Susan’s Palm Sunday sermon focuses on the themes of identity and life’s reversals. She begins by describing the emotional tension of Palm Sunday, where the same crowd that celebrates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem will soon demand his crucifixion. Susan contrasts Jesus’ humble arrival on a donkey with Pilate’s grand military procession, highlighting the opposing values they represent: Jesus embodies humility, vulnerability, and authenticity, while Pilate symbolizes power and dominance. Jesus’ unwavering peace, even in the face of betrayal, heartbreak, and death, stems from his deep-rooted identity as God’s beloved, affirmed at his baptism. This identity anchors him, allowing him to remain steady amidst the constant highs and lows of life, which Susan compares to the spinning “Wheel of Fortune.”
Susan encourages us to find the same steadfastness by rooting our identity in God’s love. Life is full of reversals, like the shift from “Hosanna” to “Crucify him,” but Jesus teaches us to stay centered, avoiding the chaos of external validation or rejection. She reminds us that Jesus’ way is different from the world’s way—he resists building his sense of self on unstable, worldly measures of worth. Instead, he remains grounded in God’s unchanging love, offering us a model to follow. In times of turmoil, like the roller coaster of Holy Week or our own personal struggles, Susan urges us to remember that we are God’s beloved. By embracing this truth, we can find peace and strength to face whatever lies ahead, walking together in faith on the path Jesus calls “the way to peace.”
Reflection Questions for this Week:
- What does Susan mean when she says Jesus stayed at the center of the “Wheel of Fortune,” and how can we apply this idea to our own lives?
- How does the contrast between Jesus’ humble procession on a donkey and Pilate’s grand display of power show us the difference between God’s kingdom and the world’s values?
- How can rooting our identity in being God’s beloved help us face life’s ups and downs, like Jesus did during Holy Week?