April 2, 2023 — Palm Sunday Year A

“When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” Matthew 21:1-11

Here comes Jesus! Here he comes. He’s riding a donkey – maybe even two donkeys. His disciples and the other followers have placed their cloaks on the donkeys, and spread cloaks and branches on the ground. Some are waving palm branches and others are shouting “Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest heaven!” The reality of Palm/Passion Sunday is this: Here he comes – there he goes; and then chaos ensues. Like Santa in the Thanksgiving Day Parade, we see Santa coming, riding on a fire truck, and then there he is right in front of us, and then he is gone: and then chaos ensues until we reach December 26.

Our lives are like a parade. We have a fixed beginning, a definite ending, and a meandering route that takes us so many different places. So, while you and I are meandering on our own life “parade”, today, TODAY Jesus has entered. And before Easter comes along, I want you to remember how Jesus first entered into your life. What are your first memories of Jesus? How would you answer the question “Who is this Jesus?” This morning we shout “Blessed is he who comes…?” – but how can you explain this reality to someone who does not know Jesus? And I want you to also think about this – how do you see Jesus parading through your life?

Pastor Dave

April 1, 2023 – “Might I Give a Mite?”

“And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44

“On the surface, the rich who give large amounts of money as their offerings appear to be making huge gifts. Their gifts can sometimes gain them notoriety and applause. However, the folks who give small amounts may actually be giving a lot more because they sacrifice so much more to give the smaller amount. God doesn’t judge the gift by its size, but by its sincerity and generosity of heart.” (heartlight.org: Mark 12:41-44)

Once again Jesus turns conventional thinking on its ear – the widow who puts into the treasury such a small amount has, in the mind of Jesus, given so much more than the large amounts given by the many rich people who also put money in the treasury box. Why? Because when the poor can give generously out of their lack of resources, how much more important and meaningful will that be to G-d than the rich who give out of their wealth. For the rich to give to G-d, it is often out of their abundance. For the poor, it is out of all they have to live on.

The rich man is told to sell all that he has and give the money to the poor. When he leaves Jesus, he goes away grieving because he is rich, and can not seem to fathom giving even a part of all that he has away. Yet, this is exactly what the poor widow does – she gives all that she has.

Not everyone can give a large amount of time or money to G-d – but we all have some sense of what “sacrificial giving” means in our lives. This is what our stewardship should be grounded in—sacrificial giving—making our giving part of our worship of and for G-d. After all, we have the model of sacrificial giving in our sights—for it is the same that Jesus Christ will do, did, and continues to do for you and me.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, you have graciously given me everything. Please help me as I seek to be a responsible and generous steward of the gracious gifts you have lavished upon me. Amen.

Pastor Dave