'Hosanna' reminds me...
Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
“Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Then he entered Jerusalem... _ Mark 11:8-11a
A few years back I met up with a mentor at a summer camp he was speaking at. I arrived just as one of their sessions were starting and the worship band had begun to play. As the band's set unfolded, it was filled with anthems and soft reflective pieces. As they began the last song before my mentor was going to speak, I could see that the song was moving this young crowd from it's onset...
"Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest!"
About midway through the song, I feel a tap on my shoulder from my mentor. He leans over and says, "Isn't it crazy that the very people who proclaimed this for Jesus, a week later were crying out for his death?" He then cracked the all to familiar yet reassuming half smile that acknowledged that he had just dropped a pretty profound statement on me. Before I could even begin to respond, he headed up towards the stage.
This interaction has stuck with me and convicted me for over 3 years now because it reminds me over and over again how I say "Hosanna!" one day then in my actions quickly say "Crucify him!" It reminds me...
How often I deny who Christ is by denying the image of God that lay in every single person in the world.
How often I deny who Christ is by choosing praise Him when things are well but deny Him has soon as life becomes difficult.
How often I deny the kingdom bursting forth by living out of fear and hate rather than love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.
How often I deny the kingdom here and now by building walls rather than bridges with those that are different from me.
How often I keep salvation contained to my own personal transformation rather than the world redeeming act that it is.
How often I choose my bias, my privilege, my nationality, my preferred political party over Christ's kingdom and creation.
Maybe you're like me.
So today, may we celebrate.
May we remember that we are invited...that we are called into more than a day or an event...but into the deeply complex and joyous life of active participation of bringing the Kingdom of God - here and now- for you, for me, for everyone with Christ, our triumphal Savior!