Sunday, March 28
Palm Sunday
Zechariah 9:9-12 or Zechariah 12:9-11, 13:1, 7-9
Psalms 24, 29, 103
1 Timothy 6:12-16
Luke 19:41-48
Today's readings start with Luke 19:42-48 and Jesus states in verse 46 "my house will be a house of prayer;” but you have made it “a den of robbers.” A contrasting theme continues throughout the readings of God's love, peace and hope vs. Man's greed, violence and vengeance.
How we can use this in our life today? Jesus in Luke is also weeping that a huge opportunity for peace has been missed because many did not recognize God coming to them. This is so true today in 2010. But we do not give up hope because it was lost two thousand years ago. The readings go on to encourage and promise us:
1 Timothy 6:12-12 Fight the good fight of the faith,
Psalm 29:11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace, in
Psalm 10:34-5
4who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's
Zech. 9:9-12
12Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope;
even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.
After everything else, in Zech 13:8-9 is graphically violent yet hopeful: if not struck down, we will be refined. While fire is certainly painful, the refining makes us pure. If we choose to follow Christ, we can be purified. This won't be an easy life; it will be as painful as fire. However, fight to faithfully follow Christ with faith is the best life and to be refined and ready to live with Christ as an eternal reward.
The message of what we can use today in 2010 can be to tie the contrast of a hard life being a refining life and not lose hope. Fight the good fight and go for the refined gold.
from Zech 13: 7-9
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
Eleanor Sheldon