April 4, 2004; The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday Readings: Isaiah 45: 21-25; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 22:39—23:56; Psalm 22:1-11.   The Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith Palm Sunday We have prayed today that we may follow Jesus in the way that leads to eternal life. What is this way that we are to follow? We have prayed today that we might contemplate the mighty acts of God, whereby God has given us life and immortality. What are these mighty acts? On Palm Sunday, we move from the triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the scene of Jesus being crucified. What is the way that leads to eternal life? Today, and throughout Holy Week, we consider that which leads to eternal life. We will consider the One through whom we have eternal life. The themes of Palm Sunday show us that Jesus claimed his identity at great cost and in a way that surprised many. In the events of Palm Sunday and Holy Week, we see a search for authenticity and intimacy. We see the victory of authenticity and intimacy over death. The two cannot be separated as intimacy is possible only when one is being authentic. For our Savior, being authentic meant being truly human as he was nailed to the cross. That authenticity makes intimacy with us possible. Remember, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when tempted in the wilderness, he turned down the offer of power without vulnerability. On Palm Sunday, we see a dynamic struggle to understand what is authentic—what is true. We hear about people who seek to understand Jesus. Jesus seeks to understand his life’s purpose. Who is he when he is truly himself? Can the people around him accept the truth that leads to eternal life? The people with palms in hand claim victory. Jesus is King of Kings. Today is a day of celebration. Jesus appears to be the victorious one. It is true that Jesus has the victory. But that is only part of a complicated truth. Jesus is victorious, but not in the way that people expected. He is not victorious by forcing his enemies to yield. The authenticity of Jesus is known in his vulnerability. His victory is in his vulnerability. On this day and through the services of Holy Week, we will see how intimacy and authenticity are linked in the life of Jesus and in the life of faith. We move from having an understanding, an idea, an image of Jesus to knowing him. Imagine being in the crowd processing with the palms There is great energy of unity and excitement in the air. You know about Jesus; you see him at a distance. From this distance he seems larger than life. To see him on the cross is to come much closer to him. He becomes known to you through his humanity. How much truth can we take? How much truth can we give? We make decisions about authenticity all the time. We let others come only so close. Sometimes that’s because we do not really want to know them. Sometimes it’s because we do not really want to be known. We weigh the pros and the cons. How much of myself will I reveal to another? What are the risks? What are the benefits? Is the intimacy worth the risk? There are some days when we can handle only so much truth about another. There are some days when we can handle only so much truth about ourselves. The truth promises to set us free. The truth does not promise to be easy or easily understood. The truth of Jesus was not easy or easily understood. His pain was real. His death was real. Can we bear the full truth of Jesus’ humanity. The festive parade, when Jesus was believed to be a victorious leader in accord with the power politics of the day, was much easier to grasp. We could grasp on to a military victory and feel safe and in control. Go follow Jesus to the cross is a whole different matter. To know the vulnerability of Jesus is to know our own vulnerability. To know Jesus is to be known by him. The authenticity of Jesus calls us to be authentic. We are call to be present to the cross, and to embrace the full truth of our humanity. There is no escaping the truth of pain and suffering. Through the events of Holy Week, we are invited to know the fullness of God in Christ. It is there, on the cross, that God meets us at the point of our greatest need. God is no longer larger than life, and somehow removed. One of God’s mighty acts is to be fully human. It is God’s mighty act to be vulnerable. It is there, on the cross, that God meets us—our authentic selves—our vulnerable selves—God meets us and shows us the way to eternal life. Amen.