Here are the reflections for the Palm/Passion Sunday in Lent. We explore the Lectionary Readings for this Sunday and reflect on other bits and pieces of interesting information the net has brought to our attention.
Just as a seine net pulls up all sorts of things, some unexpected, so I think of this Seine Net Reflection post, as it grabs bits of information off the net.
If you would like to see a page with the previous reflections, you can follow this link.
The Lectionary Readings for today
Scripture Lessons for this Week: the Palm/Passion Sunday in Lent:
Palm Sunday:
Psalm 118:1-2; 19-29; Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16
Passion Sunday:
Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1 – 15:47
Reflections on the Scripture
As I have mentioned, two of the books I highly recommend reading during the B Lectionary cycle are Ched Meyers. Binding the Strong Man and Wes Howard-Brooks Becoming Children of God. Both books are well worth checking out and reading closely. Meyers closely examines Mark while Howard-Brooks takes a close look at John.
Palm Sunday
As I’m going to focusing upon Passion Narrative later this week, I’ve decided to focus upon the Palm Sunday readings. The Passion Sunday Liturgy really got started when the Holy Week services no longer became popular (some churches even stopped holding them). It seemed that we missed the entire point when moving from Excitement of Entering Jerusalem to Pure Joy of Resurrection
Reading the Gospel Like a Novel
When reading a novel, how does the plot work? When does tension build?
It is interesting that in Mark’s Gospel, the Palm Sunday procession occurs in Chapter 11 (Chapter 12 in John’s Gospel). Yet the Passion Narratives occur in Chapters 14-15 (18-19 in John’s). The Resurrection Accounts occur in Chapters 16 (20 in John’s).
This means that roughly ¾ of Mark’s Gospel occurs after the Triumphal Entrance, while half of John’s Gospel occurs after the Palm Sunday Parade. It is as if time slows down, and the one week stretches out. Just like a good novel where the tension builds and builds over a few days.
Notice How Jesus Enters
The Palm branch was an early pro-Judea resistance to Roman Empire banner. Easy to pickup or cut off the tree, and quick to dispose of if the need arose.
So the waving of the palm branches can be seen as a Zionist hope of Empire reversals.
In which case, we would expect our hero to enter on a stallion with a marching legion of men-at-arms. Instead, what do we find?
A prophet riding on a donkey colt is followed by a band consisting of former fisherman, tax collectors, etc. The band likely included women and children, too.
This is the direct opposite of what you would expect of a “conquering army.”
Jesus comes non-violently.
Annie Hill’s New Boat is Launched
Annie Hill (of Voyaging on a Small Income) documented the building of her new yacht on her blog (Voyaging with Annie Hill). It has been a delightful read. The great news is that FanShi has been launched. Not only that, but Annie has documented her first section of a voyage. For those of you who haven’t followed along, here’s a post to get you started.
However did I find time to build a boat?
A Reflection on Immunity
As a Boston University School of Theology alum, I get Bostonia (and related publications) sent my way. In a current publication they had a story regarding Immunity: “The Deep Ocean Reveals Surprising Discovery about Immunity.”
The study is quite interesting and worth a read. The basic assumptions that our bodies (along with other mammals) can identify foreign bacteria turns out to not be the entire story. Quite interesting, especially as we are still in the midst of a pandemic.
Reflections for Woman’s History Month
This week, I am lifting up a local poet.
Rena Priest is an enrolled member of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) Nation. I had the wonderful opportunity to recently hear her share some of her powerful poetry. You can out more about her, and read some of her poetry at her website: www.renapriest.com.
[Update: Priest has been appointed to serve as Washington State’s Poet Laureate for the term April 2021 – 2023. Congratulations!]
A Spiritual Practice
This week I’m bringing up a spiritual practice that you are probably practicing already, and might not think much about: Baking or Cooking or Preparing Food.
Think about this for a moment.
You take plants that have come from the ground. Yes, even fruits are connected to plants that are rooted.
The soil and sun and rain and air have nourished the plant. Often times farmers have cared for them, too.
Then the plants are collected, gathered in and eventually (through people: harvests, transports, stores, etc) you hold them in your hands.
Animals, too, have been blessed by plants, the earth, the sun, the air. They, too, have often been cared for then gathered and eventually (through the hands and care of others) reach you.
And you combine and mix these elements together and create something to share with others.
Yes, baking and cooking and general meal preparation is holy work. Especially when that work is done with love.
Blessed be
Currently I’m re-reading Sara Crossan and John Dominic Crossan’s Resurrecting Easter: How the West Lost adn the East Kept the Original Easter Vision
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A Word About The Links
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Amazon Links
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Ched Myers. Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark’s Story of Jesus.
Wes Howard-Brooks Becoming Children of God