Thy Will Be Done On EARTH. Palm Sunday Message; Luke 19:29-44

 

Rev. George Miller

April 23, 2025

Luke 19:29-44

 

Here we are, a pivotal point, when Jesus enters the city; a man who is bravely ready to face whatever is ahead.

 

Jesus- the babe born in a manger; a child cradled by Simeon; the storyteller and Son Transfigured.

 

Jesus is at that moment, with feet firmly planted at the Mount of Olives.  He could decide to stay, run away, or courageously move forward.

 

Move forward he does; riding on a donkey.  As Jesus moves towards his destiny, the people remove their coats, shedding their outer selves. 

 

Not just the male disciples, but the female benefactors who would’ve been there, this Sussane, this Joanna, this Mary Magdelene who was always so faithful.

 

Each Gospels tells a different account.  Mark says folk spread leafy branches, shouting “Hosanna!  Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

 

Matthew states they cut tree branches, shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David!”

 

John tells us the crowd took branches from palm trees shouting “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord- the King of Isreal!”

 

Luke hints at a more intimate affair.  Instead of leafy greens or clippings from palm trees, the disciples joyfully praise God-

 

“Blessed is the king; peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven.”

 

It's as if Luke is wanting us to focus on the ways of heaven, the ways of God’s kingdom, the ways of peace.

 

When Jesus enters the city, he weeps.  Not little boo-hoos, or a single tear from his eye.  He sobs, his chest heaves, he feels sorrow in his womb, his bones.

 

He says “If only; if only you recognized and realized what made peace, things would be so much simpler.” 

 

Jesus weeps.  If only we realized what makes peace, life would be so much simpler.

 

St. Lucas- we are blessed.  We are blessed with smart, gifted individuals who know how to fix things, runs things.

 

There are those like PJ who know how to teach, energizing us about the Christmas story and Jesus’ last week.

 

PJ shared how she says the Lord’s Prayer.  It’s the same words, but with a pause-

 

“Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come;

thy will be done on Earth.

…..as it is in heaven.”

 

PJ does this to emphasize her theology, how much of Jesus’ ministry is about making Heaven known here on earth.

 

This way of praying focuses on how we live, interact, love, how we find ways to make peace, do justice, embrace kindness right here, right now.

 

Praying “Thy will be done on Earth” adds an important layer to what it means and looks like to live as Christ’s follower. And it is not so hard.

 

Jesus spent his entire ministry telling us with words, stories, demonstrating with his body.

 

Jesus weeps, but he doesn’t have to; there are ways of peace, such as beholding, like Simeon, the holy in each child.

 

Welcoming youth to be part of worship, just as 12-year-old Jesus in the Temple, learning, listening, asking questions.

 

Those are simple ways to bring peace and participate in God’s will done on earth.

 

Seeing, actually seeing people, with all their flaws, bravely stretching out our hand, listening to what they say, offering words of comfort and support.

 

Recognizing those who are poor, hungry, not as someone to ignore but as blessed and worthy of being treated as such.

 

Finding ways to love your enemy but not giving them the OK to continue hurting you.

 

These are ways to bring peace and participate in God’s will done on earth.

 

Welcoming those of another faith, respecting the foreigner, realizing the work of women, eating with the outcast.

 

Seeing God in the shepherd who works in the field, the woman who sweeps, those who work the land.

 

Seeing God as the Daddy who runs and embraces, not just the child who was away but also the one who is angry and upset.

 

These are ways to bring peace and participate in God’s will done on earth.

 

From meals to meadows, shorelines to cities, Parables to intimate acts of healing, Jesus has shown all of us -

 

The ways to bring peace and participate in God’s will done on earth.

 

We do not have to die to experience Heaven; we can live and love, strive and thrive to find ways to make Heaven here on earth.

 

So while the world waves branches of palm and crowds shout “Hosanna!,”

 

While both male and female disciples sing out “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” ,

 

let us continue to find our ways to participate in making God’s will be done here on earth.

 

We till the ground, we remove that which has gotten in the way, we plant seeds.

 

We water, we prune, we weed, we make it so that “Love Lives Here.”

 

Why?  Because we have been transforming lives since 1880.  And the “why?’ is sitting right beside you.

 

Let us say “Amen.”

 

Communication; Luke 18:31-19:10

 

Rev. George Miller

April 6, 2025

Luke 18:31-19:10

 

Last Sunday, Katy was asked “Why we should we care about St. Lucas UCC?” 

 

She said- “The why is sitting next to you.”

 

Today, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem.  He meets a man on the roadside and one up a tree.

 

Both cases have an aspect of change; celebrating God’s glory.

 

In different Bibles, you’ll encounter different words trying to articulate what the men experienced via Jesus.

 

Some Bibles say “saved”; others “restored”;  “healed”. 

 

Whatever it is that Zaccheus and the man living with blindness experienced, it transformed their lives and both men participated in their own salvation. 

 

The man who was blind says “Have mercy on me!”  Jesus stands, still- “What do you want me to do?”  He responds “Lord, let me see again.”

 

We witness him playing a part in his own transformation- calling out, making a choice.

 

So does Zacchaeus.  He does not allow his shortcomings to get in the way of renewal.  He runs, climbs, he scurries.  He is seen, he’s happy, he invites, even as others grumble, moan.

 

As a result he is no longer amongst the lost; he and his household receive renewal.

 

Saved, restored, healed; an alternative word could be transformed, as in “…we have been transforming lives as the hands and feet of Christ since 1880.”

 

Transformation doesn’t come easy; it takes work, often involving a “Come to Jesus” moment, like what we experienced on  Feb 2.

 

That talk was tough, but guess what- we are still here, striving, thriving, and smiling.

 

I learned how abundantly I’m loved and just how much love lives within you, and how much ya’ll love one another.

 

Today is another “Come to Jesus” moment, involving communication and setting boundaries for our benefit.

 

As with all relationships, if we do not set boundaries and make things clear, folk don’t know what they don’t know.

 

It is not fair to assume that everyone is a mind reader who knows all things at all times.

 

To empower each and every one of us, we will talk about  e-mails.

 

Just as in work and personal life, all of us have received an e-mail in which someone takes a private e-mail and copies in other folk who were not part of the original communication.

 

No one deserves to have their personal correspondence cced and shared against their will.

 

Not me, not any of our  Council Members, employees, or volunteers.

 

Another thing is how we communicate via e-mail. 

It is not Ok to “yell” at someone in an e-mail through lots of capital letters, an abundance of exclamation points, italics and underlining.

 

No one on Council, no employees, no volunteers, nor myself deserve to be “yelled at”, or talked to as a servant or a misbehaved child, especially from an action that was pure.

 

This is a boundary that is being lovingly set for myself, my self-care, and for the health and wholeness of our employees, volunteers, Council Members…our entire  church.

 

No one should have to engage with e-mails in which someone is “yelling” at another via keystrokes and caps.

 

No one should have to engage  in back-and-forth tennis matches of cced emails that violated someone’s  privacy.

 

As a church, we are made up of many members.  We can disagree.  Disagreement is healthy.  But we do not have the right to disrespect, make demands or damage another.

 

We can engage in healthy, civil conversation, speaking from a place of compassion and love for our church, with empowered words like “this is how I feel” or “what I think.”

 

I admire someone who has the courage and bravery to talk with me face-to-face.  If someone has a concern, you are encouraged to set up a time to meet with me in the office.  You can invite an advocate to join you to witness what is said and done. 

 

St. Lucas UCC – we are an incredible congregation.  I have developed deep, deep fondness for all of you.

 

We have a relationship that is so wonderful.  I get to learn so much from you.

 

Together we are tilling the soil, planting seeds, feeding one another so that we can blossom, bear fruit, and know that “love grows here.”

 

We are St. Lucas UCC, founded 145 years ago.

 

We are a church; a Body Of Christ.  A body that sees, hears, feels- we can feel joy; we can feel pain.

 

We are not a body meant to demean, tear down, shame.  We are a body meant to show-

 

-the Father Who Hugs

-the Woman who Searches

-the Shepherd who Seeks

-the Hen who gathers her brood.

 

Today we had a talk; as we grow together, we’ll have more.  But guess what-

 

This is how we grow.

This is how we evolve.

This is how we heal, restore, redeem, renew, reenergize.

 

This is how we are made whole.  How we transform.

 

Transform you, transform me, transform us.    

 

Amen.