Sermon preached by the Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson
Palm Sunday
Watch out! Holy Week has begun and with it the re-presentation of those events that brought about the salvation of the world. As we experience once more the events of Holy Week, they have the power to change your life and my life. So I say again, watch out!
That being the case, I am going to give you a few tips on how to keep that from happening, on how to make Easter Day as much like any other day as possible. In other words, here are a few tips on how to make Easter Day as bland and meaningless as possible.
First of all, plan right now not to be a part of any services this week, but only to be present on Easter Day. Don’t come tonight to Evensong, when Dubois’ Seven Last Words of Christ will be sung as the anthem. The music might just touch your heart and inspire you to want to be here for other services.
Secondly, don’t spend any extra time in prayer or the reading of scripture.
When the Paschal Triduum starts with the service on Maundy Thursday, that’s when you really need to avoid being anywhere near the church. Those are the three most important days of the Church Year. If you miss being present for the liturgies on the first two days, Maundy Thursday evening and Good Friday, then you will have robbed Easter Day of much of its power, and therefore of its ability to change your life.
Certainly don’t fast on Good Friday. Fasting, when combined with prayer, makes that prayer more intense. So, have a big, juicy hamburger on Good Friday, just to make sure there are no hints of any sacrifice on your part that day. Even small sacrifices on our part can remind us of Jesus’ sacrifice, and that’s something you wouldn’t want to do this week, especially if you want to assure yourself of a bland and meaningless Easter.
In order to make sure you are successful in staying away from the church this week, and especially during the Triduum, fill your schedule with other things, so that you can be ready with a good excuse. Plan to play golf, if you’re a golfer, as much as possible. If you have children, plan an outing on Good Friday, perhaps going to Disney World. Even watching television instead of coming to the services will suffice. And if you can’t think of anything else you’d rather do, then just use the excuse that you’re not religious, and anything other than going to church on Easter Day is for religious people.
The devil really likes that excuse, because it always fits every occasion. Will you pray daily? Oh no, I’m not religious. Will you participate in the Paschal Triduum? Oh no, I’m not religious. Will you fast on Good Friday? Oh no, I’m not religious. Will you confess your sins, help the needy, serve on a committee, give for the work of the Church? Oh no, I’m not religious. It works for all occasions, and it is especially effective during Holy Week.
To summarize, keep this week as secularly as possible. Make the most important thing you do in preparation for Easter the buying of new clothes or the preparation of the meal for Easter Day. That will make sure that this Easter Day will be no different from any other day. If, on the other hand, you wish to make Easter as meaningful and rich as possible, then……….Oh, I guess I really don’t have to go into that now, do I?