Fields United Methodist Church

Thoughts Along the Way

Pastor Tom Joyce

March 23, 2021

“As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen…”

Luke 19:37

The crowd that surrounded Jesus to welcome him into the holy City saw something that they wanted and needed in Jesus. The joy, and the spirit that Jesus brought was in contrast to a world that was unforgiving, hope-less, and just plain hard. Though they could not imagine the events that were to come, when Jesus came among them they felt alive for the first time in their lives. Christians throughout the world mark the triumphal entry of Jesus to Jerusalem as the beginning of Holy Week, a journey we take with Jesus to the cross and to the ultimate victory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. As we begin this journey of faith, a question comes to my mind taking the title of a cherished hymn of Charles Wesley, “And Are We Yet Alive;” are we truly alive in Jesus’ “almighty grace?” Through this season of pandemic, violence, unrest, and uncertainty, we need Jesus, we need hope and assurance that even in the midst of the challenges of life, there is hope for a new day. The people in Jesus’ time cheered for Jesus, and maybe it is time to cheerfully welcome Jesus into our lives, to offer the same grace that has been with us from the time of our conception.  What Jesus offers you today is hope, and the joy of knowing that you, especially you, are God’s beloved and that though life can be a challenge to be sure you are not alone, never have been, never will be. Take the journey of faith, praise God with all your heart, love your neighbor by sharing with them the love of Jesus that has been given to you. So, as the last verse of Wesley’s hymn proclaims, “let us take up the cross till we the crown obtain, and gladly reckon all things loss so we may Jesus gain.” (“And Are We Yet Alive,” Charles Wesley) May this Holy Week and Easter celebration be a new beginning for you, a fresh start, and a life renewed and transformed by grace.  Amen