April 9, 2017 Palm/Passion Sunday

Matthew 27:26-31  (The Message)

26 Then he pardoned Barabbas. But he had Jesus whipped, and then handed over for crucifixion. 27 The soldiers assigned to the governor took Jesus into the governor's palace and got the entire brigade together for some fun. 28 They stripped him and dressed him in a red toga. 29 They plaited a crown from branches of a thorn bush and set it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand for a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mocking reverence: "Bravo, King of the Jews!" they said. "Bravo!" 30 Then they spit on him and hit him on the head with the stick. 31 When they had had their fun, they took off the toga and put his own clothes back on him. Then they proceeded out to the crucifixion.

This is a story about a love which will not let us go - ever!

“When the crucified Jesus is called ‘the image of the invisible God’. the meaning is that THIS is God and God is like THIS.  God is not greater than he is in this humiliation.  God is not more glorious then he is in this self-surrender.  God is not more powerful than he is in this helplessness.  God is not more divine than he is in this humility.”  Douglas John Hall

The irony is we would avoid this week if we could for we would rather have light without darkness, vision without trust and risk; hope without despair, Easter without Good Friday.

“To be human is to suffer, and God knows that.  That’s why God suffers too...suffering is where God and human beings meet.  It is the one place where all persons - kings, priests, paupers and prostitutes - recognize themselves as frail and transient human beings in need of God’s saving love.  Suffering brings us closer to God and God closer to us.  Suffering despite all its inhumanity and cruelty, paradoxically enables humans to long for humanity, find it, treasure it, and defend it with all their might.”   Hall

 “This is the essence of God, this is the heart of God.”  Hall  

                                                                                                   

       "Suffering is where God and human beings meet."

Douglas John Hall

                                                                                                            

Prayer thought for the week.  “Lord, in suffering you showed how close you are to us when we feel far away from you and are consumed by suffering.  Hold me in you love when I suffer so I can laugh again, with deep humility and thankfulness.”