There is no hurry. We shall get there someday. AA Milne.
There is no hurry. Walking slowly is a powerful way to travel through Holy Week, even if you’re the pastor and responsible for writing a sermon about the Resurrection Sunday! It’s disingenuous for us to enter the victory before we let the week do its work in us. It takes intention to live and experience the transformative power of these days…
We invite you to walk slowly and reverently, finding yourself in the story, and maybe, just maybe, this Passion Week can awaken our passion for God.
Oh God, help me not to hurry.
If we go back to what precipitated this week, we find Lazarus’ Resurrection from the dead to be the keynote. Jesus wept. Lazarus raised; all the trouble began. Religious people plotted to kill him (and Lazarus) because they refused to allow God to change the way they saw God. Ask — Where do I refuse to change the way I see God?
Oh God, help me not to hurry.
Palm Sunday is fantastic for everyone but Jesus because He knows those worshipful “hosannas” will soon become a cacophony of “crucify him!” The people give the shirt off their backs and laud him, King, and just days later, will strip, brutalize, and make him their scapegoat. Ask — When have I gone from hot to cold with God or someone God loves?
Oh God, help me not to hurry.
Jesus cursed a fruitless fig tree (a metaphor for Israel’s spiritual health). It was all leaf. No fruit. Those who would put the God-man to death had no fruit. Jesus speaks, and the tree withers from the roots up. Ask — Where’s the fruit in my life?
Oh God, help me not to hurry.
Simon doesn’t wash Jesus’ feet. Mary performed worship, oil, anointing for burial, and lavish acts of devotion. Judas accuses Mary and Jesus of misusing money that should’ve been given to people experiencing poverty. Ask — When do I accuse and miss the prophetic drama taking place right in front of me?
Oh God, help me not to hurry.
Judas sells out Jesus (and the mission) for 30 pieces of silver. Ask — What does it profit you to gain___X___ and lose your soul? When have you been a sell-out?
Oh God, help me not to hurry.
Friends around a table saying, “I’ll never deny you.” Sleeping friends. Friends with swords. We were hiding friends. One friend’s shame ends in suicide. When have we failed to stay with our friends.? Ask — When has shame had the last word for you?
Oh God, help me not to hurry.
Trials with evil verdicts, 39 lashes, weeping women—only Jesus’ mother, Mary Magdalene, and John remain. Poignant words: “Father forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing” and “It is finished.” Ask — When have you let forgiveness have the last word?
Oh, God, help me not to hurry.
Silent in the tomb, ascending into Hell, dealing with the devil. Ask: What demons do you need to deal with for the Resurrection’s sake?
Oh God, Help me not to hurry.
This Passion Week has so much to teach us about God’s audacious love for us and the need to walk slowly.
There is so much human suffering in our world, wars, and violence of every kind. People who accuse but don’t listen are on the rise. The wagging finger, the self-righteous judge, users, and abusers, everything hell has to offer has been in full view. The pain has been excruciating. Ask—What is pain teaching you now? What does Jesus have to say about pain?
Oh God, help me not to hurry.
How does one rush to victory when the cesspool pool of human indignity beckons us to pause, enter into Christ’s sufferings, be transformed into Christ’s image, and rise as Resurrection people?
Let me be here now, walking slowly and reverently. Resurrection is on the way.
Oh God, help me not to hurry.
