Sixth Sunday of Lent 2022 (Palm / Passion Sunday.)
The Liturgy of the Palms
Luke 19:28-40
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
The Liturgy of the Word
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 22:14-23:56
or Luke 23:1-49
Psalm 31:9-16
Luke 19:28-40
The Iona Community is an ecumenical Christian community working for peace and social justice, the rebuilding of community and the renewal of worship.
Although its members and associates are scatted over the world, it’s focus is the rebuilt medieval Abbey buildings on the Scottish Isle of Iona.
People from around the word are welcomed to the Abbey where each morning the following words open the worship:
The world belongs to God
THE EARTH AND ALL ITS PEOPLE
How good it is, how wonderful,
TO LIVE TOGETHER IN UNITY
Love and faith come together,
JUSTICE AND PEACE JOIN HANDS
If Christ’s disciples keep silent
THESE STONES WOULD SHOUT ALOUD
Open our lips, O God,
AND OUR MOUTHS SHALL PROCLAIM YOUR PRAISE
(Iona Abbey Worship Book, ‘The Morning Service’)
It is easy to see the source of some of those words:
19:39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.”
19:40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
In a well-planned piece of street theatre, Jesus acquired a donkey. The people put some clothes on the animal and spread some on the ground. Jesus rode the donkey down from the Mount of Olives and into the city of Jerusalem.
In Luke’s gospel there are no palms. The palm theme comes from the other Gospels, such as Matthew.
The people shouted. They shouted ‘Hosanna’. Which means ‘Praise God.’
Perhaps fearing the ever-watching eyes of the Romans some Pharisees in the crowd told Jesus to tell his followers to keep quiet.
And Jesus’ response?
“I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
The stones would shout out.
For Jesus it was the stones of the city of Jerusalem. Stone beneath the donkey. Stone all around. Buildings, temple. Everywhere.
In Iona abbey in the cool morning, it’s the stones of the eight-hundred-year-old building.
Yet, we can’t leave it to the stones to shout. We can’t be silent. The people of the Iona Community are not silent. Working for peace and social justice is integral to the Iona Community.
The literature, crafts and other products in the Abbey Shop reflect this ethos.
Therefore, they take great care to source their products from a range of small family-run businesses, local where possible, and fair trade organisations.
Iona Community people are committed to Fair Trade.
Members of the Iona Community are committed to following a rule of worship, prayer and commitment to justice and peace. Among their working principles is economic justice.
Our economic values
We deplore economic injustice. We are committed to the common good, to trade justice and to a critique of economic policies that increase poverty and inequality. We support our work through our own giving and our trading operations. We operate a balanced budget, try to bank and invest ethically and purchase fairly-traded goods. Our residential staff are paid the same, regardless of job. We seek to minimise salary differentials for non-residential staff.
These Iona people do not keep silent. Their praise to God is in the form of worship and economic justice.
Reflection
Use the Iona Morning worship responses as your approach to God.
Try replacing ‘We’ with ‘I’ as you re-read the ‘economic values’ statement.
What action are you taking for yourself and your community to express trade justice and purchase fair trade goods?
Your group can become a Fair Trade Faith Group
Prayer
Loving God,
We thank you that Jesus approached the great city of power on a donkey, symbol of peace and not a horse, symbol of war.
We thank you that the disciples shouted your praise in the face of opposition.
We pray for the Iona Community and their commitment to worship, peace, and justice.
Bless me and my community as we seek to live the peaceful and just way of Jesus.
Amen
