These words are familiar to every Christian. They’re an encouragement. A call to action. An exhortation. With this short sentence, Jesus says much more: “Don’t be afraid. Trust me. Follow me and I’ll show you the way.”
Everyone knows what happened next. As Andrew reminded us this morning, Jesus turned words into decisive action. He chose to sacrifice himself to defeat darkness, violence and doubt. He chose to affirm the power of life and point to what is beautiful, enduring and right.
This is, of course, a wonderful story. But how do we learn from it? How is it relevant to us? How can we use it? What are the practical applications?
Thankfully, our minister has plenty of ideas. We were encouraged by the timely examples Andrew offered this morning:
- The Rev. Dr. Arthur Currie, who has given the gift of himself during the 50 years since his call to St. Andrew’s
- The federal election, a chance to choose engagement over apathy and trust in justice, peace and joy
- Earth Day, a chance to honour God by valuing, respecting and preserving the Earth and all that fills it
- The Multifaith Housing Initiative’s Tulipathon, a chance to walk with people of all faiths to provide affordable housing for low-income households in Ottawa
It’s always inspiring to learn about what the words and actions of Jesus can teach us. It’s even better to have great examples of how we can apply these lessons – and honour God – in our daily lives.
I always find Palm Sunday a bittersweet celebration. Even while we celebrate Jesus' arrival, we know what's to come. I appreciated hearing the words, "Don't be afraid."
ReplyDelete