Palm Sunday (NTA)

1 Peter 5:1-11

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: ² shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; ³ not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. ⁵ Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ¹⁰ And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The Devil is trying to destroy you. The devil is out there in your life and doing everything he can to turn you from the truth. There are liars around every corner. They are all trying to devour you, or more importantly your soul. They are doing their best to kill you (eternally).

You have a Good Shepherd who loves you. You have a Chief Shepherd, who has established a way for your to live and act. It is very difficult to live our life in perfection and glory. It is difficult to keep our eyes from sinning. It is difficult to keep our hands from inning. But the worst offender of all is the distraction of our mind. Even as you are reading this you have probably thought of other things you need to get done today. You may even think that St Peter is exaggerating about the Devil.

Jesus Christ has conquered the devil. He died for the forgiveness of sin. God himself restores us to life. Christ confirms our life in his own death. The Holy Spirit strengthens us in the true faith. God plants you, or establishes you forever. It is Jesus Christ who is our Chief Shepherd and deliverer from death and the devil.