April 17th 2011- Palm Sunday

We tend to be a fearful people. Even the angels in heaven know that. In the New Testament as they appear on earth, their first words are "Fear Not" to Zachariah, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. Even King Herod is full of fear when he hears the message of the wise men. Fear drove him to do dreadful things. Fear I does that to many people fortunately not many to as an extreme action as killing. It does, however drive us to do wrong and at the least, very foolish things. Lies and petty deceptions of all kinds probably top the list.

In the first Epistle of John, (1 John 4. 18) it is written "Perfect love casteth out fear". Love is God and Love is power. We must learn that love is not just a sweet and gentle force. We must become aware in our lives that the power of love is very strong, the strongest power there is.

Let us start each day with a prayer for the power of love in all our lives and relationships. Let us ask for insight into the point of view of others, especially when it opposes ours. Let us not be self promoting, but self giving.

On this Palm Sunday, let us meditate on the courage of Jesus. He cast out fear as he rode into Jerusalem on the donkey because he was filled with the power of love from the father. Amidst all of the adulation, he was facing a terrible experience of false accusations, betrayal, humiliation and agonizing death. We know from his prayer in Gesthemane that he wanted to be relieved from his ordeal but he accepted it with the words "Not my will but thine be done." Let us each one of us cast out fear and go forward in faith and hope to live with him in his life of resurrection.