Remain Here...Keep Watch

~~~Palm Sunday~~~

~~Isaiah 50:4-7~~Psalm 22~~Philippians 2:6-11~~Matthew 26:14-27:66~~

...at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Today the readings carry us through a full range of emotions.
We begin with the triumphant palm waving entry into Jerusalem,
 within minutes we are in the agony in the garden
soon we are on our knees.

“Hosanna to the Son of David;
blessed is the he who comes in the name of the Lord;
hosanna in the highest.”

Blessed is the name of the Lord...Jesus.
Sometimes I reflect on how difficult it must have been for God the Father
 to silently remain in the distance
as Jesus was being mocked and scourged.
Even knowing that it had to be the agony must have been great.

Jesus was betrayed by one of those in his inner circle, Judas.
It is hard to grasp how someone that close to Jesus
could hand him over to the authorities just for a few coins.
Is money really that important?

Would you be willing to betray a friend for financial gain?
Maybe we would not, but it does still happen in our society today.

The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near;
in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”

The Pharisees were correct in believing
 that Jesus would come out of the desert for the Passover meal.
Only this Passover would be different.
This would be his last Passover meal with his friends.
The same God that led the people out of slavery
 is now preparing sit at the table with the one who will betray him.

Then Jesus said to them,
“This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken...

We know this statement was shocking, at least to Peter,
who is convicted in his belief in Jesus.
Even though Jesus had tried many times to tell them
 he would go away where they would not be able to come;
they could not fully grasp his words.

Has your faith in God ever been shaken?
I think many good and faithful people would answer 'yes'.
We are not very different than the apostles;
we have our own expectations of God.
When he does not fulfill those expectations our faith is shaken.

When we feel that our faith is shaken
 that is when we must cling to the Lord with even greater tenacity.
Many times in the face of great pain and sorrow
we want to cry out 'where are you God?'
We want to know why he has allowed this to happen.
Often our questions remain unanswered.
Some questions are not meant to have answers.

“My soul is sorrowful even to death.
Remain here and keep watch with me.”

During this Holy Week join me as we remain
 and keep watch with the realities of our redemption.
Surrender to the Lord those times when your faith is most shaken.
Keep watch knowing that he is with you.
Pause to kneel before the Lord.
Give him all of your fears and concerns;
no one understands better than he does.

May you have a Blessed Holy Week.