Deacon Larry

 April 1, 2007

Palm Sunday

Is 50:4-7; Phil 2: 6-11; Luke 24: 14 – 23:56

Dc. Larry Brockman

Suffering.  Jesus endured such terrible suffering.  The Movie “The Passion” graphically displays that suffering and it makes all of us uncomfortable.  But, the real theme of today’s readings is not the suffering, but Obedience. 

Just as Isaiah had to be obedient and speak the Word of God no matter what happened to him, so Jesus had to be obedient and live out the life that God had ordained for him.  Paul put it well, that Jesus emptied himself, taking on the form of a slave. 

The Passion demonstrates that it is hard to be obedient  It was hard for Jesus as well, as the agony in the garden attests.  Obedience to the will of God means accepting what God has in mind for us.  Sometimes, that’s the good times.  For me, my grandson’s birth a few weeks ago was a great time.  But, it also includes the bad times.  Like when my wife and I lost a son to crib death many years ago. 

Jesus bore great suffering, but he did so for the love of his Father.  He was, above all else, obedient.  He took on our sins, and redeemed us all in the process, earning everlasting life for all of us.  And that’s the point.  No matter what the suffering associated with our obedience, it’s worth it because the Kingdom of God and everlasting life are just on the other side. 

No matter who you are, you are ordained for both good times and bad times.  It’s our obedience to the will of God that counts.  We willfully accept and relish the good times.  But quite naturally, dread the suffering.  And yet, everyone faces suffering and death.  Everyone has illnesses, disabilities, limitations- physical and mental, poverty, and loneliness- something, whether it’s visible or not.  Even those who are seemingly always blessed- they are challenged to be good stewards of those blessings.  Nobody is exempt from God’s challenge to do his will.

I would ask you to reflect on today’s Gospel in a new light.  That no matter how dreadful the suffering was, Jesus bore it with dignity and obedience.  We are challenged to live his example and do the same.     

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