Sunday, April 17: Palm Sunday

'You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.’ And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a
mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there”, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.’

- Matthew 17:14-20

As a first grade teacher, I am struck by how similar Jesus sounds to teachers of young children the week before a vacation break. The patience is thin and you wonder how many times you need to say the same thing over and over again. Jesus has “had it” with these faithless, needy people. Why can’t they listen and follow directions? You can almost hear a sigh come from Jesus as he rebukes the man from the crowd and his disciples – “Where is the faith? How many ways do I need to show you? When will you learn?” Jesus even tells them what is to come, but instead of thinking that they need to change, the people/disciples just become distressed and appear weak. A change is coming – you can feel it in the air and in your soul.

—Tammy Waddell