Palm Sunday
Monday, April 10th, 2006
Our reading for Monday is Mark 11.12-18 and John 12.20-36. Tuesday’s is Matthew 21.28-25.46 and Mark 12.41-13.37.
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I cheated and didn’t preach about the triumphal entry yesterday, even though it was Palm Sunday. I guess I wasn’t in the mood because it’s become so, what’s the word, commercial.
Ash Wednesday was barely over and the stores were already playing Hosanna music. Chocolate palm fronds take up half the aisles in the grocery stores. The neighbor’s dancing palm tree display with neon lights makes it hard to sleep at night. It’s impossible to find a good donkey around because local pastors reserved them a year in advance for triumphal entry reenactments.
What is it with those “talking (plastic) rocks” that sing out “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” every time you walk by? Do people really buy those things?
It’s time we stopped this blatant and irreverent “capitalization” of this important event. We should emphasized the REAL meaning of the day:
- God who keeps his promise;
- The humbleness of the King;
- The joy of the people;
- The blindness of the religious leaders;
- Impending doom on an unbelieving city.
