'ENOUGH'

Scripture: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29  •   Luke 19:28-40

As we study Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem in our celebration of Palm Sunday, all three of our authors ask "Why did Jesus come to Jerusalem?" Two of our authors, The Rev. Rick Morley in "enough - a reflection on Palm Sunday," and The Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Pagano in "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do," tell us Jesus came to say "Enough." What do they mean by that?

In "What Do the Palms Say?" The Rev. Byron Rohrig gives an interesting historical account of the significance of the use of palm branches in celebration of a triumphant entry into Jerusalem by the Maccabees, who rid Judea of Antiochus's soldiers and sued for a peace which lasted a century, not long before Jesus' entry into David's Royal City - a memory fresh in the minds of, and dear to Jews suffering under imperial Roman occupation. What do the palms say?

Passion and Extravagant Love in Lent?

Scripture: Isaiah 43:16-21 •  Psalm 126  • Philippians 3:4b-14  •  John 12:1-8

Passion - extravagant love, in Lent? This week we have John's account of the story of the woman who poured precious nard over the feet of Jesus, and wiped them with her hair. According to John this is Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, not Mary Magdalene, or a prostitute as we are told in other gospel accounts. The point is that she, more than anyone else, recognizes Jesus for who he is - humanly and as the Savior of us all - and anoints not his head, but his feet, which will carry him to his crucifixion, and glory. She participates in the passion of Christ, losing herself, unconcerned about what others may think, and shows deep and extravagant, unfettered love to our Lord. 

Thanks be to God, Jesus got to experience the honor due his name before his Passion. Thanks be to God for this story, and Mary. Like her, we can participate in that passion, too - for God, and each other. What better time to reflect on such love, its beauty and sacrifice, than in the season of Lent.

Check out these wonderful articles which give us insight into the extravagant, passionate love which Christ wants for us, and gives to us.Daniel B. Clendenin's "She Did What She Could - Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany," and Rachel Mann's "Passion Sunday: the Politics of Passion (John 12-1-8).

The Prodigal Son - a lesson about God and ourselves

Scripture: Joshua 5:9-12  •  Psalm 32  •  2 Corinthians 5:16-21  •  Luke 15:1-3, 11b

This week we consider Luke's account of Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son. The beauty of Jesus' parables is that you can see something new and different each time you read it. Is it a parable about God, the father, the prodigal son, the brother, all of them? Who are we when we see people we don't like much unjustly rewarded? See The Rev. Eric D. Baretto's article "When People You Don't Much Like Receive God's Love." One of the purposes of the parable is what we can learn about ourselves.

What do we learn about God, as well as as ourselves, in this parable? See “holy arrogance – areflection on Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32” by The Rev. Rick Morley.

In "The Man Welcomes Sinners," Daniel Clendenin helps us see Jesus, and asks "Why does Jesus eat with sinners?" Why does he?

          Clendenin tells us: "But watch out for the religiously righteous. They can be like the elder brother who resented his father’s lavish grace, or like Jonah who complained when the Ninevites repented and God forgave them. Many people, Jesus warns us in another parable, are “confident of their own righteousness and look down on everybody else.” Some people have a need to be right, and to be seen as being right.

           In the epistle this week, Paul says that "God gave us this ministry of reconciliation." Do real sinners feel really welcome in our church?

           Clendenin invites us to try this radical idea — "extend this divine mercy to your own self, for that's what God has already done."

"No, said Jesus, don't demonize your neighbor. Don't presume to invoke God's judgment on someone else."

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-9  •  Psalm 63:1-8  •  1 Corinthians 10:1-13  •  Luke 13:1-9

          In Luke's gospel this week, Jesus responds to two stories of sudden and premature death. When Pilate slaughtered some Galileans during their religious rituals, instead of blaming the governor some people blamed the victims. Similarly, in a bizarre accident of fate, when a tower collapsed and killed eighteen people in Siloam, some people concluded that they must have been "worse sinners" than the average person.

           No, said Jesus, don't demonize your neighbor. Don't presume to invoke God's judgment on someone else. You can't purchase God's favor by projecting your fears onto others. Then, as he often did, Jesus flipped the story so that its moral applied to the living rather than to the dead.  Read more in Daniel B. Clendenin's "Hungering for Food That Doesn't Exist."

Ever transplant a plant cutting, and wait for it bloom? My sister had Mom's Christmas cactus bloom on my sister's birthday the spring after our mother's death. Why did Jesus give us the parable of the gardener and the fig tree? See The Rev. Dr. Janet H. Hunt's "One More Year."

Walter Bruggemann tells us "Lent is a time for making decisions about God’s good news and our life in the world. The decisions pose the question: “What is better?"

Love and Protection "as a hen gathers her brood under its wings."

Scripture: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18  •  Psalm 27  • Philippians 3:17-4:1  •  Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)     

 As Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem, some Pharisees warn him that Herod wants to kill him. Why do you think they warned Jesus, and what was his response? Jesus follows with his lament over the city of Jerusalem. Compare images of the power of the Romans and Herod, and that of a mother hen protecting her chicks. Of conquest by force, and conquest by loving sacrifice.

The Rev. Kory Wilcoxson discusses "rejection," "broken-heartedness," "perseverance," and "protection and feeling need for protection," recurrent themes in our Lenten reflections, in "Keep on Going."

What is the reason for Jesus' lament, weeping over Jerusalem?  Why did Jerusalem, and all of us, at times, reject Jesus' love for us? See In "Jesus' Sorrow," by The Rev. Robert H. Wade.

What are the stones that pave Jerusalem which Jesus laments? What are the stones thrown that not only killed the prophets, but our very souls and spirits, and which keep us from being in relationship with God and each other?  See "The Road to Jerusalem is Paved With the Stones of Rejection," by The Rev. Michael K. Marsh.

Temptation in the Wilderness

Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1-11  • Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16  • Romans 10:8b-13  • Luke 4:1-13

As we journey into the first Sunday of Lent, we begin with the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness.  Why does Jesus go into the wilderness? The Rev. Brian Erickson gives us a surprising answer in "Dress Rehearsal in the Desert."  There is a good discussion about temptations - ones we easily recognize, and one's we don't recognize so easily - ones that sound good, or like God. What does Erickson say is the only "vaccine" against temptation? What do you think about that?

In "The Wilderness Exam, "The Rev. Barbara Taylor focuses on where the temptations take place - the wilderness. Take time to write down all the things she describes as "the wilderness," and then make up your own list of wilderness experiences. What is the wisdom and value of the wilderness? What can a wilderness experience do for us? What did it do for Jesus? What is life, and our relationship with God and each other really like without the usual "painkillers," "pacifiers," "anesthesia"? What are our  "painkillers," "pacifiers," "anesthesia?" It is life without the "soma" of Aldus Huxley's Brave New World.

Transfiguration Sunday

Scripture: Exodus 34:29-35  • Psalm 99  • 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2  •  Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)

This Sunday is transfiguration Sunday. The lectionary brings together the story of Moses having to put a veil on his face after his encounter with God on Mt. Sinai when he brought the Ten Commandments down to the children of Israel, with Jesus' transfiguration on the mountain top with Peter, John and James, and Paul's commentary on the freeing presence of the Spirit and Christ's setting aside the veil so that we can directly experience the glory of God.

What does the transfiguration story mean to you? The Rev. Robert Chase in Mountaintops and Intersections tells us that the story tells us to listen to what God's son has to tell us, to be prepared to be surprised by God, and to look each other in the eye and move forward together rather than just stand there looking up, transcending our differences - there are things to do coming off the mountain.

The Rev. David Copley, in "To be sent out," reminds us that we are an "incarnational" church, internalizing the understanding that God has created all humanity in his image and that we are all sisters and brothers in Christ - we cannot refuse to feed the hungry, or help the poor, the outcast and suffering, when we encounter God in the flesh of Christ, and in the face of our brothers and sisters.

The Rev. Alan Brehm talks about the life giving presence of God transforming us free from fears which plague us, and bring us down in "No More Fear."

Finally, think about what we can be and do as a church as you read Walter Bruggemann's "A Church Aglow."