A Palm Sunday sermon

This sermon was orginally given at Resurrection about six years ago.  It was the year a decision had been made not to order palms because of envirnmental issues and allergies.  EAch person was invited to trace their hands on green construction paper, cut out the shape, and tape them to a pencil.  We waved our palms.  This sermon I am sharing at a seniors' manor tomorrow; we will wave our palms to the best of our abilities.

The streets are lined with cattle fencing, people have been standing in the streets for hours and hours.  As the crowd thickens people are standing 10 deep, shoulder to shoulder, waiting in expectation.

As the carriage approaches, decked out in nuptial finest, the crowd begins to cheer...throwing flowers,  excitedly clapping  and madly waving their hands.

This was the scene I remember on the television, at 4:30am watching Lady Diana on her way to marry Prince Charles.

Today it’s about the hands, our very own set of palms.  At sports events we put our fists in the air. With a wave we acknowledge an acquaintance from a distance or welcome a guest.   We raise our hands and arms in hysteria to maybe be able to touch someone famous as they come by or as they enter a stadium. Some raise their hands in protest and solidarity with others around the world to fight for justice.

Most often though our hands are used for work...fingertips flying across keyboards, chopping veggies for supper, gripping pencils, rubbing stains, flattening out wrinkles, picking up /rearranging, scratching, wringing, wrapping...

My hands take a lot of beating.

But when is it that you actually use the palm of your hand?  This soft inside part, below where  callouses  form if you have racked too many leaves.  Rarely does this part of the hand get used.  It is in the rubbing of a back to comfort, in the holding of a hand, in the washing of another’s feet, in cupping water or carefully holding something precious... these are the times that my palm gets used.

I can’t help but hear this morning in the mix of celebration and a move to sorrow, the sadness and joy all wrapped up in the Good News...in this I hear a call to reflect on, the call of our palms...in celebration, in sorrow.

The crowd of people waved their palms at Jesus. Held the branches, pushed forward, lay their cloaks, patted the donkey, touched Jesus’ robe. 

Jesus’ hands blessed, dipped and ate the Passover meal.  The hands washed, rubbed, and dried the disciples’ feet.   Judas’ hands grabbed the money bag.  The peoples’ hands pulled Jesus’ roughly to the high priest.  Hands were warmed by the fire. Fingers scolded, decrees given, guilt removed, whips where grabbed, hands slapped, dice where rolled, crosses carried, nails positioned, hammers heaved, sponges offered, clothing torn, spears jabbed...all done with simple gestures of  hands.

Through baptism our hands, our palms, have died ...been crucified, washed and risen with Christ.  Our hands and palms are called:  called to responsibility.  Called to action.  Called to continue living and re-living  the passion, crucifixion, death, rebirth. We are called to this service, this ministry with passion.

We are to live with Passion.  Passion for our palms to suffer with those who are suffering, to die with those who are dying, to starve with those who are starving, to ache with those who are in pain, to blister with those who toil. 

Today we began with palms, celebrating...but, the majority of this service reflects on the passion.  How much time do your hands spend celebrating...only a brief moment?  Or longer, so as to avoid passion?  Through Christ’s passion we are being called during this holy week to use our palms in holy ways.  To be passionate...aware of bearing the Good News in our palms...and through Christ working through us, to passionately open our palms in compassion, bringing holiness to others during the walk through  holy week.

Passionately shake the hand of those whom you meet on the street.  Passionately grasp the hand of those who walk alone.  Passionately massage money out of your wallet to aid those in distress.  Passionately touch those who are sick and bring healing. Passionately make fists and fight against poverty and injustice.  Passionately at the beginning and end of each day, fold your hands in prayer.  Passionately open your palms, receive grace, God’s love and forgiveness, for you, for all...and open your palms willing saying, God use my palms, with passion may I embody compassion.