So, as we begin our walk through Passion Week, I am overwhelmed by the messages of love, of the enduring nature of GOD's love, of HIS faithfulness to us and of HIS faith in us. As far as I can tell, the messages from the pulpits all around me this weekend reflected that as well: God's knowing willingness to proceed through the gates of Jerusalem in seeming glory and recognition, and into a death so heinous that it was saved for slaves, pirates and enemies of the state...called for--no, demanded by--the very voices that clamored in praise only less than a week before.
But to top off that incredible growing message of God's persistent pursuing love for us, it was the questions posed for our consideration afterward that i found so compelling:
..."Those palms we are waving in our hands today--what DO they mean?"
..."What did the palms mean to the people singing Jesus' praises and laying down their cloaks along His pathway into Jerusalem?"
..."What were they thinking...were they thinking of themselves? of Jesus? or of ANY of His teachings to that point? or was it the pleasure of the thought of revenge against the oppression of so many years and sudden realization of the re-establishment (finally!) of their promised kingdom and kingship?"
..."What of the "crowd mentality"? What happened to the people that allowed their great cheers on Sunday to turn so suddenly into great and effectual jeers by Friday?? What were they thinking?? Were they even thinking?? Was there any meaning or depth to their celebrations or the consequences of their causes...how many were truly joyful, truly angry, and how many were "just following along...?""
So! For this week's class, we are asking everyone: Let's immerse ourselves into the stories of this week. Imagine as best you can, the scenario, the circumstance, experience the feelings, the joy, the utter confidence (and possibly a lot of pride and a bit of pleasurable arrogance of being "in the know"--of being in that "inner circle"). And then feel the confusion...a little bit at first, listening to the weird instructions of Jesus, then His confusing, very somber (what a buzz-kill, right?) and somewhat dark thoughts at their last meal together, to His strange behavior and messages of servitude and sacrifice... And then--try to sense the horror, the "i-can't-believe-this-is-happening-oh-my-god-this-can't-be-happening", and the sounds--and the overriding, paralyzing make-me-run-away FEAR--of seemingly "everyone else" calling for death and due punishment and really VERY serious retribution...oh, and don't forget the condemnation of YOU, your friends, your family for just being associated with, seen with, walking alongside, sounding like, looking like...Him.
Whew. I know. It's a hard look into ourselves too, to answer the questions I heard posed at two different churches: Where AM I--in the crowd? WHO am I--among the people in the story? What am I thinking/representing/saying--as I wave these palm branches and carry them into my home...are they merely "decoration"? an interesting craft challenge? Or can I SEE myself in the noise, the thoughts, the pride, the jumping and running...and then the screaming, the yelling, the calling for blood?
Where AM I in all of this--not knowing, no longer sure, filled with doubt and real fear...?
Hooboy...thank God that we know the end of the story, right?
But until we truly question ourselves, uncover the true intents of our hearts and the true dedication of our minds, looking deeply into the dusty and cobwebby corners of our soul (you know them--the ones we like to hide from each other and from ourselves--thinking maybe we could even hide them from God!)...until we really sit down and ask the questions about that which holds us back, holds us down, holds us arms-length-away from accepting God's hand, it becomes difficult to release ourselves effectually into the experience of God's FULL love and sacrifice for us.
So--over the next few days, the Gospel readings will come from the synoptic versions of what we read this past Sunday. READ THEM ALL!! (Easiest way to access them: Along the left hand side of the home page of the blog, there is a study link to the USCCB site. If you are on a mobile device, then the link will appear below the POSTs, directly underneath the welcome message. Click on it and look for the calendar along the right side of their page.) We encourage you to read them in the online lectionary--AND in your own bibles to get a fuller feel for the night of Jesus' passion.
And then let’s gather in class this week and share our thoughts. And maybe even better answer the questions:
What does it mean that “Christ died for me”? What does that mean to me now...?
Can't wait to see everyone on Wednesday!
love
maggie
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