Listen to Readings and Sermon Palm Sunday The Good News Written Psalm 47.6-8 (NRSV) 6Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our [Sovereign], sing praises. 7For God is the [sovereign] of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm. 8God is [sovereign] over the nations; God sits on a holy throne. Charles Fillmore, [...]
Listen to Readings and Sermon
Palm Sunday
The Good News Written
Psalm 47.6-8 (NRSV)
6Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our [Sovereign], sing praises.
7For God is the [sovereign] of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
8God is [sovereign] over the nations; God sits on a holy throne.
Charles Fillmore, The Revealing Word
“Palm trees [symbolize] realizations in the physical of [an] unlimited resource of strength.”
John 12:12-16 (NRSV)
12The… great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord — the [Leader] of Israel!” 14Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: 15“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your [sovereign] is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 16His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.
The Good News Proclaimed
Preached by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins at the Sunshine Cathedral on Palm Sunday, March 28, 2010.
Mahalia Jackson sang, “I’ll walk in Jerusalem, talk in Jerusalem, sing in Jerusalem, shout in Jerusalem when I die.” And that’s fair enough, but let’s not forget, we get to enter into Jerusalem while we live! In fact, isn’t that what spirituality is really about? To help us live with joy and peace and fulfillment.
I grew up thinking religion was fire insurance. I honestly was a full grown adult before I came realize that religion could be practical… it could and should help us live with hope and joy and empowerment right here and right now. Being religious to get into an after-life heaven or to stay out of an after-life hell isn’t very noble… that’s a very self-serving motivation. Religion should move us beyond CYA. I think that makes a mockery of grace and paints God to be little more than a cosmic dictator demanding obedience… offering rewards to those who comply and punishment to those who don’t. Continue reading »
