Lent: Living the Questions (6) Palm Sunday & Holy Week

This week we watch Jesus, very intentionally, very knowingly, walk right into a confrontation with the power structures that seek to destroy him. He enters into this confrontation without any kind of defence—no armour, no strategy, no argument; just his presence. His presence is Divine Resistance to these massive strongholds.

He arrives at the city gates and crosses into the ancient city, which is both a symbol of God’s presence and people, and a symbol of Empire, knowing that most likely this confrontation will result in his very violent, very painful death. And still, he goes.

We are witnessing the fruit and fulfillment of Jesus’ wilderness experience. There, in the barren discomfort of the wilderness, he wrestled with temptation. There he chose whom he would worship. It was there that he set aside the empire’s vision of power, success, and popularity, and chose again God’s vision of kinship. 

As we transition from Lent to Holy Week, let this be a reminder to us: we must not underestimate the power of the wilderness. Do not underestimate the power that comes to us as we sit within discomfort, leaning into the questions, welcoming the cold and heat and the loneliness and the hunger and the longing until we have clarity on the next step that love asks of us.

Ammon Hennacy, an American Christian pacifist and member of the Catholic Worker Movement, lived from 1893-1970 during a time of intense industrialization and militarization of America. In dialogue with these cultural forces, he wrote  “Force is the weapon of the weak.” As Jesus enters Jerusalem, we see how moral fortitude and courageous love is true strength, not force and violence.

This is the Jesus we follow.
Not a John Wayne Jesus. 
Not a nationalistic Jesus.
Not a white privilege Jesus. 
Not a prosperity Jesus. 

This Jesus, who made an absolute rejection of power, as it was wielded in his day and in ours.

We watch this Jesus move closer to his enemies. Move towards the hostility. Step closer to the violence that will be done against him as he forsakes the way of weapons for the way of the cross. Stepped towards, not away from, his enemies. 

Hosanna. Lord have mercy. 

Deep peace and blessing,
— Anne

Rev. Anne Baxter Smith
Pastor, Church at Southpoint

The three images of Palm Sunday’s Visio Divina:

(1) Power Play, 2023. Artist: Lisle Gwynn Garrity   Link

(2) Guatemala: Procession,1978. Artist: Betty LaDuke   Link

(3) Jesus Enters the City / from The Passion of Christ—A Gay Vision, 2014. Artist: Douglas Blanchard   Link

New to Southpoint?

At Southpoint, it all begins with God’s love. Just as a plant grows, it receives sunshine, so we grow as we receive God’s love. At Southpoint, we are growing in our capacity to love God, ourselves, one another, and creation.

We seek to be a community of grace that is intentional yet organic, spacious yet authentic, grace-filled yet accountable. * We are fully welcoming. *

We encourage relationships rather than run programs, yet we recognize the importance of intentionality and structure as we nurture life together.

As a community, we seek to put our love in action. We value helping out on Sunday mornings, sharing food, and showing up in hard times. We keep our church life simple so folk have time to build relationships with family, friends, and neighbours. We encourage folk to serve in tangible ways within the wider community. We rent space rather than own a building, allowing us to do more with less, supporting missions at home and abroad.

Curious to know more?

These six slides express what motivates our ministry (best viewed on a monitor). Here’s the bio of our Pastor, Rev. Anne Baxter Smith.

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