord cares more about the “stuff” that has cluttered up Who we are and Whose we are. It’s time to get the temple squeaky clean! This Monday of Holy Week is a really good day for cleaning house!

Not the usual Pomp on this Palm Sunday

Growing up, I was always so thrilled for the start of Holy Week on Palm Sunday. The readings, the story of the shouts of praise and hosannas, the palms, and the pomp. I loved it because Palm Sunday led to Easter Sunday when I would get to wear my new Easter ensemble. attend the Easter egg hunt in the afternoon and amidst it all -- be overjoyed because of the resurrection of Jesus. Up from the grave He arose!

Then, enters 2020’s Palm Sunday – one like we would have never imagined. We are confined to our homes. No way we could be a thronging crowd waving our palm branches today! We don’t have a choice. My pastor sent out a message to us that recalled Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem where people cut branches from palm trees, laid them across Jesus’ path and waved them in the air as he entered Jerusalem the week before his death. He went on to tell us that in ancient times palms symbolized goodness, well-being, grandeur, and victory. I like to think they still mean that to us today. My pastor went on to ask us to hang some greenery or a drawing of a palm on the doors of our homes in celebration of this Palm Sunday because we are still proclaiming God’s goodness and victory.

I had already hung my Easter wreath. This year, I included the picture of Jesus – Divine Mercy – that represents the blood and water poured out for us on Calvary – with the words: “Jesus, I trust in You”. That is my way of applying the blood of Jesus on the doorposts of my home for protection as the Israelites did the night the death angel struck all the Egyptians’ homes. I profess that “I am covered by the blood of Jesus, and "no evil shall befall me or plague come near my dwelling.” (Psalm 91:10).

Here we are in a set of entirely new circumstances. Today, the crowds were thronging and their cheers were proclaiming “Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest.” BTW, “hosanna” means “Save us now!” Doesn’t that make us want to raise our praises today and shout “Hosanna in the highest?” If ever we needed saving -- it is today. Not just from this pandemic but saving us from our failures, our doubts, fears, and unbelief.

It doesn’t matter if we’re in our churches this Palm Sunday – processing in and waving our palm branches, or we have a palm branch likeness on our front doors or if we are confined to a prison cell, a hospital room, a tent or a palace, we can stand silent with depths of emotion or shout it from our rooftops -- "We praise You and thank You, our Savior and Lord!" I rejoice today because of such love from my Savior. Our Lord is no longer riding a donkey facing a horrific death. He is our risen Lord and Savior, soon coming on a white horse as our King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 19:11-16)

Let's symbolically wave our palm branches today -- right in the midst of this pandemic crisis -- knowing that God is in control. He knows all the things that concern us, disturb us and have disrupted our plans. God knows the things we have dreamed about and are now grieving about as we let them go. He takes all of that into account as He executes His plan in the present moment. All we need to do about it today is proclaim: "Hosanna in the Highest, blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord." Lord, save us!

Palm Sunday = Salvation Army Everyday!

It’s Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. Palm Sunday represents the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Today, churches will celebrate in different ways. Some will simply acknowledge it, or not, while others make a big deal about it. At some churches, the people meet then they emerge to process around the outside of the church or down a hallway into the sanctuary. They’ll be waving palm branches, others playing musical instruments, others shouting and singing, "Hosanna." Other church’s choirs, orchestra and drama team will begin presenting the Easter story through music and drama. However you and/or your church celebrates it, it is certain that Palm Sunday is a day of rejoicing, for OUR King is coming!

I read this story about pastor and seminary professor, Dr. Walter Bruggemann. “He and the rest of the Palm Sunday procession were heading toward the church when a young man living in the apartment house across the street threw up the window and shouted, "What's all that noise? You sound like the Salvation Army!" Dr. Bruggemann looked up at him and said, "Son, we ARE the Salvation Army!" What better way to sum up the events of the first Palm Sunday than to call it a Salvation Army Parade?

Holy Week begins today with Jesus' "ragtag army parade" coming into Jerusalem. He came -- not on an elaborate float or carried on a King’s opulent throne or riding a magnificent white stallion, but on a donkey, followed by His "ragtag army", a motley crew of disciples and peasant followers. There were no loud brass bands playing triumphant music to acclaim the King’s arrival. There were just lowly pilgrims waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna, blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord”. Luke 19:38. Today, we visualize "being there" with those who had witnessed the miracles of Jesus, His kindness and love, and they just KNEW that He was their long-awaited King who would set all chaotic things in order.

Just three years after appearing on the scene, Jesus' “Salvation Army Story" on this earth was coming to a fast close, but His “Story” just began because it would ultimately become our “Salvation Story”. Jesus knew what He was doing. He set His destiny into motion when He arranged for a donkey and two of his disciples brought it to Him. Jesus set the stage for the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy spoken and referred to in Matthew 21:5 "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey."

We know that “pomp and circumstance” comes to kings and royalty, but it isn’t so with King Jesus. He is a different kind of king. His throne isn’t about determination to rule. His is determination to serve. Most royal figures spend time building their egos; His comes with total humility. Kings, today, ride in majestic, streamlined jets. King Jesus rode on a donkey. He knew exactly what He was doing. A donkey is a symbol of meekness and peace. How different His entry was – not a 21-gun salute, but swishing of palm branches. A king’s death was hailed by royal salutes, but King Jesus knew His was to be a cross. Oh, yes, OUR King is a different King.

Not only did our King know precisely who He was when He entered Jerusalem, but right now He knows who He is as He enters the Jerusalem of OUR lives. He healed the blind and lame. He touched people. He touched ALL people – those with rank, and those who were broken, rejected, and unloved. He never refused anyone who came to Him for help. He helped those with shattered dreams and bruised spirits. And the best news is, that’s the people He came for – those “ragtag” people -- people like you and me. His “ragtag army” – His SALVATION ARMY that will lift His banner high as we worship, praise, and are His ambassadors to a world that needs Him so much.

Palm Sunday -- Hosanna to Our King

Day 87 of Photo Inspirations – Palm Sunday – Hosanna to Our King
At church, today, we’ll process into the sanctuary carrying palm branches as we celebrate Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, and depicting, somewhat, the Jesus “parade” when he came into Jerusalem – not on an elaborate float or carried on a King’s opulent throne or riding a magnificent white stallion, but on a donkey, followed by a motley crew of disciples and peasant followers.  There were no loud brass bands playing triumphant music to acclaim the King’s arrival.  There were just lowly pilgrims waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna”.  Today, we set our hearts in motion to "being there" with those who had witnessed the miracles of Jesus, His kindness and love, and they just KNEW that He was their long-awaited King who would set all the things in order that had been in total chaos.

And, it was all a pre-planned event. None of it was an accident.   Jesus knew what He was doing.  He had arranged for a donkey and two of his disciples brought it to Him.   Jesus set the stage for what we now call Holy Week and it would fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy spoken before and now referred to in Matthew 21:5 "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See your king comes to you gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey".

And, all that this day was, over 2,000 years ago, is still true in this 21st century.  OUR King is coming.  With what we have come to know as “pomp and circumstance” when it comes to kings and royalty, it isn’t so with King Jesus.   He is a different kind of king.  His throne isn’t about determination to rule; His is determination to serve.  Where most royal figures spend time building their egos; His comes with total humility.  While kings today ride in majestic and streamlined jets, King Jesus rode in on a donkey.  And, He knew exactly what He was doing.  He could have ridden in on a horse. Jesus rode a donkey, a symbol of meekness and peace.    How different His entry was – not a 21-gun salute, but swishing of palm branches.  The king’s death was accompanied by royal salutes and honored acclamations, but King Jesus knew His was to be a cross.  Our King is a different King.

Not only did our King know precisely who He was when He entered Jerusalem,  right now He knows who He is as He enters the Jerusalem of our lives.  He healed  the blind and lame.  He touched people.  He touched ALL people – those with rank, and those who were broken, rejected, and unloved.   He never refused anyone who came to Him for help.  He helped those with shattered dreams and bruised spirits.  And the best news is….. He did it then; He does it now. That's the kind of Lord He is!    That's the kind of KING He is!  Today, He wants to transform us, touch our lives and make us new.  He loves us so much that He was thinking about us then....and TODAY.  Yes, we sing “Hosanna!  Our King has come!