The Diocese of East Tennessee
Sermons

April 16, 2000
Palm Sunday
Delivered at St. Christopher's, Kingsport

Sermon: Christ's Passion and Our Own
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

First of all, Annie and I thank the good folks of St. Christopher's for your kind hospitality. We feel very welcomed during our first official visitation here, and we look forward to many happy returns. Thanks, also, to your rector, both for the good work he does here and also for fulfilling his diocesan responsibilities as well. I am grateful to you, sir, for all that you do.

Life sometimes seems like an emotional roller coaster. We have those tremendous times of being uplifted and of feeling high above the world. And then, there are times when we plunge down at a rapid pace and find ourselves in the depths of life. We all experience this roller coaster ride of emotions, although some ride it more dramatically and tragically than others. Occasions of wonderful joy and of overwhelming happiness bless all of us. But, also, tragic sorrows and emotional pain come our way as well. We may react differently as individuals, but we all ride the roller coaster that is life itself.

The word that gathers these emotions together and describes them is "passion." Passion indicates any deeply-felt emotion. Thus, it is a very appropriate word in considering the emotional roller coaster that is sometimes life itself. And thus, also, it is appropriate that today is called Palm Sunday or the Sunday of Our Lord's Passion.

Indeed, today begins the season of Holy Week … or, the Week of the Passion. This is the shortest season of our church year by far. And it certainly is the most intense as well … the most passionate. Think of the emotions involved in the events we remember this week. From the kingly entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to the intimate sharing of the Last Supper; from betrayal and arrest to trail and, finally, to crucifixion. Surely, this week should be remembered as the one of our Lord's Passion.

It seems to me that we may emphasize many aspects of this Holy Week experience … this week of the Passion of our Lord. Indeed, there is much here to consider. However, this morning, I want to mention three points in particular.

First of all, we know more about Jesus' life during this week than at any other comparable period. His public ministry was quite brief - about three years. But within that time, we know far more about the events of Holy Week than any other.

In fact, if we should mark in the Gospels the point of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, we would find that at least one-third of each Gospel book follows that point. Thus, at least one-third of the Gospel material involves what comes after the beginning of Holy Week. Unlike any other period of his life, we have a fairly complete record of Jesus' actions during this week, the final week of his earthly life.

Therefore, my first point is simply this: we know more about Jesus' life during this week - Holy Week - than any other time.

Secondly, the events of this week have a direct bearing on our own salvation. Somehow - mysteriously - our ultimate destiny in God's plan is tied up with what happened to Jesus during the week of his Passion. Indeed, our salvation depends on the events of Holy Week.

Now, this is a great mystery. We do not comprehend it fully - nor can we. However, the idea of redemption is involved. That is, Jesus redeemed - or, paid for - our salvation ahead of time by his suffering and death … by his Passion. We affirm that Jesus redeemed us from sin and death - and he did so by means of the events of this Holy Week.

Therefore, the second important point about Holy Week is that the events of this week have everything to do with our own salvation.

The third and final point is the one that I want to emphasize most of all today - and it relates directly to the other two. The experience of Jesus during Holy Week - Passion Week - encourages us to see our lives in a new light. Not only is this week an invitation to perceive our lives differently, but also, this week provides a frame of reference to experience our lives differently as well.

Thus, as we ride the roller coaster of emotions in our own lives, we may also know and participate with Christ in his roller coaster ride of Holy Week. After all, he went from the heights of great joy to the depths of equally great sorrow; from precious intimacy to extreme loneliness; from fulfillment of life to pain and death. We, too, know those emotions and experiences in our lives.

The goal of the Christian life is union with Christ. We say that in many different ways … and we say it often. Further, if we were to narrow down the object of our Christianity to one goal, that should be it - union with Christ.

We began our Christian lives with baptism. And, at baptism, we pray that those who are baptized will share in Christ's life. Thus, they - we - are baptized into the life of Jesus Christ, including his death and resurrection. Further, we wear the mark of baptism on our foreheads all the rest of our lives. That invisible cross is a symbol of our union with Christ and with his life.

The baptized life in union with Christ's life is confirmed later on. Confirmation relates directly to Baptism, for we pray the baptismal prayers and confirm the baptismal promises today.

Then, at the Eucharist - the other great sacrament of the Church - we gain sustenance for this life begun at Baptism. We take the bread and wine, and we pray that those elements may be for us the body and blood of Christ. Then we eat the bread and drink the wine with the prayer that Christ himself will be in us and we, in him - once again, union with Christ.

The events of Holy Week provide us the best opportunity to live our roller coaster lives in awareness of Christ and in union with him. Thus, Holy Week's experiences encourage us to concentrate, meditate, and participate in the life of Christ at all times.

Therefore, my friends, know Christ during this week, and he will be known to you all your lives. Make yourselves available in the experiences of Christ during Holy Week, and he will be present to you always. May we truly seek union with Christ this week and always, so that he may indeed be in us, and we, in him.

Copyright © 2000 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee