Come and Worship
Scripture: John 12:12-26
"The next day the
great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was coming to
Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him." (Common
English Bible, v. 12)
Company’s coming! Those are
the only words my mother had to say to get us all in gear.
It was a call to pick up
newspapers, fold the afghan, wash dishes, hang clean towels, run the vacuum
cleaner, and put on a fresh pot of coffee. Even today I am able to get a whole
lot done a half hour before company arrives! But hospitality isn’t about
impressing folks with our housekeeping skills, but making sure our guests know
they are most welcome in our homes, our faith communities and our lives .
The people heard that Jesus
was coming to Jerusalem. This is a big deal. This is what the great crowd has
been waiting for, they are ready. With their voices raised in song, they wave
palm branches in the air, fling the gates wide and welcome Jesus to the city.
As the story continues, we
learn that the disciples don’t get it. It’s not always easy to understand the
workings of God in our world or in our lives. It all can seem a bit strange or
even a bit mundane. A man riding on a donkey. But the crowd remembers that this
is the one who raised Lazarus from the dead.
Yes, we plead with the Greeks, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” But
sometimes he is right in front of us, the divine wrapped up in humanity, riding
on a donkey.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we do want to see you. So open our eyes,
our hearts and our minds, that we may join the crowds in worshiping you. Amen.
The Reverend Gloria McCanna
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