Erik Sten, Jack Bog & The Truth About Homelessness In Portland
Good Friday In Portland, Oregon

Hosanna!

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So 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 King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His 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. -  John 12:12-16 (NRSV)

P1010170uccweb The tradition on Palm/Passion Sunday as celebrated at Portland’s First Congregational United Church of Christ is to have a live donkey begin our worship together by leading a processional through the South Park Blocks that ends at the church’s front door. Worshipers wave palm branches and sing “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” in this reenactment of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.

The Rev. Kim Pirazzini Wells of Lakewood United Church of Christ in St. Petersburg, Fl., wrote in a short piece used in many UCC bulletins this Sunday:

Most of us love a parade! We line the streets, chant and cheer. We wave banners and pennants. Vendors appear. Bands play. The excitement and energy is infectious. Familiar with this kind of experience, we can identify with the crowd at Jerusalem waving palms and cheering "Hosanna!" in the Palm Sunday story.

Yet that welcome is not for a typical popular hero but for a humble servant who has cast his lot with the poor, the sick, the outcast. He rides not on a majestic steed but on a borrowed donkey. It is a demonstration for one who conquers through non-violence, compassion, mercy, and love.

For our acclaim of such a Savior to be authentic, we must consider how we embrace Jesus' passion: His passion for love, justice, reconciliation, and peace. Are we consumed with passion for those who are suffering and those who are captive-to violence, poverty, and bigotry? Are we taking risks on behalf of those society has overlooked as Jesus did?

If we are encountering ridicule, if we are questioning comfortable power arrangements, if we are jeopardizing the stability of established institutions, then we may very well be sharing in Jesus' passion. If we are not paying such a price for our discipleship then our passion may very well be misplaced.

When our hearts are centered in the heart of Jesus, then our waving palms and changed "Hosannas" are a true celebration of the Gospel which is Good News for all people, not just some people. Our festivities are a witness to our faith in the victory of non-violence and reconciliation.

This Palm/Passion Sunday, may Christ Jesus enter our cities and towns. May he be present on our roads and streets as the church waves palms with a passion for compassion and peace.

There are those (think Mel Gibson's film) who would ignore Jesus' life and ministry and place the importance of his death high above the importance of his lessons.  Showing up each year at Easter to celebrate the resurrection and thanking God for the forgiveness of your sins really misses the point of what Jesus was / is about.  To follow Jesus means to be willing to risk everything in the pursuit of love and justice for all of God's creation.

Hosanna!   

P1010168

The Rev. Dr. Pat Ross, senior minister, FCUCC Portland

P1010165

Katherine & Frances

P1010169

The people of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Portland, OR.

Comments