HOSANNA!
The people cry out.
Hosanna!
They were triumphant. They were expectant. They were exuberant.
Hosanna, Lord, Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes – in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna.
It’s what we all want to cry out, isn’t it? It’s what we’re all feeling! It’s an arm-raising, faith bolstering, excitement raising cry! Jubilation and Praise!
HOSANNA! In the HIGHEST heaven! HOSANNA!
And yet.
Here’s the fun part. Do you know what Hosanna means?
It means: Save me. Help me.
The people cry out their hosannas that day were not expressing jubilation and praise – they were begging for help. For salvation. For release from their oppression.
Hosanna. Lord, Hosanna.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord – for this person, the blessed one, can help us.
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David – the continuing lineage of hope, from long ago – can help us.
Hosanna in the highest heaven – help us – for all the other levels of existence that we proclaim have not yet helped us how we expected.
Hosanna.
Save us. Help us.
Hosanna, Lord, Hosanna!
And this is what we cry. Hosanna.
Lord, help us.
Help us in this time of trial and temptation and desperation.
Lord, SAVE us.
Save us from evil.
Save us from COVID.
Save us from cruelty.
Save us from systems that degrade and degenerate.
Save us from injustice.
Save us from violence.
Save us from our own hardened hearts.
Save us from inequality.
Save us from ALL that would deny the fullness of life that you have created and given us.
Hosanna, Lord, Hosanna.
And here’s the Good News, beloved. Here’s is what we – who have cried out for help – need to hear. That salvation has come to us, in the person of Jesus Christ.
The one who offered peace.
The one who ate with the folks society rejected.
The one who offered grace.
The one who welcomed the stranger.
The one who offered forgiveness.
The one who challenged oppressive regimes.
The one who rejected the status quo.
The one who healed the sick.
The one who befriended the lonely.
The one who loves unconditionally.
Jesus: the Christ. The Saviour.
So: Help US, Lord Jesus.
Save US, Lord Jesus! Hosanna.
And HELP us, Lord Jesus, to recognise when your saving grace is UPON us. When we have received your gifts –
your blessings –
your teachings –
your love –
your healing –
your salvation.
When we have received your help – for which we have cried out, and for which we have TRUSTed and HOPEd and BELIEVEd.
Help us to know that you are with us as we take the RISK of faith to take action IN faith.
In those times when we barely know what we’re asking for, help us, Lord, Hosanna.
In those times when we receive what we’re asking for - help us, Lord, Hosanna.
In those times when we recognise that we have received it! help us, Lord, Hosanna.
And in those times when what we have received seems more intimidating than what we were trying to remove ourselves from - help us, Lord, Hosanna.
For the rewards of salvation are great:
The promise of Salvation is great.
The assurance of eternity with God is great.
The change from today’s insecurities to the future’s assurances are great!
So Hosanna – help us – save us from the place of fear and immobility, and bring us to the place of jubilation and joy.
Hosanna, Lord Jesus: Save us.
Here. Now. Forever: Hosanna.
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