<html><body><div><div>Folks,</div><div><br></div><div>I was typing up the P/P Sunday sermon and was listening to NPR's evening news programme and heard about the prisoners just released from solitary confinement in Louisiana, and liked what I heard. I don't know whether the quote gives something specific to the sermon or if it detracts. I'll need to think.<br></div><div><br></div><div>The sermon tomorrow comes after the Liturgy of the Palms Gospel, before the procession into the Worship Room and the rest of the Liturgy, ending with the Passion Gospel and silence.</div><div><br></div><div>Bob</div></div><div><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);">THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY PALM-PASSION SUNDAY- c<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);">LUKE 19-28-40 20<sup>th</sup> MARCH, 2016<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);">ISAIAH 50:4-9a PSALM 31:9-16<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);">PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);">LUKE 22:14 – 23:56<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"> “The Lord needs it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"> To me, these seem such extraordinary words. Jesus was nearing the end of His earthly ministry, something of which He must have been acutely aware. He’d had encounters with people in the countryside, the lake shore and the city. He’d spoken to thousands, and fed them, physically, more than once. He’d healed people’s emotional, spiritual and physical ailments. He’d made a lot of friends – <b><u>AND</u></b> a lot of enemies. He’d gathered together, in the old style, a school of close followers to whom He’d talked in depth about how God’s love would always sustain them. He’d given warnings about not thinking highly of themselves, but told them, instead, that it was absolutely essential that they identify with whoever was the weakest person or group in the community.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"> People had listened. They hadn’t yet, however, taken in the full implication of what He’d said but, since He’d brought Lazarus to lfe after death, they were willing to believe anything. Now they were about to enter the Holy City for the most sacred remembrance in their faith and Jesus was about to give a wonderfully encouraging symbolic gesture to the world. He was going to enter the city as had been described by the prophets.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"> What could be more uplifting? Actually to be there when God’s grace was about to descend on everyone. The crowd didn’t know, of course, nor did the disciples really imagine, that the week was going to end so horrendously badly. All they could see and hear was the joy of fulfillment. Everything was going to be wonderful!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"> Most of us have been there at one point in our lives. Questions been resolved; frustration has been decreased; health issues don’t appear to be quite so pressing. If any or all of these are part of our lives, we begin to breathe a little more easily. If our neighbours and those who move around town seem to be in an equally decent mood, so much the better. Finally, things seem to be falling into place, so we do what we need to do each day with a little more confidence. We take time to look at all the different blossoms bursting out on the trees. We smell the freshly-mowed, damp grass and either run for cover or we stop to inhale, depending on our level of allergenicity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"> Spring is here! And, yes, the Vernal Equinox was at 9:30 last night! So if the rain comes back; if our eyes water and our noses run; if we have to do some extra work; it’s not that bad, especially if those around you are celebrating with you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"> Of course, this <b><u>WAS</u></b> Passover week for the citizens and suburbanites of Jerusalem. While Jesus was picking up a cheering crowd at one of the city gates, a Roman Legion was entering through another gate. There could be trouble at Passover at the drop of a helmet. Any number of folk could go off in any number of directions and stir up a mob just as easily as Jesus seemed to be able to pull a crowd together. Trouble never was, trouble never <b><u>IS</u></b>, far away. It’s the way of life. There’s always something, planned or completely unexpected, something which seems to blow us apart and take the joy out of what seeed so promising. Yet Jesus goes on, joining with the boisterous crowd. <b><u>WE</u></b> are invited to go, no matter what may seem to be about to cloud our day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"> In fact, some of the community in Jerusalem tried to get Jesus to quieten the folk down, to stop the pleasure, the anticipation of grace. No one really knows why they were nervous and anxious. Of course, Jesus knew how fickly he crowd could be. Of course, Jesus knew how quickly pain, and loneliness, and frustration can come upon us. Yet He said, simply, that God’s, coming in ways that none of us can understand, at times none of us can know; God’s grace, said Jesus, is so powerful that, somehow, even inanimate objects can appear to reflect the glory of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"> Just as He said, “Let the children come to Me”, so He said, “Let’s take advantage of every opportunity to find signs of God’s Loving Presence in our midst.” He might have added that it’s these signs that will help us get through all the hurtful things which <b><u>WILL</u></b> happen, no matter how cloudless today’s sky may appear.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"> One wonders just how much Jesus had guessed as He went into the city. He must have known that the authorities were trying to put Him and Lazarus to death, to rid themselves of anyone who might inspire a crowd to think that <b><u>THEY</u></b> had standing and importance in life. Whether or not Jesus new on what day it would happen is debatable. But He knew. He knew. He could hear it in the air. Yet He didn’t stop the celebrations. Right to the very last minute He was eager and insistent to enter the city, to fulfil the prophecy; to show how one can confront catastrophe and heartbreak.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"> So He didn’t shirk the displays of hope and faith. In fact, He did everything He could to build it up. That was when He sent His disciples for His colt. <b><u>THAT</u></b> was why He taught them to say, “The Lord needs it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"> Jesus, who was the agent of creation; Jesus who knew how many stars and planets there are; Jesus who restored sight and hearing; Jesus who gave Lazarus new life; Jesus <b><u>NEEDED</u></b> something from someone. He couldn’t begin this week; He couldn’t accomplish what He’d been working towards all His life, unless someone helped Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);">As it was then, so it is now. In order to celebrate; in order to draw the crowds in the joy of God; in order for all of creation to sing, Jesus needs you and needs me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);">In order to face the pain, the torment, the desperate loneliness, Jesus needs you, and needs me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"> “Albert Woodfox has spent more time in solitary confinement than any man alive in the U.S. today — 43 years. He and Robert King, … with the late Herman Wallace, … spent more than 100 years in solitary confinement for the 1972 death of a prison guard, … No forensic evidence tied (them to the) killing, and they always maintained their innocence.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"> Woodfox was freed a month ago, after three different court orders for his release, on his 69th birthday. Now he<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">says, "I am sure that I will continue to devote my life to defending those that can't defend themselves and protect those who need protecting." <sup>1</sup></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);">WE</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"> are part of the Gospel’s unfolding and preaching. We are all necessary for God’s love to become apparent for others. So today we <b><u>DO</u></b> sing; we <b><u>DO</u></b> process; and, shortly, we <b><u>DO</u></b> hear of the unimaginable grief.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(20, 24, 35);">Jesus, our Lord, needs us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">NOTE:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"><a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/03/19/470828257/after-decades-in-solitary-last-of-the-angola-3-carry-on-their-struggle">http://www.npr.org/2016/03/19/470828257/after-decades-in-solitary-last-of-the-angola-3-carry-on-their-struggle</a></span></span></p></div></body></html>