Waving Our Branches

shared with permission of Illustrated Ministry, LLC

Scripture

Matthew 11:1-10

11 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples ² and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. ³ If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” ⁴ They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, ⁵ some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” ⁶ They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. ⁷ Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. ⁸ Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. ⁹ Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,

“Hosanna!
    Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
¹⁰     Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”  (NRSV)

Devotion

When I was growing up, Palm Sunday always began with a moment of organized chaos.  The children and choir lined up in the back of the church, grabbed palm leaves, and paraded into the sanctuary singing "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna!"  Year after year, my sister and I waved our branches to beloved church members who were singing in the pews; they smiled and waved back.  It was a moment of great joy and connection for our small congregation.

As time, the joy I felt on Palm Sunday became tinged with sadness.  People I loved and I still waved branches at each other, but certain faces were missing.  Parading by their empty seats stirred up my grief at their physical loss, and I couldn't help but picture them singing and waving palms in their eternal home.  I tried to sing louder and more joyfully for each of them.   

This Sunday, the pews of that little church in West Virginia will be physically empty.  So will the pews of many churches.  This is how it should be...how God wants it to be so that we can help heal the sick, care for the weak, and protect the vulnerable.   We know that we are doing the good and Godly thing, but we will still grieve that we cannot physically be with one another as we mark the beginning of this Holiest of Weeks.

When I think about how different Holy Week will look this year, I take comfort in knowing that Palm Sunday has always included a bit of sadness.  Christians exuberantly join Jesus's parade into Jerusalem knowing full well what awaits him in just a few days' time.   The time has come for our Savior to do the hard thing...the necessary thing.  The joy we find on this is day is only made possible by Christ's willingness to suffer and die on our behalf.  Each shout of Hosanna or wave of our branches is made in the faith that while Jesus may not be physically walk among us any more, his Spirit will be present among us always.  That presence has the power to change the world.

This year, a call has gone out for Christians to celebrate Palm Sunday by taking a book out of the pages of people who were originally  part of Jesus's march into Jerusalem.  The Bible says that people cut leafy branches from the fields and laid down their cloaks before Jesus as he rode into the city.  Some ran ahead to tell others; others followed behind shouting his praises.  These everyday people didn't order special palms from a store or organize an official parade.  They used what they had on hand to worship Jesus and spread the news.  

In honor of this truth, people like Deacon Greg Kandra of The Deacon's Bench are asking people of faith to welcome Jesus among us by using what we have.  I invite you to find, color, or even build a branch to wave on Palm Sunday.  Have it with you as you celebrate Palm Sunday.  Then, share the news that our Savior is here by displaying your branch on your door or window or posting a picture of it online.  If you send a copy to the church, (via email, our comments section, or Facebook), we'll find a way to compile it with others and share it with the world.  These branches can shout to the world that though we may be physically apart, we are still spiritually connected to one another.  We are still in the presence of Jesus.  Christ is still the one who comes to save us.

The following video is the People's Congregational Church of Bayport, Minnesota's way of waving its branches this year.  Little children are still singing "Hosanna" in their homes and waving to people who love them.  They are still dancing to welcome our Savior among us as he journeys toward the cross.  May we join them in that ancient song, praising Jesus "with heart and life and voice, and in his blissful presence eternally rejoice."

Prayer

Jesus, blessed are You who come in the name of the Lord, and blessed is your coming kingdom.  We ask that you abide with us in our grief this Palm Sunday.  May we find comfort that though we may be physically apart, we are still spiritually connected, and you are always among us.  Help us keep raising our branches and singing "Hosanna" as we proclaim your goodness to the world.