"Soulfulness on Palm Sunday"
"Telling The Story…From Beginning to Ending…Back To The Future"
April 9, 2006
The Crucifixion and Burial: The Gift Of Vigil
Mark 15: 16-21, 33-34, 37- 41, 47Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard f the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his won clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" Which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in tow, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he "breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was God’s Son!"
There were also women looking on from a distance: among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James. These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. Mary Magdalene and Mary saw where the body was laid.
Reflection: "The Gift of Vigil"
Looking on from a distance were the women who had traveled with him and provided for him…..following him in word and deed.
How terrifying and gruesome that scene must have been! His pain must have been as palpable as the morning dew or the noon day’s darkness.
How unbearable….and yet they stayed! They stood vigil with him right through his pain.
What a gift to him their presence must have been! I can only imagine how their hearts held his in those hours….how their Souls went deep!
And I wonder what gift their vigil brought to them as well. There is a gift in standing vigil through someone’s pain…..a deep gift that goes beyond the moment and changes lives….just as our pain is transformative as God stands vigil with us in our lives. And it’s your turn. How are you being called to stand vigil to someone’s pain….the pain of the world….moving it from physical limitation to Soul-ful, faith-filled transformation?
As we sing, "Were You There?," #102, please receive a piece of purple ribbon to tie on your finger…remember…your vigil.
The Release of Barrabas: Given A Second Chance
Mark 15: 1-15As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?’ He answered him, "You say so." Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, "Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you." But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. The he answered them, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews? F or he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to them again, "Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?" They shouted, "Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify him!" So Pilate, wising to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them: and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
Reflection: "Given A Second Chance"
As we hear this part of the story, our thoughts are usually drawn to the jealousy of the priests and the fickleness of the crowd and the deepening betrayal.
But this morning, I ask you to be with Barrabas. What must have been going on within him as he heard Pilate’s words and the shouts of the crowd?
If he were indeed guilty of the crimes of which he was accused, how must he have felt to be released to a second chance for life….especially when the one taking his place was the Holy One of Israel….King of the Jews?
Have you ever wanted a second chance thinking "I would do better if I only had a second chance? If I knew then what I know now, I would have done it differently?" You have wanted a second chance,
and….like Barrabas….you are receiving one even as we worship together this morning. Given a second chance, how will you use it?
As we sing, "There Is A Balm In Gilead" first verse and refrain, please receive bead of baptismal waters symbolizing the new beginning each of us receives each day through the grace/gift of God.
The Denial: Our Call To Confession
Mark 14: 26-32, 43-50When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, ‘you will all become deserters; for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." But Peter said to him, "Even though all become deserters, I will not.’ Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times."" But he said vehemently, "Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you." And all of them said the same. And they went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying: "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. All of them deserted him and fled.
Call to Confession:
Often truth is twisted and justice denied…not only in the big sweeps of the world, but in the small strokes of our lives. In our denial we are called to confess our humanness to our God.
Prayer of Confession: (Based upon Mark 11: 1-11, 26-50)
Lord, so many times I have lived my life like the bystanders who asked, "Why are you doing this?" Even though they were not able to understand, they followed you waving their palms excitedly. It seems much harder for me to do the same. You see, I haven't always felt enough confidence in you to really trust you....that's why I don't follow. Lord, I betray you because I'm afraid to do the things I know you would have me do. I deny you as life passes me by. You see, I am like those bystanders....wishing you were a king who would just do something magnificent to change the world, instead of me. Yet you still believe in me and want me to follow you. O, Lord! Will you lead me to a better life....really? Lord, move me through the unpretty parts of my life's stories to a really good ending like in yours. Help me believe in such endings.
(You may wish to name with God what it is you don't understand in your life that pushes you into "denial"; or you may share how it feels to be unable to trust; or you may simply invite Jesus to come sit beside you in the pew this morning shining his healing light all around and through you.)
The Communion Meal: Sacred Sharing
Mark 14: 22-25While they were eating, he took a loaf of b read, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take: this is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Reflection: "Sacred Sharing"
Even in the midst of the betrayal of his friends, Jesus stays invested in the lives of each of those gathered around him…indeed the lives of all the world’s people.
He shares a meal with them….he shares his last supper and the first communion with them offering them a new vision of the covenant with God.
In the bread symbolized, our brokenness and our basic needs met. In the wine symbolized, the value, depth, fullness of life received.
Jesus is about to be broken and pour himself out….share of himself with them and the world in ways no one could even begin to imagine
….this sacred sharing pours out endless possibilities for new life for each of us. Our God loves us enough to do this depth sacred sharing with each one of us.
It’s personal. It’s for everyone! Praise be to our God!
As we sing, "Let Us Break Bread Together, #513, verse one, let us pass the basket of bread and grapes, remembering Jesus and sharing sacred meal.
The Anointing: Celebrating Extravagance
Mark 14: 3-9While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar off very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, "Why was the ointment wasted in his way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred deanrii, and the money given to the poor." And they scolded here. But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."
Reflection: "Celebrating Extravagance"
Just the smell of the nard must have been in stark contrast to the dusty smell of life out in the streets.
And how special, she would not only have come to anoint him with her loving faith, but move close to him....was amazingly personal with him.
In her anointing was not only the extravagance of the expense of the gift, but the extravagance of her love....despite what was going on in her life, despite the poverty of the world….and just throwing money at unjust situations won’t help anyways…that’s why the poor are always with us! Only justice can help.
Oh…she was extravagant! Despite the conservative wisdom of the world to save for a rainy day....she let her love rain down on Jesus.
We can only imagine how Jesus benefited by the extravagance of her love...what shifted within him...opened within him allowing him to move closer to Passion Week.
And this is the question this story asks each of us: Is there someone who needs your extravagant love now?
The story invites us to anoint them not only with nard...our riches....but with our love.
As we sing "Love Divine, All Love Excelling", #376, verse 1, anoint yourself, the back of your hand, with a modern adaptation of nard. As you do, think consciously of another whom you anoint as well.
The Procession: The Paradox of His Entrance and Our Expectations
Mark 11: 1-10When they were approaching Jerusalem, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, "Why are you doing this? Just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’" They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt? They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
Reflection: The Paradox of His Entrance and Our Expectations
Just like the crowds that gathered that day long ago, Christians all over the world gather today waving palms and celebrating the long awaited arrival of our new King into the city of Jerusalem.
Excited, for Jesus came to right what was wrong with the world. Just like those gathered nearly 2000 years ago, we still expect our King to fix what is wrong with the world with some magnificent stroke of action....we still fail to realize that he came to make this world magnificent by offering to heal what is broken within each of us...
God knowing this healing would empower us to change the world and powerfully! The only way the world can be changed…one person at a time.
And so we start this week as a celebration, but we get something quite different than we might expect from the unfolding stories of Passion Week.
What a paradox! The Kin-dom Jesus offers us is found in resisting what is wrong in this world even unto our own demise.
And the paradox is that in our resistance and apparent defeat, we win over our souls and begin to create our longed for kin-dom one person at a time....and powerfully so!
This morning as we worshiped you felt all the feelings of the week as the lectionary honored the whole of the story.
We end in a much different feel tone than we began....and realize the story doesn't end until Easter morning’s Awakening....and there is no way to the resurrection without going through the cross first! But for now, palms in hand, we parade!
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