Texada Island United Church
  • Home
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • History
    • Links
  • Focus on Spirit
  • Prayers for the World
  • Milestones
    • Births, Deaths & more
    • In Memoriam
    • Advent Bible Study >
      • Advent Bible Study
      • Advent & Christmas Candle lighting
      • Past Events
  • Photo Gallery
    • Karen May, New Legion Chaplain
    • Church Photos
    • Battle Services >
      • Battle of Atlantic service - April 2015
      • Battle Service 2010
    • Tea & Bakesales >
      • Dessert Tea & Bake sale April 2015
      • Church Tea & Bake Sale Dec 2013
      • St Patricks Day Tea and Bake Sale 2013
      • St Patricks Tea 2010
      • Bake Sale 2009
    • Christmas >
      • Christmas Dinner 2014
      • Christmas Concert 2014
      • Christmas Day 2013
      • Christmas Eve 2013
      • Christmas Concert 2013
      • Christmas dinner at Legion 2013
    • Music Events >
      • Chor Musica Powell River Mens Choir - March 2015
      • Chor Musica Video
      • Joyful Noise Photos - 2008-2010, 2013
      • Advent in Song, Dec 2008
    • KSE photos >
      • KSE Photos 2010
      • KSE Photos 2009
      • KSE Photos 2008
    • More Photos >
      • Certificate of Thanksgiving 2014
      • Doretta's 60th
      • Appreciation Service, May 2010
      • Bowen Island Weekend Sep 2009
      • Yard Sale March 2009
      • Earth Day 2009
      • Van Anda Days July 2008
      • Leban Wedding, 2008
  • Church Notes
  • Reflections
    • From Services
    • For Kids
    • Something to Ponder

Reflections for Sunday, April 14, 2019 – Palm Sunday

14/4/2019

0 Comments

 
Reflections for Sunday, April 14, 2019 – Palm Sunday
1st Scripture Reading:  Luke 19:28-40 & Psalm 118
Reflection:
          By this time Jesus is famous.  Crowds gather to hear his words and to experience healing. But he knows his time is rapidly coming to a close.  Prophets have to die in Jerusalem he told his disciples, and he is going to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.  Clearly, the more popular he becomes, the more influence he has, and the more dangerous he is to the establishment.
          The path goes to Jerusalem, and from there to the cross.  Dreadful expectation hangs heavily in the air.  We know what happens to people who actively promote big change – change that challenges the status quo – change that threatens the powerful and the wealthy.
          But Jesus does not hesitate. Those who speak truth to power usually have such strong inner conviction of the righteousness of what they are doing that they seem oblivious to personal danger.
          Like Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott.  Like Julian Assange.  There will be massive push-back.  Whistle-blowers the world over are persecuted, reputations destroyed, livelihood lost, even tortured to death or executed summarily.
          Jesus situation is not unique in this. What is unique is the special status this story has held for over 2000 years. What is unique is the special place of Love in this story. Jesus died because he taught us that Divine love is the healing power that will make us whole, and bring us new life sheltered by that love.  You see, when love is not the law, then something else is:  personal greed, ambition, power, cruelty and injustice will likely hold sway. 
          We can see some of this in action in our own world today.  Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott have been ostracized.  Wilson-Raybould’s reputation has been slandered and her political future is now uncertain.  Julian Assange is facing extradition to the US where his “leaks” of information the powerful don’t want us to have make his future uncertain.
          And to be clear, neither of these people is perfect – and neither have anywhere near the stature of Jesus the Christ.  But his stature did not protect him from our very own human nature, did it?  We don’t like change.  We don’t like people to tell us the way we do things is wrong, or at least could be improved. People who do that are then different from us, and as such may be persecuted.
          The Path of Love is fraught with danger, and no one knows it better than Jesus at this point in his journey.  We who would follow him must be alert to our own demons of fear, anger, envy, and greed - and still determined to win thru to the prize.  He is with us to strengthen and heal us if only we will look honestly at ourselves and ask for help when we need it.
          We are never alone.  God is with us.  Thanks be to God.
Hymn #123 VU “Hosanna, loud hosanna”
 
2nd Scripture Reading:  Philippians 2:1-8 & Luke 22: 14-27, 31-34, 47-54
Reflection:
“Love Riding On” by Janice MacLean (The Prayer Bench)
 
Hymn #90 MV “Don’t Be Afraid”
​
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.