Sixth Sunday of Lent

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red, brown, yellow, black and white,
They are precious in his sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Today is Palm Sunday.  Palm Sunday is often two fold in the church.  The service often begins with the waving of the palm branches and rejoicing with uplifting hymns, shouts of Hosanna, but then ends on a somber note as we begin to think about this week and all it means… The Last Supper, Judas’ betrayal, the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ prayer, the disciples falling asleep, the arrest, the denial, the walk to Golgotha, and the nails, the gambling, the mocking, the last words, the cracking of the temple curtain…

That’s quite the range of emotions there.  My mom always says, “Can’t we just go from Palm Sunday to Easter?”  She doesn’t like the sad stuff.

Years ago, I made a comment to a pastor friend that Jesus was no longer on the cross and that I didn’t understand why some people and religions tend to leave him there.  He reminded me that we have to put him on the cross before he can rise again.

I thought that a little strange.  It kind of made sense to me so, I think of it every year. Still not sure what I think of it.  I was taught the most important part of the story was that Jesus rose. That the cross was empty.  That he forgave, that he loved in spite of it all.   

I feel like that is where I want to spend Palm Sunday this week.  Remembering that in spite of everything, Jesus loved, unconditionally. 

I tend to wear rose colored glasses, I try to see the good, to look for the good.  In the last several years, instead of calling them rose colored, I’ve started calling them lenses of love.  I read scripture through lenses of love.  I look at my neighbors, and it’s not always easy, through lenses of love.  I try to see things as maybe Jesus would.  Doesn’t mean I don’t get mad, I DO!  And so did Jesus, remember the temple where he turned the tables?

But we try, right?  We may not always get it right but we try.  Put on your lenses of love today and every morning.  Look on your neighbors, your community and our world  with those lenses of love and see how different they can look. I’m putting mine on too!

Dear God,

It’s me again, with all my friends.  Thank you for sending us Jesus to teach us how love.  Help us to remember to put on lenses of Love each and every morning and to clean them up when needed throughout the day, that we might more often than not, love like Jesus.

Amen.

Until next time,
♥️ Sherri