"Looking
for an Opportunity"
a condensed version of the
sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, Palm Sunday, March 16, 2008 at Union Congregational Church, United Church of
Christ, in Somonauk, Illinois.
PODCAST of "Looking for an
Opportunity"
This week’s reading from
Matthew 26:14- 27:66 is a long one. Even as I only read
"Selected verses," this deep and moving story of
Christ’s passion, is long. It also involves different plans
from many different characters.
Planning can have a negative
connotation – as in plotting, but planning can also involve
creating a strategy for a desired result. Consider the plans of
several of the characters we just heard about:
- The Chief Priests
– These leaders wanted to capture, discredit and do
away with Jesus. They also wanted any kind of following
Jesus had to disappear.
- Judas –
I think Judas really wanted to "smoke Jesus
out" and get him to come out like a fighting warrior
to take over power. Others say he was just greedy.
- Jesus --
Jesus knew what he was doing. He laid low for awhile
before making the trip to the big city where he was sure
to be noticed.
- Peter –
I think he really wanted to be a hero and a protector of
Jesus. His plan didn’t work out so well, either.
- Caiaphas
– I think he, like the other priests, wanted to
discredit and do away with Jesus.
- Pilate
– It seems that Pilate really wanted a way out of
the whole crucifixion scenario. Or maybe his plan was to
do what he wanted, while making the crowd seem like they
were in charge.
- The Soldiers
– It looks like they, too, wanted to discredit and
do away with Jesus and any ‘Jesus movement.’ Or
maybe they were just doing their jobs.
- The Marys
– The women who watched Jesus crucifixion from a
distance, I think, wanted to be sure that Jesus was
neither forgotten nor belittled.
- Joseph of Arimathea
– It seems as though Joseph also had a plan to
protect Jesus’ reputation and to give his family
dignity.
- The Pharisees
– Same for the priests. These folks wanted to be
sure that any false religious leader never got a strong
following. It’s too bad they missed the real thing.
At our Good Friday service at St.
John’s Lutheran Church this week, we’re going to get to
experience some of the emotions of several of these characters. I
hope as you are part of that service, you’ll have spent some
time contemplating this:
How are we like these characters?
How are we different?
When do we act just like these
folks? When do we act completely different?
How often have we gone from
celebrating Jesus to wishing he would just go away?
How often have we gone from being
overjoyed with Jesus’ presence in our lives to feeling empty
and alone?
I think we all have part of each
of these characters in our being.
- We wish faith could be
simplified into a list of rules. The mystery of
God’s unconditional love is complicated. It makes us
nervous and we wish things were easier.
- We decide exactly who Jesus
is and try to force him into our interpretations.
- We have great aspirations
about following Jesus no matter what and we fail.
- We throw up our arms at
injustice and say, "There’s nothing I can do
about it."
- We do our jobs – Even
with faith conflicts.
- Hopefully we can sometimes,
often or always look on all of God’s children and
treat all with dignity and respect.
When do we act most like?
- The Chief Priests
- Judas
- Jesus
- Peter
- Caiaphas
- Pilate
- The Soldiers
- The Marys
- Joseph of Arimathea
- The Pharisees
And what do we do when we act like
all of those? What kind of hidden, unknown or well-thought out
plans are we carrying out?
How can we look ahead, spending
our time seeking God’s way, living in faith and doing what
that faith asks of us – to seek justice, to love kindness
and to walk humbly before God? How are we living our lives
looking for an opportunity?
Close with prayer.
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Reserved