Sunday Reflection: Palm Sunday 2020

Today's reflection is brought to you by Philippians 2:6-11.

Jesus,
God,
you show us what true humility is.

You
of all people,
could have been a big shot,
but you chose to live
an ordinary life
with extraordinary love for all.

You emptied yourself
of all ego
and showed us
how to be servants
of love,
even dying the worst death imaginable
in solidarity
with those who hunger
for truth and justice
but are denied.

God raised you
after you showed us
that only by walking through
valleys of death
do we truly learn to live.

You
are above all
and your name
bows us low
no matter where we are.

Help us to live through
our valleys of death
and to reach out
to those who struggle
as best we are able.

We confess that you
are our tender God
and our glorious brother.

Be with us
this Holy Week
and in the weeks and months ahead.

Show us,
in the fullness of time,
that our actions are
enough.

+Amen.

* * * * * * *

It's strange to have Palm Sunday without the usual ritual, and togetherness. But this year, it's what a lot of us are called to do. Though I wish there was some work I could undertake to help the world cope with this coronavirus, as I'm not in healthcare or essential services fields, I have to recognize that my main work is to stay home, pray, and check in with family and friends while social distancing.

So this morning, I cut some Canadian palm branches (from the juniper evergreens under my bedroom window) and attended Palm Sunday mass via FaceBook. Then I put pieces of my virtually blessed juniper all around the house, as I have done every other year with palms imported from the southern U.S. When that was done, Lee and I walked a block to our elderly neighbour, Lidia, and fastened a small Canadian palm branch to her front steps to mark Holy Week, wishing her a happy Palm Sunday through her screen door and blowing kisses.

It's the best we can do, and it is enough.

Remember that whatever you do these days to show kindness to others -- whether a small gesture of solidarity, a donation to an organization that helps those struggling at this time, a smile, a prayer, or simply staying put to prevent this virus from spreading more quickly -- is enough. 

Christ is walking with us through our lonesome valley.

Peace to you all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85BvT5X6WSo

Sunday reflection: Empty

Today's reflection is brought to you by
Philippians 2: 6-11.

You
are
God.

But it wasn't about your ego.

You set your Godliness aside
to show us
how to become
empty.

Empty.

Like
servants are empty
of their own will,
doing only
what they are asked.

You were born
as we are born.

You lived
but rather differently
than most of us live.

Your humility
and obedience
took you
to unspeakable human places:
accusation,
betrayal,
abandonment,
loneliness,
humiliation,
imprisonment,
torture,
and death.

We know some of these.

Then,
you died
on a broken tree.

But it was your emptiness
that allowed
God to fill you up again
with God's life
and strength.

God raised you
and gave you the name
Christ,
anointed one,
alpha and omega,
first and last,
before all things
and beyond all things.

And yes,
every knee should bend
and every tongue should confess
that the empty one,
the humble one,
the obedient one
has showed us
how to
be
so that God
can fill us up
and shine through us.

O Christ,
show us how
to set our egos aside,
to become empty,
to become
like
you.

+Amen

He emptied himself

You show us, Lord,
again and again,
that life is about emptying ourselves
to make room for God.

Your equality with God was not what you came to prove.
Your obedience to God
and your unity with all who suffer
show us many ways to empty ourselves
of our self-righteousness and egotism.

You shared an earthly
and heavenly banquet with your friends,
offering yourself (though they didn't understand right away)
and we learn
to give without counting the cost.

You forgave your betrayer
even as he dipped bread in the bowl with you
and we learn
that it's better not to take things too personally.

You loved Peter
in spite of his false bravado and grand promises
and we learn
to accept people as they are and help them find their way.

You prayed and grieved
and received God's will,
and we learn
to let go and trust.

You accepted an unfaithful kiss
and we learn
that those we love sometimes make mistakes they -- and we -- regret.

You rejected armed conflict in your defense
and we learn
that violence is never the answer.

You healed someone you didn't know
and we learn
that in the midst of our own anguish
we can help others.

You kept silent in the face of many accusations
and we learn
that it's not always necessary to defend ourselves.

You endured abuse and torture
and we learn
that you are in all those who suffer.

You died between two criminals
and we learn
that you are closest to those on the margins.

You felt abandoned
and we learn
that ultimately, we are never abandoned.

You gave your spirit to God
and we learn that
that's where our spirits belong.

You were buried in a borrowed tomb,
and we learn
to accept generosity wherever we find it.

Help us, O Christ, to understand,
as you did,
that our lives are not about us.
Help us to empty ourselves, too,
so that God's plan can unfold.

+AMEN.

A Palm Sunday Hosanna

We've arrived at the end of Lent almost... and are entering into the holiest week of the year. I love how Spring comes along with it in my part of the world. Palm Sunday often allows for outdoor processions around the church... but this weekend has turned out to be chilly and somewhat snowy, with the temperature today barely rising above freezing, so I suspect our Hosannas will all happen indoors.

In Montreal last month I met Sherrian, who recently introduced me to Hillsong United, and since then, I've been exploring some of their music. Here's Hillsong's Hosanna. I love the lyrics in the song's bridge -- "Show me how to love like You have loved me. Break my heart for what breaks yours..."

Have a blessed Holy Week, all!