Pastor’s Email College Devotion
The Week following Palm Sunday
March 20, 2016
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!” (Matthew 21:9, NRSV)
Do you remember Palm Sunday? Maybe you were part of a palm procession in church as a kiddo. Maybe you impaled your brother or sister with your palm sword? Maybe you knew how to fold your palm into one of those cool little crosses – kind of like a great bar trick for the Christian crowd. Maybe you brought one home and put it somewhere in your room where you could see it regularly. Vicar Karen reminded us today in the children’s sermon that palms point to both life and death, joy and sorrow. They announce Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem – but that entry leads to Jesus’ death – and then that death leads to resurrected life again. All that from a palm or two. Ain’t God great? Hope to see you next weekend in church if you are home for Easter weekend. Until then, remember to make choices that you and your loved ones will be proud of … taking the palm you got from the campus ministry service and poking it in your roommate’s ear when s/he is sleeping, is not one of those proud actions, remember. 😉
Hosanna to you Jesus, as you remind us that you are Lord over all creation. Teach us also that in moments of suffering and struggle, and in those quiet moments that feel like death, you are still my Lord. Amen.
