“Finding Our Voices” (Luke 19:28-40)

One of the goals of life, at least I think it is, is to find one’s voice.  One online dictionary explained it like this: “If someone finds their voice, they start to speak in spite of fear or surprise or difficult circumstances.”  It went on to say that it was something that was personal and original.  Finding one’s voice is a part of growing and becoming who God created you to be . . . it is being honest about who you are and what you believe.  Finding our voices as individuals . . . and, as a collective whole, is important and vital to God’s will in our lives.  Because of that, I believe that finding one’s voice is an important goal in our lives.

Our scripture reading this morning is witness to the day that the followers of Jesus grew up, found their voices, summoned their courage, and assumed their role as witnesses to God’s will.  This is the day that Jesus’ followers stepped onto the world stage, stepped out as willing players and protagonists in the realm of God.  This reading allows us to experience a people finding their voices . . . accepting who they are . . . and, proudly accepting it.  This is the day that the people found their voice.

So, welcome to Palm Sunday . . . Jesus’ grand entry!

This is a fairly important event and day in the story of our faith as the followers of Jesus.  This story is a pretty big biblical deal.  It is in all four gospels . . . Christmas doesn’t make all four gospels . . . neither does the Lord’s Prayer, the parable of the Good Samaritan, the Beatitudes . . . but, Palm Sunday does.  Because of that, I would imagine that we need to take this story and its message seriously.

As you know, this story is set at the start of Passover festival.  Jews from all over the world are flocking back to Jerusalem for the celebration.  The city is swelling with people . . . it is alive, buzzing, and hopping with energy.  Energy and expectation are swelling to their limits.  Expectation is in the air.  Anything and everything could happen. 

And, making his entrance into this scene is Jesus.

In our reading this morning we hear the preparations made for Jesus’ entrance . . . quite simple, but symbolic.  The plan is for Jesus to enter riding a young colt.  And, that is just what he does . . . he enters Jerusalem through a back gate riding a colt.  As the story goes, Jesus’ entrance into the city is no big deal as it begins, but as he goes along it picks up steam.  Soon crowds begin to gather and shouts of joyful praise to God are offered as he passes by.  The people are shouting, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” and “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  It was quite a spectacle.

Meanwhile, over in the other end of the city, something is taking place that none of the writers of the gospels mention . . . there is another parade taking place.  This parade is full of pomp and circumstance . . . it is a display of might and power.  It is not a parade to celebrate, but a message . . . a message to the people as to who is in control.  Pilate parades his Roman forces as a message to the people to watch their steps.  This parade too is marked with celebration . . . subdued celebration, not because there is something to celebrate, but because to do anything less might bring consequences—dire consequences at the hands of the Roman militia. 

It is in contrast that these two parades stand.  One . . . simple, yet eloquent . . . filled with joy and real celebration; the other, full of pomp and circumstance . . . a show of power and oppression . . . filled with subdued emotion and compliance.  Two parades on the opposite end of the spectrum, but two parades with messages and significance.

With Pilate’s parade the people are warned . . . be careful what you do or face the wrath of those in power.  With Jesus’ parade there is a party breaking out . . . a coming out party!  The followers of Jesus are stepping up, finding their voices, and assuming a new role in the relationship with their teacher.  What occurs is that the followers of Jesus make an announcement . . . they are following their hearts and their allegiance of who they are and who they belong to . . . they belong to God.  They are the children of God.  That is who they belong to and no one or nothing else.  They belong to Jesus . . . not Rome.  They have found their voice.

This is significant because they are no longer sitting quietly, listening, and learning . . . no, they are stepping into the game.  No longer are they the audience, they have become players in the game.  As Jesus parades into Jerusalem, the followers proclaim in new found voices that they, too, are a part of the action.  They proclaim their faith with shouts of proclamation: “Blessed is the king . . . peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

From the start of the season of Lent, I have emphasized that the purpose of the journey is for the faithful . . . the followers of Jesus . . . to examine the relationships in their lives to discover what barriers or pitfalls there are that keep them from having deeper, fuller, fulfilling, and intimate relationships with themselves, God, and others.  That is important work.  It is work we do for a lifetime as relationships are constantly changing.  A big chunk of that work is learning to accept what we discover about ourselves as individuals and groups . . . about what we learn about God and God’s purpose . . . and, what we learn about others and how we are called to relate to them through love and grace.  It is about accepting ourselves as God created us to be, and as God desires us to be.  In the end, it comes to us finding as voice as a child of God.

Finding one’s voice . . . remember what I stated earlier . . . that finding one’s voice is an original and personal expression of being able to be . . . who God created you to be, who God desires to know, and calls to share with others . . . despite fear, surprise, or difficult circumstances. In our story, the followers of Jesus discover their voice in light of the threat symbolized in the parade on the other end of town.  They speak up for the relationships that they have discovered through Jesus . . . they voice their support for God as seen through Jesus . . . they join in the parade.

As fellow sojourners . . . fellow followers of Jesus . . . we are called upon to find our voice.  Not only to find it, but to express it.  We are called upon to join the parade.  Finding our voice as a follower of Jesus means that we are in step with God and God’s will.  It means that we stand with Jesus, his teachings, and more importantly his example.  It means that we embrace our faith . . . our identity . . . and, our willingness to be who God created us to be as a child of God.

On this Palm Sunday, let us find our voices . . . let us join in Jesus’ parade . . . and let us claim our place in the family of God.  And, most importantly, let us live it in our lives on daily basis so that others, too, can discover their voices as the children of God.  Amen.