Sermon notes - April 5, 2020 - Palm/Passion Sunday
Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 27:11-54

“Faithful servant”

	During one of the many sermons I have heard in my life I was struck with the words quoted from a passage in Matthew’s Gospel, ‘well done thou good and faithful servant’.(Matt. 25:23)  I remember wanting to hear those words from God and so I decided to apply myself to the task of becoming a good and faithful servant.  While the decision was a real one I soon forgot about attending to it on a regular basis so I didn’t really become a faithful servant overnight.  I did, however, recall the event from time to time so managed to keep the idea alive.  If I were to be asked what my life goal was I think it would include the words ‘being afaithful servant’.  Those of us who were baptized in the Anglican tradition during the days of the Book of Common Prayer services would have heard those words spoken over us by the priest after the act of baptism. “We sign him/her with the sign of the Cross, in token that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under his banner against sin, the world, and the devil, and to continue Christ’s faithful soldier and servant unto his life’s end. Amen.” (B.C.P. p. 528) As this year’s Holy Week begins and we find ourselves in very different conditions I wish to offer some thoughts about a faithful servant - Jesus the Messiah - as he walked through his very difficult week.

	In his beautiful letter to the Christians in Philippi St. Paul wrote and urged them to ‘have the same mind in you that was in Christ Jesus’ (Phil 2:1) As we all know it is often our mindset which determines how we act.  If we are fearful, anxious, nervous or hopeful it affects our actions. To be a faithful servant the mindset of Jesus the Christ is a helpful one.  

	“He did not count equality with God as something to be exploited” Jesus had every right to demand the privileges of his heritage but in order to be a faithful servant he did not exploit that right.  Humility, we are told, was the characteristic displayed by Jesus in this action.  In order for you or I to be faithful servants a level of humility will therefore need to be part of our lives.  I am often reminded that humility is not equal to self-abasement. Humility is the clear understanding of our position in the universe and the role we have been asked to play in a particular circumstance. As Messiah Jesus had come in order to serve the people of Israel and so the glories of heaven were set aside for the sake of the purpose. One of the most moving examples of this occurred when Jesus knelt and washed the feet of his disciples.  Humility in action. Retaining the dignity while serving the situation.  In our new roles during this crisis how are we expressing our humility? Do we need to ask God for help in this regard?

	“He became obedient” As I prepared this message the word ‘became’ stuck out to me.  This sentence suggests a process.  There is, it would seem, a growth in obedience. We certainly see Jesus’ obedience during his 40 days of temptation in the wilderness and we see his obedience in the week we call Holy Week.  The process of obedience requires a moment by moment decision to follow.  Even at the last moment before he was crucified Jesus had the opportunity to refuse to be obedient.  We hear his plea in the Garden of Gethsemene as he prays which concludes with the words, ‘not my will but yours’.  Becoming obedient requires the recognition of a greater wisdom and power than ours. A bigger plan than just our immediate circumstance.  We see examples of disobedience on the beaches in Florida and in our own neighbourhoods and, I believe, one of the reasons for this is that those who are disobedient have not allowed bigger plan to capture their minds.  Jesus had allowed the bigger plan of God to capture his mind and so he became obedient unto death - even death on a cross..

	And so, while there are many other things to say about being a faithful servant I offer these two important qualities - Humility and obedience.  Perhaps as we experience this year’s Holy Week from within our isolation we could ask the Holy Spirit to show us more of these qualities and help to strengthen them in us.