Christ Church Rockville Lenten Devotion

Palm Sunday ~ March 20, 2016

Luke 19:41-48  ~  Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem and Cleanses the Temple

As I delved into this gospel to my surprise I first felt comforted. These verses tumble through a confusing mixture of faith-filled disciples and spellbound crowds contrasted with religious leaders hell-bent on their quest to end our Lord’s life.

Luke attests in the scene immediately preceding that Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem focuses entirely upon his disciples’ devotion to him. Observes writer Fred Craddock, “There is no ovation by the general crowds that are in the city for the festival…Jesus is honored and praised by his followers.” He continues, “his disciples did not fully understand his messiahship, to be sure, but neither are they persons who sing praise and scream death the same week.” (Interpretation: Luke. Fred Craddock. Louisville: John Knox Press, 1990, pp. 226-227.)   

Ah what good news. I wonder if such tribute from those who loved him soothed Jesus as he gazed upon this golden city and wept. Reverence paid him gives way to his lament that so many do not recognize who he is. Quickly his grief moves to anger as he enters the temple courtyards, the supreme gathering place for worship more resembling a “‘den of robbers.’” So he drives out the merchants, resolutely fixed upon his mission no matter the outcome. Craddock notes that Luke’s account of this “cleansing” is the shortest of all the Gospels, reflecting Jesus’ intent to purify rather than destroy. More to the point, Jesus makes this sacred space his classroom, daily in session, with the result that “‘all the people were spellbound by what they heard.’”

Faithful followers begin this first day of Holy Week celebrating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, and crowds captivated by his teaching end it. This One was not utterly rejected by Jerusalem: yet he saw his earthly demise ahead—plus that of this great city— and he lamented the agony of both. All the while he continued to minister to throngs who drew near to him and brought correction to the House of Prayer where he rooted himself, fully aware of the consequences he would suffer.

I embrace this prayer from J. Philip Newell as my intention and desire in the face of such extraordinary love:

O Brother Jesus
who wept at the death of a friend
and overturned tables in anger at wrong
let me not be frightened by the depths of passion.
Rather let me learn the love and anger
and wild expanses of soul within me
that are true expressions of your grace and wisdom.
And assure me again that in becoming more like you
I come closer to my true self
made in the image of outpouring Love
born of the free eternal Wind.

(Celtic Benediction: Morning and Night Prayer. J. Philip Newell. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000, p. 23.)

— The Rev. Cynthia Simpson