God loves it when a plan comes together

When I was a kid, there was a show on television called, “The A-Team”. Perhaps you might remember it. There were for characters: BA Barackus, Lieutenant “Face Man” Peck, Captain Mad Man Murdoch and their intrepid leader, Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith. There were a lot of catch phrases in the show like, “I pity the fool!” and “I have a bad felling about this”. But there was one that always came out from Smith, “I love it when a plan comes together.”

I mention this because as the Gospel for Palm Sunday (Matthew 21.1-11) moves us now into the Triumphant procession in to the City of Jerusalem. And as we begin, we see a Jesus who is both in charge and confident of the things that are to happen next. Jesus’ ride into the city was not just a nice way to travel. It was a statement of claim on the city and the nation “Behold your king comes riding on a donkey”. It was understood that Jesus was laying claim to his earthly heritage as King for he was of the house and line of King David.

But what kind of King is Jesus and what is his kingdom like? Many thought they knew. And most expected it to be like an episode of “Game of Thrones”. It was going to be bloody, violent and deadly as everyone competed to be king of the mountain. And there were many who relished this moment with great anticipation. They wanted Jesus to kick butt and take names as they rose to prominence again amongst the nations of the earth. Is this the kind of kingdom that you want to live in? Everyone out for themselves to better themselves, gaining wealth, power with no limit to their ambitions as they work to retain the status quo?

Jesus didn’t come to give us what we want. He came to bring us what we need. Himself. The sight of Jesus riding on a donkey into the Holy City is first a sign of divine judgment. God has decided that things are going to change. The Father sent Jesus so that things would and could change. It meant the rising and falling of people in places of power and position. It meant the death of the idea of going back to the supposedly good old days of David and Solomon (which were not that happy in the first place) so that they could be independent again. But none of this was to advance the coming and building of God’s kingdom. It was to bring back and maintain a memory a life that had had its day and was passing swiftly away.

What we need to see in Scripture and in the Word made flesh is the promises of God. These promises are not just ones from the past or to hold on to for the future. God’s promises of life, of love, of kingdom are for this moment; for the here and now. We are servants of a king who sends us into this city to do as he bids and serve him. Christ calls us to come and participate in his work of redemption and reconciliation in this city, in our Father’s world. We are called to come and take off the grave clothes and let people go into life and community with our brothers and sisters. We need to be willing to pray for one another, for healing, for peace, for whatever the need is. And when necessary to draw in others who will share the burden and pray with you. All one need do is ask. God wants to do great things through this church – will you not stop and listen and then do?

If the kingdom is to come, ask yourself this: What if we chose to be heroes and heroines to other people in this city by simple acts of kindness and of care? What the congregation of 60 or so people connected with all our family, friends and neighbours, genuinely connected with them, collaborated with them and vest our time, talents, treasure, trees and tears in other to have a better city.

Does not the Christian faith ask more of us than simply parking ourselves in a pew for 75 minutes on a Sunday morning? Are we not called to reflect and amplify the abundant life of the King and the coming kingdom when this fading life and this transient world are finished? Wouldn't that kind of life and that kind of king be worth living, dying and rising for? It can. All we need do is come and participate. God loves it when his plan comes together.

Jason+