Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!
Yes! The King of Israel!
– John 12
Worship doesn’t always mean going in to a church and sitting in a pew. Worship can happen anywhere, at any time. During this time of a pandemic we are all learning how to worship in a new way. The picture above, of the computer screen, is my version of worship right now. That was me watching our Wednesday Lent service online. It may have been Thursday but that’s the thing about online worship. Online Anytime.
During the service prayers we were singing the song Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying and it goes like this:
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying
Send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.
I noticed that after I was done listening to the service I was singing this song out loud around the house. Then when I went outside to give the dogs some exercise I was belting it for the birds to hear. If you were walking by my house yesterday I’m here to say there were some great arms raised and a bit of dancing included with the words of that song! Worshiping outside to my Lord, allowed me to put my own spin on that worship song, and felt like my own personal homage to my God. It was freeing and fulfilling. I walked back inside smiling and feeling full of the Spirit.
In our story in John 12 when Jesus enters Jerusalem you may know the story as that recounted during Palm Sunday at your church. What I notice most out of this short story (See How Your King Comes) is all the people, outside, singing Jesus praises! Singing for the birds, for Jesus, and for each other. A true worship experience for all to be filled!
The next day the huge crowd that had arrived for the Feast heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem. They broke off palm branches and went out to meet him. And they cheered:
Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!
Yes! The King of Israel!
Jesus got a young donkey and rode it, just as the Scripture has it:
No fear, Daughter Zion:
See how your king comes,
riding a donkey’s colt.
The disciples didn’t notice the fulfillment of many Scriptures at the time, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that what was written about him matched what was done to him.
The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts. It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade. The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: “It’s out of control. The world’s in a stampede after him.”
Faith is one of the most important things in my life. I love going to church and spending time singing, listening, and praying in community with others. I love the sacred time of communion – especially when I get the opportunity to serve that to others. I’m learning a new way to sing, listen, and pray to God during this time when I am unable to gather with others. I’m learning it’s okay to try something and realize it may not work and just try something else. A time to offer grace to myself. A time to offer praises to God! Amen!
Simply. Honestly. Emily. 