Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday - April 13, 2025 - The Rev. Dr. Christoph Keller, III

·15 min·1 clip

Imagine every star as a human soul—does sheer number diminish a single soul's value to God?

The episode is a Palm Sunday sermon by Rev. Dr. Christoph Keller III at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock. It begins with a meditation on Abraham and stars, quoting novelist Marilynne Robinson to ponder whether the vast number of human souls lessens any single one's worth to God. Keller transitions to the Eucharist, reflecting on Jesus' Last Supper words and their eternal resonance. He notes a potential shift in religious trends, citing a Free Press article about the Hallow prayer app's 23 million users and polls indicating Christianity's decline may have stalled. Personal anecdotes follow, as Keller recalls his youth in Massachusetts, linking it to Kris Kristofferson's 1969 song 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' about a hungover Sunday morning. This ties into themes of loss and redemption, paralleling Jesus' sacrifice. The sermon delves into the Passion narrative, describing Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, his anguish, and an angel strengthening him. Keller imagines Jesus praying Psalm 31 as Judas approaches, emphasizing the phrase 'my times are in your hand'. He references theologian Karl Barth's view that all gospel events lead to the Passion, and all Passion events lead to the Resurrection. The sermon concludes by affirming that Jesus shares human pain and that prayers in Christ find affirmation. Throughout, Keller uses literary and cultural references, including Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, to illustrate Christian themes of service and sacrifice. The format is a solo homily with educational and narrative tones, structured around biblical readings for Palm Sunday.

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