CELC Palm-Passion Sunday

Palm/Passion Sunday - March 20, 2005

Matthew 26:14-27:66

This week I read an article written by a Rabbi. He suggested that it might be best for all who are preaching to introduce their sermons today by saying, “If you disagree with the sermon this morning, please call me and we’ll have pancakes with real butter.”

Let me explain the reason for the disclaimer. Recall two news stories that made headlines for days during this month. First, there was Terry Ratzmann who did not like his pastor’s sermon one Sunday and stormed out of worship. He returned two weeks later and shot and killed his pastor, six others and then himself.

The other news story was Brian Nichols in Atlanta. You may recall the killing spree of Brian Nichols and that he took Ashley Smith hostage. This young, single mother is a person of great faith. She spent hours talking to Brian about God, faith, the value of human life and even made him pancakes with real butter. Ashley Smith convinced Nichols to let her go so she could be here daughter’s mother and then to turn himself in to the authorities. Both of which he did.

On the same day you could see the media report on these stories. When you put them side by side they become a parable for the worst and the best in faithfulness. The worst is the violence born in Terry Ratzmann by his intense reaction to his pastor’s sermon. Ratzmann’s reaction led to mass murder. Faith can be twisted so that it becomes not about God and our relationship, not about forgiveness and love, but about our power and our desire to play god, our desire to control everyone and everything.

The best of faith recognizes that everyone is made in the image of God and seeks to meet the other person as one loved by God. Ashley Smith encountered a man who was accused of rape, had gone on a murdering spree, and now tied her up and held her hostage. Her response was to find the real person, to find the image of God in Brian Nichols. She did that by faith, convincing Brian Nichols that they were not enemies, but a “brother and sister” in Christ.

On this Passion Sunday we hear another story. It is the story of people who held the power and got their way and crucified Jesus. It is also the story of God acting to have the final word, a word of life, resurrection and grace. To those who would kill, God replied that all will be made alive. This is the faith of forgiveness, love and a future. It is not a faith of power played to satisfy our own need and desires.

You can see why a pastor begins their sermon today, “If you disagree with the sermon this morning, please call me and we’ll have pancakes with real butter.” A disclaimer may sound frivolous. It is, though, a plea that we learn to agree to disagree in the love and grace of God, not asking that our way be the only way, but that God’s loving resurrected life draw us together at the foot of the cross. Amen.

- Pastor Robert F. Holley