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

"How did this happen? How did Jesus’ life of peace end in such a violent death? We stand at the edge of this moment, looking on in horror and confusion — just as Jesus’ followers did on the day he was crucified. The violence we have seen is numbing: it robs us of the ability to think clearly... The familiar formula — that Jesus died for our sins — raises more questions than it answers. First, exactly how is Jesus’ death connected with our forgiveness? Why does this terrible thing lead to that wonderful thing? And who is it that wants this sacrifice anyway?" The Rev. Jason Cox in his "Sacrifice: Sunday of the Passion,"  raises these questions, and provides an answer. What are your thoughts? 

In "Holy Week - So What?" The Rev. Amy Tew tells us to be part of Holy Week - be part of the crowd, the disciples - especially when we are not able to assemble together - and maybe then, by experiencing the pain, God's pain, our pain, we can look for answers in the midst of disease, sickness, worry over injustice, inequities, the Church, finances, hunger, you name it. One thing for certain, Jesus will show up. Hope out of despair, resurrection out of death, will show up. With God's help, and our participation. 

The Voice - Will We Listen?

 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.

Look up to the cross, and be made whole

 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' "snake 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.

Debie Thomas in "Looking Up," considers the terrible image of a poisonous snake on a pole, and the cruelty of death on a cross, and tells us God has us confront the truth of our sin, our falling short and failures, and in doing so, through God's grace, we are lifted up. The Rev. Marshall Jolly, in "Fears," tells us God is showing us the way out of our fears and messes by helping us confront our fears. Only by confronting our fears, can we be made whole. What does the cross mean to you?

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."