Looking Forward to April 13, 2014 -- Palm Sunday, Lord's Prayer Series Concludes.

The Scripture reading this week is Matthew 21:1-11

We will also use (as a way of reflecting on our faith story) a video clip from Jesus Christ Superstar 2000).

The sermon title is Lord, Teach Us to Pray: The Kingdom, The Power, The Glory 

Early Thoughts: It is Palm Sunday.  The day we celebrate the triumphal entry.  We join the crowds proclaiming the coming of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.....

Or maybe not so much.

What kind of king do we celebrate with our Palm parade?  Given what follows, where is the power and the glory?

In our video clip Jesus suggests we misunderstand what power and glory is.  I note that none of the Gospel accounts of the entry tell us what Jesus thinks of the display. in their book The Last Week  John Crossan and Marcus Borg suggest that the triumphal entry is a deliberately staged piece of political street theater.  If so it is likely along the lines of satire...

If the Kingdom and the power and the glory are wholly different than we expect, maybe we need to think about what we are praying for.  And maybe (just maybe) that will help us reconsider how to be the church in a post-Christendom era????
--Gord