Holy week - Be a part of it

 Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1-15:47

As we enter Holy Week from the triumphant entry of the Prince of Peace into Jerusalem,  celebrated as a King in humility, to the most horrific of deaths, and the Resurrection ( Ανάσταση) of Easter, read Dan Clendenin's "The Last Week.

This Voice Has Come For Your sake, Not Mine

 Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34  • Psalm 51:1-12 or Psalm 119:9-16  •Hebrews 5:5-10  • John 12:20-33

This week we see Jesus come to terms with the cross he must bear, in all of his humanity and divinity. Like the old gospel song "I have decided to follow Jesus... the world behind me, the cross before me, no turning back, no turning back," The Rev. Robert Cornwall, in "The Hour Has Come - Lectionary Reflection for Lent 5b," offers thoughts about what it means to put ego, ambition, pride and selfishness behind us, as we learn to take up our crosses and follow Jesus.

In this week's gospel, Jesus knows a cruel, humiliating death is imminent, on the path he has chosen. We see him in all his humanity, and then he, and we, hear a voice, saying, in response to Jesus' plea, "Father, glorify your name," "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." Jesus says to his disciples, and to us, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine." What does he mean? What voices do we listen to today? Whose voice do we hear? What are the consequences, the blessings?  Read The Rev. Kirk Kubicek's "This Voice Has Come For Your Sake, Not Mine." 

In "Who Are We Looking For," Debie Thomas cuts through chase, "Jesus willingly took the violence, the contempt, and the hatred of this world and absorbed them all into his own body.  He chose to be the victim, the scapegoat, the sacrifice.  He refused to waver in his message of universal love, grace, and liberation, knowing full well that the message would cost him his life.  He declared solidarity for all time with those who are abandoned, colonized, oppressed, accused, imprisoned, beaten, mocked, and murdered.  He burst open like a seed so that new life would grow and replenish the earth.  He took an instrument of torture and turned it into a vehicle of hospitality and communion for all people, everywhere.  He loved and he loved and he loved, all the way to the end.  “When I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself.”

In "The Voice," The Rev. Luz Cabrera Montes tells us,"There will be days when we will not get all of the work done, days when we will not know which voices to listen to – but God will remain with us. We must take our time when listening to the voices around us and decide where we can find God in them. We must decide to love because we know that hate is too much to carry. We must continue to say, “We wish to see Jesus.” Let us continue to boldly claim this for our lives and for our world... and we are not alone.

Jesus, turning tables

  Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17  • Psalm 19  • 1 Corinthians 1:18-25  • John 2:13-22

This week we read and study the law, the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments handed down from on high to Moses, and also Jesus driving the moneychangers from the temple. Why do you suppose the two are put together in this Lectionary lesson? Jesus also talks about destroying the temple, which has become the center of worship for the Jews, where sacrifices are made by the priests on behalf of the people, and the high priest alone enters into the Holy of Holies to seek atonement for the sins of his people.

We learn a lot about the center of worship and relationship with God this week. It is not about  righteously keeping the law, great buildings, or religious institutions. Peter Woods tells us the temple is the heart in his article "Cleansing the Cardiac Temple - Lent 3a." 

In "where God dwells - a reflection on John 2:13-22," The Rev. Rick Morley tells us where the presence of God dwells, and where our deep connection with God can be found.

I find Dan Clendenin' s "Feeling Nervous About Meeting Jesus," challenging. We should be careful not to be complacent about thinking we know God, God's will, or all there is to know about Jesus. Clendenin says "Jesus comes to challenge rather than to reinforce my prejudices and illusions. He comes to defamiliarize what religion makes safe and cozy. He never once says, "understand me." He says something far more radical. 'Follow me.'"

Debie Thomas challenges us to be more like Jesus, in "Not In God's House."

Why follow Jesus?

  Scripture: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16  • Psalm 22:23-31  • Romans 4:13-25  • Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9 

In this Sunday's gospel, which follows the Transfiguration and Peter's answer to Jesus' question of "Who do you say I am?" Peter is rebuked when Jesus tells him that Jesus must be crucified on a cruel Roman cross.  How can this be? Peter had just recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, moments before. And then those ominous word, that whoever would follow him must deny themselves and take up their own cross. And whoever would lose their life would gain it, and whoever would gain their life would lose it. How so, and why?

Read Katerina Katsarka Whitley's "The Most Difficult PathtoFollow," and Debie Thomas' "Gains and Losses."

Journeying through the wilderness.

  Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17  • Psalm 25:1-10  • 1 Peter 3:18-22  • Mark 1:9-15

Every Lent we begin with Jesus' baptism, going into the wilderness and being tempted. What can we learn this Lent as we journey with Jesus into the wilderness, and from temptations?

Read Debie Thomas's "Beasts and Angels."

Through it all, The Rev. Dr. Cheryl A. Lindsay reminds us of God's Covenant: Signs of Promise, referring to the story of Noah, and the heavenly bow.

Crossing thresholds when everything changes.

 Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-12  • Psalm 50:1-6  • 2 Corinthians 4:3-6  • Mark 9:2-9

This is the last Sunday of Epiphany before the season of Lent, and before Ash Wednesday.

Our Scripture gives us accounts of the passing of the mantle from the prophet Elijah to Elisha as Elijah is caught up in the whirlwind in a chariot of fire, and three disciples experience the transfiguration of Jesus on a mountain before they accompany him on his journey off the mountain to the cross.  Both awesome and terrifying.

But the real significance of these events is not in the whirlwind, or fire, or the heavenly glow.  It is the thresholds Elisha,  the disciples, and you and I are called to cross  when everything changes. From comfort, security and certainty, to vulnerability, questions and uncertainty, in the hills and valleys, and sometimes wildernesses, of our lives. How will we respond? Read Debie Thomas' "When Everything Changes." 

Miracles or more? Healing in everyday life.

  Scripture: Isaiah 40:21-31  • Psalm 147:1-11, 20c  • 1 Corinthians 9:16-23  • Mark 1:29-39

In this week's gospel, Jesus, without a word, takes her hand, and "lifts up" Dorcas, Peter's mother-in-law, who has been ill. Immediately she gets up, and without a demand or request, begins serving others. She understands Jesus, his mission, and call to discipleship when the crowds, his disciples, and yes, us, misunderstand what Jesus is about.

What is Jesus all about? What are we called to do, as a church, and as individuals, all beloved of God? What about our seemingly mundane lives. See Debie Thomas' "A Day in the Life."

Is healing miraculous, to be expected as popular prosperity preachers profess? Is it, and Jesus' healing presence, something more? What if the miracles we pray for do not happen? See The Rev. Debie Thomas' "Mystery, Not Magic." Where is Jesus in all of this? What should we pray for? What are we, as Christians, called to do, to be?

Can we be healed without being cured? See The Rev. Danàe Ashley's sermon.

Authority, Rules and Freedom

  Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:15-20  • Psalm 111  • 1 Corinthians 8:1-13  • Mark 1:21-28

 Paul's first letter to the Christians in Corinth instructs them on why they should not eat the meat offered to idols. His reason is nuanced, offering insight into the responsible exercise of Christian freedom, considering rules, rights, responsibilities, principles, and people.  See The Rev. Machrina Blasdell's "What's the Question."

Remember our discussion of the authority and power exercised by Jesus, ἐξουσία,  authority associated with freedom instead of domination. An authority which when exercised and recognizes us frees us from powers which bind us, to do God's will, to love with God's love, to serve rather than be served. That is the authority recognized in Jesus' exorcism of the man from Capernaum  possessed of an unclean Spirit. Can you think of teachings and practices of Jesus concerning eating, food, and banquets? How does that relate to Paul's instructions to the Christians of Corinth concerning eating the food offered to idols? Think about how Jesus used his authority. How should we, as the body of Christ, act in Jesus' name? Read what Sister Kym Harris says about the authority of Jesus in her Exposition.

In "Astounded," Debie Thomas wants us to be open to be astonished at the healing freedom Jesus offers as he speaks with authority so that even unclean spirits submit to him. What has he do do with us? Everything.

 

Why did the disciples answer Jesus's call?

  Scripture: Jonah 3:1-5, 10  • Psalm 62:5-12  • 1 Corinthians 7:29-31  • Mark 1:14-20

The gospel this week is about Jesus calling his disciples, particularly, Andrew, Peter, James and John, to become fishers of men. How is it that they dropped what they were doing, their livelihood, and family and way of life to follow Jesus? 

Our authors this week look through the lens of the writer of the gospel of Mark, Paul's letter to the Corinthians, and even the Jonah's mission to the Assyrians, as well as the times in which they were written, to give us insight into why, and how, the disciples answered Jesus' call.

There is more to the term "evangelical," which comes from the Greek εὐαγγέλιον (euangélion), or "good news, although "good news" it is! See Dan Clendenin's "Evangelicals: When Labels are Libels." The urgency of getting the good news out, in God's time (καιρός - kairos) is viewed in the urgency of the time ( Χρόνος - chronos) Paul's letter and the gospel of Mark were written. The challenge is to see, believe, and act in God's time, with the love, forgiveness and compassion God showed the Ninevites in Jonah's story, and which is recognized in this week's Psalm. As this week's gospel begins, "The time is fulfilled, the  kingdom of God has come near, repent (turn around - renew your minds and thoughts and hearts), and believe in the good news. That's what grabbed the disciples, and that is what can grab you and me.

See also, Beth Scibienski's "Irresistible Grace," Sister Kim Harris' Commentary,  Exposition, and Reflection (all separate short articles), and Fr. Rick Morley's "time fulfilled - a reflection on Mark 1:14-20."

In "I Will Make," Debie Thomas explores the urgency of Jesus' call, and what we are called to do as people Jesus calls us to be, authentic, and something more than our own pride and egos make it out to be.