Palm Sunday- How is this a good idea? What were they thinking?

Being a father of three boys on Palm Sunday has a unique challenge.   It is one of those times that, as much as I love the Church, there are times I can tell that is it lead by celibate men with limited experiences with children.   Seriously, who thought it was a good idea to give sword-length palms to boys?  I spend most of the Gospel reading (which of course is really long) making sure that my family's pew does not turn into the next battle ground of an Umpa Lumpa crusade.   To add to the fun, my two and a half year old daughter decided that her palm branch is some kind of magic fairy wand.   I feared for the blue-haired grandmother in front of us.  Unbeknownst to her, her life hung by a thread between being attached by a troop of half-ling Knights Templar and having her fur coat transformed into a cute baby kitty cat by some magical spell.   How is this a good idea?  What were they thinking?

Isn't this case for God's plan for salvation?   As we enter Holy Week, we see that God's plan many times doesn't make sense.  His ways seem like folly and foolishness.   How did the Trinity think that sending down the Son incarnate in order to be rejected and suffer on the cross was a good idea?  What were they thinking?   And the ironic thing is.... It worked and it is glorious!

There have been numerous times in my life when God throws a wrench in my plans.   I wish I could say I handled these situations gracefully with faith and obedience.   Typically it involved me be anxious and telling God that this was not part of the script.   This way is not easy God.   This is rough and that better not be more suffering coming along.  But God's ways are glorious.   Yes there may be crosses but there are resurrections.   There is loss, but so much gain.  There is loneliness, but companionship with a divine creator who has been through the suffering too and offers us the opportunity to be transformed through the cross and share in his glorious resurrection.

Why do we worship?  Because God's way is so much better and glorious than ours.  Who else can bring together all the pieces of our lives in such a marvelous and miraculous ways?  Lord, help me surrender more to you.

Show His Ways

Today's psalm says, "I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you."   I've heard this or similar verses 1000's of times.  I've often felt uncomfortable with some of the self-righteous tones.   It seems like I would walk up to someone and say, "You are a horrible sinner!  Look at the your life.   You are not living God's way and following His laws and commandments.  Let me show you how you aught to be living according to God's way.   Otherwise you will incur God's wrath and judgment."  This doesn't seem like an effective way to lead others to "return to you."  Maybe this isn't what it means to teach God's ways.

While God is infinitely just, this isn't His greatest attribute.   There are divine laws and commandments, but God's way is the way of love and mercy.   There is a God who waits eager to show you His unconditional love and longs to welcome you with the open arms of a loving father.  It doesn't matter who you are and what you've done.   God found me and showed me His love.   I don't deserve it.  Now I want to change because I know how much I am loved, and I don't want to do anything that can separate me from that love and that relationship.   I don't want anything to come between me and my Beloved.

How am I showing others God's way?   Today, I maybe given the opportunity to show God's way to another.  Am I going to focus on God's law and justice or His greatest attribute, His love and mercy?   Lord, may I be an instrument of Your grace today.   Make me an instrument of Your peace.

Why do we worship?   I've never met anyone who has said, "Praise God!  He has given me what I deserve and has judged me."  We worship because of His love and mercy.