Black / White

Palm Sunday / Passion Sunday

Shocking how quickly it all goes wrong

Absolute adoration —> absolute hatred

Dealing in absolutes

I’m absolutely right .: you must be absolutely wrong

See it all the time in the world around us

Sadly we also see it in our own families, in our own lives.

Sometimes it lasts a moment, an argument. But sometimes the bitterness sinks in and it can last a lifetime.

Paint ourselves into a corner

When we are stuck in a battle between absolutes we leave ourselves with no room

There is no room for reconciliation

there is no room for forgiveness

there is no room for grace

there is no room for confession

Whakama

Confession is not a word that we’re comfortable with. It conjures up images of shame and being shamed by people in power over us.

When we’re stuck in the absolutes, then that shadow of shame seems to grow and grow and grow.

But it’s a lie.

It’s not real.

Confession has a dignity all of its own that releases us from the captivity of shame.

The act of confession, the act of letting go of what we’ve been clinging to like a dog on a bone, that’s an act that leads to freedom.

We’re no longer beholden to being absolutely right, absolutely wrong.

Our world that has been closed down, suddenly becomes wide open again.

There is often a cost to letting go, but, if we’re honest with ourselves, we’re paying that price already, aren’t we?

Passion Week

Jesus was caught up in a maelstrom of absolutes.

Things built and built and built until there was a point of crisis

So these crowds, that had greeted him as aking just a few short days before, were baying for his blood.

Eventually it comes to the crunch, and he stands accused in front of Pilate

He gives no answer to his accusers, and instead gives his own kind of confession “I am who you say I am”

Equal parts dignity and humility

a two edged sword - the very things that have so angered you are true, but more than that, Jesus quietly, calmly, confesses his own identity. An idnetity that is so much more than a petty fight over who is right and who is wrong.

The Way of the Cross

At some point, all of our conflicts will come to a crisis. There is never enough room in the world for absolute right, and absolute wrong.

When our lives, our beliefs, our relationships come to the point of crisis, how will we respond?

We see, in the collected stories of Holy Week, so many different responses. The defiance and denial of Peter, the despair of Judas, the confusion and grief of the disciples.

And then there’s Jesus, walking the way of the cross. Not floating above it all, but going through it, in the mud and the blood and the spit.

Every step along the way bringing reconciliation and grace.

Healing the soldier who came to arrest him.

His dignity and determination

His willingness to pay the price.

Even at the cross, Jesus is full of grace. “Forgive them father, for they know not what they do.”, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” “Man, this is now your mother”, “Mother, this is now your son.”

Jesus finds a way through the crisis that brings healing and grace.

Through forgiveness

With dignity and humility

In reconciling love.

This is the way that Jesus calls us to follow.

When we have become used to needing to be right.

When we have become used to absolutes

There will be pain in the following, but there will also be freedom. There will also be reconciliation. There will also be love.

And the Good News is this.

Jesus has shown us the way

We don’t ahve to wait until things reeach a crisis point.

We don’t have to wait until shame looms over us like an oversized shadow.

We don’t have to wait until it is too late.

Confession, forgiveness, reconciliation, grace.

These are within our reach because Jesus has already taken the way of the cross.

Ours is but to follow.

Thanks to Jesus,

Ours is the way of love.

Amen.