A guide for communion

Communion for Palm Sunday

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, his heart was heavy. It seems that he understood that what the people were expecting and anticipating, was not what would play out. So, while the cheering and waving of palms was not misguided or inappropriate, it did expose the expectations of the people, and what they imagined was about to happen as they welcomed their Messiah.

• What are our expectations of Jesus?
• Do we long for him to be a political figure that will rule over us as a human king?
• Do we hope that he flexes power and sets things straight?
• Are we hoping that he will be famous, and popular, and wealthy?

Jesus came into this world in humility, from his birth to his death.
Jesus came with love, and demonstrated the distance love will go for ALL.
Jesus was gentle and compassionate, recognizing that it would be “kindness that leads us to repentance.”
Jesus put relationship ahead of notoriety. He didn’t even care about “LIKES!”

So, as you receive this Communion today, consider what your expectations for Jesus are. And lay them down if they aren’t really what Jesus is offering. As you drink the cup and eat the bread consider what you would like to take in and embrace that Jesus is actually offering today.

Prayer:

Jesus, we can forget what you actually were offering through your life, because we get caught up in this world’s expectations. Would you fill us with humility, recognizing other’s needs before fulfilling our own. Will you give us the capacity to love our neighbors. Would you take our personal weapons from us, our defensiveness, cruelty, power-plays, and desire to rise above the next person, and instead give us a gentleness, and compassion, and love that reaches out to others to raise them up.
This is how we want to remember you in our Communion, not just thoughts, not just words, but actions . . . that emulate you!
Amen