PALM SUNDAY MEDITATION / MONOLOG

THE STREETSWEEPERS OF JERUSALEM

Scripture:

    Psalm 118: 1-2 and 19-29

    Mark 11:1-11

 

 

Setting the Scene:

    This takes place before and during the "Palm Sunday" parade. The streets had all been cleaned on Friday for the Sabbath. This was just a quick check to make sure all was well for the week, but the street sweepers expected that the streets would be pretty clean. As they cleaned they heard a commotion and soon became aware of an unscheduled parade coming down one of the streets—in fact a street they had just finished sweeping.

 

The Conversation:

    Hey Jacob, this should not take us long. I'm so glad we did a thorough job on Friday because I want to go home early. Some distant relatives are coming now for the Passover next Sabbath. We are actually expecting them for dinner tonight. I need to get to the market early and then prepare for our guests.

Ya, ya, I'll stay until we are done with our usual streets. I know we have to do a special job this week—after all we are approaching Passover time. Can't have messy streets can we now.

    (Sweeping in silence for a while)

    Jacob, do you hear that? What is going on? It sounds like quite a commotion in the next street—the one we cleaned first thing this morning? You haven't heard anything—what is wrong with your ears? Sounds like a rather excited crowd. Come on, let's check it out.

    Don't worry about your broom—let's just hide them in the corner here.

    Jacob—isn't this quite a sight! People are everywhere, even crowding right up to the shops along the way. And look at the mess they're making; tearing down all those palm branches and throwing them on the road. Jacob—can you see—you're taller? Obviously we will have to clean this street again, and I wanted to get home early. This is a disaster! No going home early for me. (more sweeping)

    Did you say someone's riding a donkey? What's so big a deal about that? Come on, Jacob, let's push through here. I want to see this before the Romans come to squash this demonstration. You know they don't want any riots.

    What a sight! Someone riding a donkey—that's a laugh. No one in their right mind rides a donkey, and certainly not down a street in Jerusalem! Jacob do you know who that is? Someone called Jesus from Nazareth. What does he think he's doing—and why are people spreading branches and leaves along the road? What does this all mean—is he trying to incite a riot?

    But, Jacob, everyone seems so happy. No one is yelling against the Romans; no one is destroying anything. This crowd is different somehow. Let's try to find out what this is all about. Ya, ya, I know we have to get our sweeping done, but this is something very different. I'll work as late as necessary—but I just can't leave now.

    Who is this Jesus? What is he all about? Jacob, what did you say? The Pharisees are mad at him—they feel threatened by him? He looks pretty meek and mild to me, what's their problem?

    Aw, here's Reuben. I'm sure he will know more. You remember him don't you Jacob? His dad was Simeon, the man who said he had blessed the Messiah many years ago.

    Reuben, what is going on, do you know? What's that—this Jesus is the same person whom your dad blessed many years ago while in the temple? Wow—really? Are you saying THIS is the MESSIAH? But, riding a donkey? Doesn't seem very "kingly" to me. And yet, he looks so serene, so—so authoritative. And, listen to all the people flocking around him. The crowd is jubilant but not destructive; joyous but not yelling; excited but not angry. What a lot of noise—yet not really a noise, but rather a sound of praise and worship. What does all this mean?

    Reuben, Jacob—what is going on? This Jesus, this Messiah—what is he trying to accomplish? You really think he is setting up his "kingdom" now. But, riding a donkey? And talking about peace? Certainly different from the other insurgents. There must be something to his claim. He's not riding a chariot; not carrying any weapons; not working to incite the crowd.

    What do you think, Jacob? I'd like to follow him to see what happens? Let's leave our brooms where we hid them and follow this Jesus. We can clean up later, or come very early tomorrow to finish the job.

    I can't believe I'm actually doing this—but I just can't help myself. I must follow. Jesus is so persuasive, without saying anything. He has such a holy air about him. Truly, "blessed is the King that comes in the name of the Lord." I just feel so filled with joy and excitement. This Jesus, he must be the Messiah. I must worship him—he is the one who comes in God's name as our, as my redeemer. I want to obey him in everything.

 

HAVE THE CONGREGATION SING A SONG HERE
AND THEN CONTINUE MONOLOGUE
BUT TIME IS NOW MONDAY EARLY MORNING

 

Hey Jacob, wasn't that quite the weekend? I was so excited, I just felt that Jesus is the most important person in my life and could not help but worship him with Hosannas. Wow—what a time. And I hardly slept at all. Don't worry, I'll do my share of the sweeping. But it was hard to get up so early this morning. Yes, yes, I know we have to get all the streets cleared before the markets open. We'll have to work hard. (begins sweeping in earnest)

    I am so convinced about Jesus—he must be the Messiah. I want to follow him and do whatever he asks. He has changed my whole outlook. What an exciting time—the Messiah has finally come. Oh Jacob, this is so wonderful. God is so good to us.

    Life is so exciting now. I wish I could follow Jesus wherever he goes. That would be so exciting. Oh, Jacob, I know, I know. Someone has to stay to do the work. But following Jesus would be so wonderful.

I am so filled with joy, I can hardly do my sweeping. And…these streets are sure a mess again aren't they Jacob? This mess will take a long time to clear away, but I don't mind. I feel like this is a job I'm doing for Jesus. This street really is a mess—look at all the branches, jackets, coats, scarves and caps. We better pile all the clothing into a basket and mark it "Lost and Found." Someone will come asking for this stuff.

What did you say, Jacob? I am following the Messiah if I stay and do a good job. God wants me to be the best sweeper that I can be. Yes, maybe that makes some sense. But this certainly is not as exciting as waving palm branches and shouting "Hosanna." But yes, serving Christ is an everyday thing.

 

MOVE TO PULPIT FOR FINAL PART OF SERMON

Yes, serving Christ is an everyday thing. We can't always be shouting excitedly, but we can excitedly go about our everyday affairs!

Think about the poem by Ann Weems:

BETWEEN PARADES
We're good at planning!
Give us a task force
and a project
and we're off and running!
No trouble at all!
Going to the village and finding the colt,
even negotiating with the owners
is right down our alley.
And how we love a parade!
In a frenzy of celebration
we gladly focus on Jesus
and generously throw our coats
and palms in his path.
And we can shout praise
loudly enough
to make the Pharisees complain.
It's all so good!
It's between parades that
we don't do so well.
From Sunday to Sunday
we forget our hosannas.
Between parades
the stones will have to shout
because we don't.

 

How do we relate that to our lives? Is Sunday a day of excitement and praise, but Monday is a day of boredom and humdrum existence? How are we connecting our Sunday experience to our weekday work?

Let's reflect for a few moments on Christ's week. He had been "crowned" so to speak on Sunday. Then he slipped out to stay with friends, just out of Jerusalem. The next day he returns. This week is very busy. Christ challenges the money changers and merchants in the Temple, he spends hours teaching and healing. Day after day he does his work. He is not resting on the laurels of Palm Sunday. He knows much needs to be done. In fact much of the instructions to his disciples happened during Passion Week. This was not a time to shout Hosanna or Hallelujah. No this was a time to work.

The time between Palm Sunday and Good Friday was a very busy time for Christ. Many of the familiar parables and other lessons taught by Jesus were taught during this week. No, the excitement of the Hosannas was past. The parade was over, now the daily routine

Does this have any lesson for us? I believe so. As followers of Christ, we too need to work between Parades. Monday through Friday is the time when others see what we really have learned. Our attitudes, our work ethic, or relationships demonstrate the impact that the Hosannas have made.

 

 

 

Illustration of contractor – deacon on Sunday; horrible boss on Monday!

What a shame! And what a sham! The excited time on Sunday must translate into committed action on Monday—action that clearly shows Christ's love in and through you. Jesus expects his followers to be followers every day amid the drab duties of the work-a-day world.

Illustration of working at Coles and giving my resignation.

I am so thankful that my weekday attitude and work showed what I had learned on Sunday; and that my submission to Christ impacted my employer.

Francis Schaeffer once asked, "How then shall we Live?" Christ must affect our everyday lives. Knowing the "Hallelujahs" of Palm Sunday does not bring completeness. It must impact our work on Monday. When we live in submission to Christ, we live with a jubilant attitude that carries us through each week.

Let me leave a passage from Philippians for your consideration. In Ph 2:1-15 Paul states, (read from the Message) that we need to keep on doing what we have been doing all along. Christ's presence in us does not mean that we must change our daily lives—what it does mean is that our daily lives are to be lived in a different attitude. If a street cleaner, then remain a street cleaner; if a teacher, continue teaching; if a business person, remain in business, if a service worker, keep on serving. Following Christ for some may mean remaining in the place where Jesus found you.

Think about it—Christ wants us to proclaim his message between parades; between the highs of Sundays. May Christ's Palm Sunday joy give us the impetus to "keep on doing" what we have been doing, but doing it in submission to Christ.

 

Presented at Jubilee Mennonite Church, Winnipeg, MB on Palm Sunday, April 05, 2009

Gilbert G. Brandt