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Sermon “Finding Our Roots” Kirk of St James Sunday March 28th 2021 Rev. Amanda Henderson-Bolton

There is a term or description that has been circulating in our society for a little while now that has risen in popularity over the last few years, you have likely heard it—cancel culture. An extremely basic definition (on Wikipedia) describes it as “Cancel culture (or call- out culture) is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles – whether it be online, on social media, or in person. Those who are subject to this ostracism are said to have been "cancelled". An example of this would be Tiger Woods.

He was at the top of his career, with lots of endorsements, cheering crowds and a promising future when news broke of his affairs with other women during his marriage and the fallout that happened afterwards. From there multiple agencies dropped him and he faded from view for a while. There are numerous examples of this happening in modern society and differing opinions on this movement along with a lot of controversy. I was thinking about this term in relation to Palm Sunday and how we go from this high point on Palm Sunday through to Good

Friday and how the crowds turned against Jesus.

Reading through the passage in Mark this week of the images or ideas that stuck with me the most was around the difference between things being “rooted” vs. “rootless.” The fickle cheering crowd compared to the unwavering love and determination of Jesus. I will never forget the year the tree fell on the manse. This huge tree with a massive canopy that stood against wind and rain and storms for decades fell not because it was a particularly worse storm than others but because it had no roots. It was shocking the next morning when we surveyed 2 the damage and saw the base of the tree which had virtually no root system anchoring it in place. How it lasted for as long as it did is still a mystery to me. Without a strong system anchoring it in place the tree became a of wind and weather. We know there are parallels to this in our everyday lives as well. We know there are a lot of things that are transient in our society. Trends come and go with a frequency that is mind boggling. Store displays change season to season and things are swept quickly along. While this ever-changing cycle is true of everything from electronics and home décor to what we wear we know it can also be true in other areas of our lives. We live in a world that does not value putting down roots.

Emotions can also be a very changeable part of our lives. One author I read this week looked at how romantic love or falling in love is different from loving which tends to be a quieter and more humanly proportioned experience. He said there is always something overblown and bigger-than-life about falling in love. We don’t have to look too far past Romeo and Juliet to understand what he was getting at. He went on to say that “Christian spirituality is the practice of living more than the projection of love. We rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us beyond the superficial kinds of love into the kinds that endure. The gospel of Mark describes the infatuation that many people had with Jesus—as if he were a Rockstar.” In the early days of

Jesus’ ministry that is not surprising. Who doesn’t want to follow a guy who can walk on water, heal the sick, raise the dead, and produce food out of mid-air? The crowds following him were awed by his miracles and his power. However, when the time came for him to fulfill his ministry and it was no longer the same spectacle—that it was in fact, a broken death on a cross the rootless crowds turned on him, standing in stark contrast to Jesus’ unwavering 3 determination to complete his ministry out of love for humankind. That rooted love stands in sharp contrast to the crowds.

It is not surprising that before we get to Good Friday, we have this moment of euphoric cheering. There is so much potential for Jesus to do more incredible things. Someone with his power could overthrow an army or head a revolution, surely a man who can raise the dead can do anything! He rides into the city to great fan fair and cheering crowds, while Pilot makes his extravagant entrance in from another gate. Jesus has planned for this moment, and he is prepared. The symbolism is deep and rich. One author breaks down the procession and what it represents to the people. Jesus started his journey from the Mount of Olives the traditional location from which people expected the final battle for Jerusalem’s liberation would begin.

“From this traditional location, Jesus begins his final campaign. When he sends out for provisions, however, the situation becomes rather strange. The provisions he seeks are not the weapons of war, but simply a colt (not even a full-grown donkey in Mark!). Jesus goes to take possession of Jerusalem unarmed and riding on a colt.”

The crowds spreading their cloaks and branches and cheering are doing would be commonplace for a military procession for a triumphant hero, and the empire when they realize what has happened will have to take action. They cannot let this moment pass by quietly, they will have to deal with it before it becomes a larger issue. If only they had known what kind of revolution Jesus would lead. He stands in quiet opposition to everything the empire represents.

He is not trying to strong arm his way in, use any sort of violence, seek powerful allies, or create a stir. Instead, he represents the poor, the humble, the broken, and the vulnerable. He is 4 demonstrating that there is another way to live in the world that does not rely on violence, oppression or worldly means.

We know that what Jesus was trying to do in that moment was lost on the crowd hoping for a good show and someone to overthrow the Romans. We know how the rootless crowds will cheer later in the week for a different sort of ending. However, even in the face of what is to come Jesus does not waver, he remains strong and true and determined—deeply rooted both in God’s love and what he has been called to do for the sake of all humankind. Entering Easter

Holy week, we walk alongside Christ and the trials he will face. We know that we have a lot of moments in our lives where we are more like the gathered crowd than anything else. Yet through this week and this process we also put down roots, we try to ground ourselves in the love that keeps Jesus steady throughout this impossible situation. We are reminded that we need Good Friday to understand the joy of Easter morning. May we all find quiet moments this week to reflect on the coming trial, suffering and death of Jesus Christ and let it change our hearts, deepen our faith and our resolve, and help us understand God’s love in new ways.