Palm Sunday - Pointing to Truths We'd Rather Not See

Scripture: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29  • Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16 

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and we will parade into the Nave and Apse in celebration of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Three of the gospels have different accounts of Jesus entering Jerusalem. Matthew has him acclaimed as King with shouts of Hosanna (God saves!). John adds the palms and has Jesus himself acquire the donkey, while Mark has a detailed account of disciples being asked to fetch the donkey, and after the procession, Jesus walks alone into Jerusalem. 

All accounts point to Friday, to a different kind of kingship and kingdom. What kind of King is this? Why did Jesus choose to enter into Jerusalem in this manner, while Pontius Pilate rode in the fashion of imperial Rome at the same time? Did Jesus plan this? Is this a parade of irony? See The Rev, Debie Thomas' "The Clown King." If so what is its significance? Is it a protest march? See Fred B. Craddock's "The Protest March." If so, what was protested?

What is Mark's perspective in all of this? Why the detail about "donkey fetching," and his low key account when compared to that of Matthew's account? How does this week's gospel account relate to "preparing the way of the Lord," and following him? See Thomas G. Long's "Donkey Fetchers.".

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."

As the article from the Episcopal Café says, we are at "Cross Purposes." Who and what will we follow? What will we do? Who and what will we love? Like Jesus, we must decide.

Lift High the Cross

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9  • Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22  • Ephesians 2:1-10  • John 3:14-21

This week we read about God telling Moses to put a brass or bronze snake on a pole to heal anyone bitten by a snake, and Jesus referring to that story in saying that the Son of Man must be lifted up that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. What is Jesus referring to? Why would he compare his crucifixion to a snake being lifted up, especially since reference to Moses' "stake on a stick" had been banned in Jewish liturgy since the time of Hezekiah?

The gospel of John gives us a different perspective on the crucifixion, than the passion described in the synoptic gospels. What is that perspective? See The Rev. Rick Morley's "lifted high - a reflection on John 3:14-21."

For Morley, and Peter Woods, the cross is effectual - it is a lifting up, but does more than that, and requires something from us. What is that? In "Fear on a Stick," Peter Woods tells us Jesus has us confront our fears, change, and death. Both authors see John's account of the cross as a symbol of salvation.

What is it like, what does it take to be saved? See Thomas G. Long's "Just as I Am."

 

Jesus - Turning the Tables in the temple of the heart

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.'"

When we are disappointed with God, with life...

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

As I read the Scripture for this week, it made me think of how fragile we are - in mind, body and spirit. Peter is rebuked by Jesus when he himself rebukes Jesus after being told that the one Peter has recognized and acknowledged to be the Messiah, the Holy One of Israel, must suffer and die. Imagine Peter's disappointment. Think about our own disappointments with God, ourselves, and others.

Why did Jesus rebuke Peter? What did Jesus say one must do to be his follower? What about our doubts and fears? Where is God in all of this? Consider The Rev. David Lose's "Disappointment with God."

Peter eventually gets it, as can we. See "Oops, Wrong Savior!," by The Rev. Michael Coffey. Upon this πέτρα (Petra - Greek for large mass of rock), Jesus built his church, and to Peter he gave the keys to the kingdom. He calls to us, and offers us the kingdom, as well. The ever-present Lord. God with us. Emmanuel. Again, what must we do to follow Jesus? "Let them deny themselves, and take up their cross and follow me."

One of the lessons we learn is that it is okay to doubt, to ask God why, to tell God our frustrations, vent our anger, and cry. None of us is perfect. Things certainly don't always go the way we want them to go. See The Rev. Sharron R. Blezard's "Of Saints and Sinners." God goes before us. God suffers with us and goes with us. All the way - home.

How can we stretch our faith to reach the kingdom. See 2 Peter 5-7: For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

 

Lent - a time to deal with enemies

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?

Some of you may know or remember the famous saying of Pogo, Walt Kelly's cartoon possum, "We have met the enemy, and the enemy is us." Both of our authors remind us that Jesus also told us to pray for our enemies.

Who and what are your enemies? Loving our enemies isn't easy. What happens if we let our enemies get the best of us? How can we prevent our enemies from getting the best of us? See The Rev. Geoffrey Hoare's "Enemies."

Read what The Rev. Kate Matthews says about the Noah reading in Genesis, and about learning from the Psalms during Lent in her "God Loves Us," (which also includes her  Reflection on Psalm 25). She would have us share the heart of the Psalmist working through battles that we wage in our lives, calling us to take into account our prayer life, our thoughts, and actions, and how this effects our lives, our work, and the lives of others. What disciplines can we use to create within us clean hearts, and which will renew a right spirit within us?

"I saw the Light"

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

A popular song is titled "I saw the Light." In "Plastic Minds and Magic Eyes," Ragan Sutterfield tells us that the common thread running through all of the Scripture this week, the last week of Epiphany, is "seeing," encouraging us to see the "incredible reality of the kingdom of God all around us," taking care not to "make tents on mountain tops" as Peter wanted to do during the Transfiguration.

In "spiritual vertigo - a reflection on the transfiguration," Fr. Rick Morley would have us get spiritually prepared so that when Jesus takes us somewhere on our journey to "blow our mind with grace and grandeur of Almighty God" we are overwhelmed, not by fear, but "with joy and wonder of all God's works. 

Finally Debra Dean Murphy brings us down to earth, as we leave the light of Epiphany and journey in Lent with Jesus to the cross, reminding us that the glory of God is revealed in the cross, and the exalted Lord is never separate from the suffering Christ. In "Light for the Journey," Murphy tells us that as ashes are placed on our foreheads with the sign of the cross, we can be transformed if we take up Christ's cross, deny ourselves, and follow him, and that we will need the Light of Jesus transformed to guide and be a companion with us on our journey.