One night in Bethany

[told from the viewpoint of Jesus in Bethany on the night of the Palm parade. the hymn Ride on, Ride one, from Iona group is sung during the sermon.]

Ahh, back in Bethany for the night.

The crowds are growing each day ...

I know it cannot continue like this;

people come to see what is happening

People come for healing

People come because they hope for the Messiah.

It is good to be back in Bethany for the night

A refuge amid the busyness

A quiet space to think, to rest

Some say I should quieten down,

not upset the leaders so much.

My parents took me to Egypt as a child, worried I would be killed by a jealous King.

There will be no leaving this time

There will be no turning away from my path.

What’s that Mary?

What have we been up to today?

We walked into Jerusalem this morning; it is quite busy leading up to Passover.

Today, some extra Roman soldiers were arriving.

They arrive like a procession, a parade, to make an impact. Big horses, full uniforms, jangling bridles.

They come in a show of force to keep the ‘peace’

Yes Mary, it isn’t really peace, as much as squashing any potential issues.

In true prophet style, I was in a parade as well.

We borrowed a donkey, and I rode into Jerusalem;

people shouted and threw their cloaks on the road. It was amazing.

People were shouting ‘Hosanna’

Praise God! Save us!

You know Mary, I wonder if people saw what I was doing; if they realised, I was mocking the Romans with their chariots.

Challenging the Roman idea of peace?

Ride on, ride on, the time is right:

the roadside crowds scream with delight;

palm branches mark the pilgrim way

where beggars squat and children play.

Ride on, ride on, your critics wait,

intrigue and rumour circulate;

new lies abound in word and jest,

and truth becomes a suspect guest.

After the parade, I went to the temple. It was extra busy with people coming for Passover. It was a nightmare, not just the number of people, but the jostling to get in. The money changers and sacrifice sellers were taking up so much space, I cleared them out.

Jeremiah [ch7] spoke about the Temple being misused by people who thought they could do whatever they wanted as long as they came to the Temple to worship and offer sacrifices. The temple is for worshipping God, not putting in barriers.

How did it all go so wrong.

God gave the earth and life and food and water

Dreamt of people living together in true peace

But people fought with each other, over God’s land

over where to worship, ….

When there was space, people came looking for me to heal them, the blind can see, and the lame can walk.

Peace and healing, wholeness is what I am about

Transforming lives, reconnecting relationships, building community.

Not everyone agrees with my mission, some are scared, some benefit from the current system of patronage. I feel for those who struggle under the oppression of Rome. they are looking for hope, they are not sure if I am the hope they seek.

I know, Mary, I am hope, but not what they look for.

they are looking for me to overthrow Rome, that is not my way. Violence begets violence.  

I am a man of peace.

Rise on, ride on, while well aware

that those who shout and wave and stare

are mortals who, with common breath,

can crave for life and lust for death.

Ride on, ride on, though blind with tears

though dumb to speak and deaf to jeers.

Your path is clear, though few can tell

their garments pave the road to Hell

the sweetest sound today was children shouting praises. They see things that adults do not. It was one more thing the leaders didn’t like.

I can feel them breathing down my neck.

I know you are worried about me Mary. Passover is coming, the time we remember and recognise how God saved the people from slavery in Egypt. It is like the Temple worship is so clipped and copped it has lost its power and beauty, and also the ability to help people recognise God.

I know Mary, this kind of talk will get me in trouble in town. The leaders are after me.

Soon they will have their chance.

This is a violent regime which does not tolerate peace.

An oppressive regime that does not tolerate freedom.

No Mary, I won’t stay here,

Every day is a good day to bring healing and hope into a troubled world. Even if it is at risk of my life.[i] Fear is what stops the world being more like what God planned.

I will not be held back by fear, by what people might do to me.

I have told the disciples I will die at the hands of the Roman and religious leaders. They don’t understand. I’m not sure I exactly understand either.

But I won’t toe their line, I won’t get caught up in the system of violence and oppression.

Ride on, ride on, the room is let,

the wine matured, the saw is whet;

and dice your death-throes shall attend

though faith, not fate, dictates your end.

Ride on, ride on, God’s love demands.

Justice and peace lie in your hands.

Evil and angel voices rhyme:

this is the man and this is the time.

…………………

We know the next part of the story.

We will hear on Thursday evening about the arrest in the garden and on Friday morning, the trial and crucifixion.

We know the story, but this week i encourage you to sit with the story.

Which part resonates with you?

Is it betrayal, isolation, pain, plotting, shouting Hosanna?

Do you follow the Jesus of the cross, the one who brings peace and wholeness?

Or follow the ways of empire, of uniformity and peace by suppression.

---

[i] https://sicutlocutusest.com/2019/04/11/the-next-day-a-palm-sunday-reflection/?fbclid=IwAR0gcQHAeDMzTjOQIZQjNVBCSLNH_xszYaGbgeRwY1REQQYGdvw-GFysyYo

Palm Sunday Journey

three readings and 3 short reflections

Reading 1: John 11:55-12:3, 9-11 

Reflection 1

Will he turn up?

The gossip in Jerusalem was about Jesus, he had raised Lazarus from death, and now the political and religious leaders are after them both. Will he come to the Temple in Jerusalem for Passover, or give it a miss this year?

But how did we get here. In John’s gospel, Jesus travels widely, but keeps returning to Jerusalem. He is there for major festivals. Jesus has travelled from Galilee, to Cana, to Jerusalem, to Samaria and Cana again and Jerusalem again and back to the Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem and Bethany and Jerusalem… lots of travelling, but always returns to Jerusalem and the Temple.

He travels and meets with people from various parts of Israel. The edges, the centre, various parts in between, and even outside of Israel, when he met the woman at the well in Samaria.

The political and religious leaders are concerned about this traveling teacher, because he is drawing large crowds, and there is talk of him being the son of God, but to top it all off, Lazarus came back from the dead and Jesus had something to do with it, and now everyone wants to see Lazarus, and Jesus.

Jesus goes to a place of welcome and respite, and visits Lazarus and Mary and Martha. In difficult times we need familiar faces and trusted friends.

Which parts of the journey of Jesus do you most connect with: fishing, healing, food, being in the temple?

In what ways has your faith deepened?

[reflection]

Reading 2: John 12:12-17

Reflection 2

The Gospel of John is the only one which mentions palm branches. The other gospels have cloaks or tree branches, but John is the only one to mention Palms.

Palms were a symbol of victory, not just for Jewish people, but for Greeks and Romans as well. Waving the palm branches was a sign of victory.

Waving palm branches was like waving your country’s flag in a parade.[i]

The people of Israel were looking for a Saviour.

They shout Hosanna! Hosanna!  

an Aramaic word in a sea of Greek. The gospels were originally written in Greek, but here an Aramaic word is used.
A word with two meanings – ‘praise God’ and ‘save us’

The crowd made up of followers, and disciples, and the curious are shouting
Hosanna!
Praise God!
Hosanna!
Save Us!
Hosanna!

Jesus enters Jerusalem to a welcome fit for a conquering hero. 
Except he isn’t.

Not the kind they were hoping for anyway.

The people wanted a saviour that would free them from oppression and injustice. They were waiting for a saviour who would make Israel independent, free to worship God.

Jesus does bring freedom.
Jesus does allow us to worship God freely.
But not by overthrowing the worldly powers.
Jesus is not going to fight the Romans, or anyone else, by the rules of this world.
Jesus came to change the game.  

To change the game from oppression and power and fear,
to freedom and grace and love.

And the way he will change the game is by not submitting to the politics of fear, but by love, love that doesn’t give up.

Reading 3: John 12: 17-26 

Reflection 3

 Are we on a journey with Jesus, where love is supreme?
Are we on a journey with Jesus, dominated by hope?

 Remember Lent week one, we renewed the covenant:

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing, put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you or laid aside for you;
exalted for you or brought low for you;
let me be full, let me be empty;
let me have all things, let me have nothing;
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.[ii]

We have walked through the final week of the life of Jesus, then today backtracking to Palm Sunday.

People came to listen to Jesus, to see Jesus, some were disciples, giving up everything to be with Jesus, others were curious to see what all the fuss was about, and some followed while things were interesting, and then disappeared at the first sign of trouble.  

Poem:  This is Love

 ~ written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship. http://www.faithandworship.com/

Are we on a journey with Jesus, where love is supreme?

Are we on a journey with Jesus, dominated by hope?

---

[i] Working Preacher Podcast

[ii] Uniting in Worship

Your Kingdom Come?

People still love a parade, whether it is for returning defence force personnel or an Easter Hat parade at the local school, a parade of sports teams or St Patricks Day Parade.  People will queue to get  a good position.

We think of parades as fun, or we don’t go. But some parades are ‘compulsory’.

Jerusalem was under the control of the Romans, and like many people under occupation, they knew they rules.
Don’t make a fuss
Don’t create a scene
Obey orders
Pay homage to the Roman leaders
Basically  - don’t upset the Romans.
And that means if there is a Roman parade, cheer!

Around the time of Passover there were lots of visitors in Jerusalem. Passover celebrated the liberation of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Passover was the founding narrative for the nation of Israel. While it was a religious festival, in Israel, religion and nationhood were closely tied together, and the Roman leaders knew that. Any festival was a potential time for an uprising of the locals.

So like any occupying force, from time to time there was need for a show of force, and Passover was a good time to do that.

So as Pilate was entering the city with a display of military might, Jesus was also entering the city, but on a donkey.
     was this a counter demonstration?
     a satirical dig at the Romans?
     street theatre?
     testing his popularity?

People living under oppression often find ways to say what they want to, to make fun of the rulers. This can be in using words or phrases with hidden meanings, signs or symbols that would not be understood by the rulers, or creatively mocking the system.

Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey is subversive and mocking, but it isn’t a threat to a military power like the Romans.  It could have hadn’t unnoticed by the authorities.

But Jesus knows he is being watched. It isn’t only the Roman authorities he needs to be wary of, but the religious authorities as well. The Romans knew that religion was one thing that people would fight for, so they would co-opt the local leadership on the grounds that as long as the religious leaders kept the local b people obedient, they could continue in the positions, and people could continue with their worship. As long as it didn’t interfere with Roman rule.  

The people of Israel were looking for a Saviour, so they shout Hosanna!
Hosanna!  an Aramaic word in a sea of Greek. The gospels were originally written in Greek, but here an Aramaic word is used.
A word that the Romans may not have understood.
A word with two meanings – ‘praise God’ and ‘save us’.

Jesus isn’t taking on the Romans at their own game, Jesus came to change the game.  To change the game from oppression and power and fear, to freedom and grace and love.

Jesus came to change the way things were done, not to overpower the Romans, or anyone else. And he knew where that might lead.
Protesters today risk being arrested,
     for praying in Government offices for the release of children in detention,
     for preventing mining companies getting access to farms,
     for stopping the transport of waste products.
The people who protest in these ways know they risk going to prison or being fined.

Jesus knew the potential for arrest and death, the Romans were known for taking care of trouble makers swiftly and permanently.

Usually on Palm Sunday we only hear about the entry into Jerusalem, but this morning we also heard about the incident in the Temple.  Jesus cleared out the animals, overturned the tables of the money changers and healed the sick.
the Temple was one of the main economic activities in Jerusalem. It made sense when travelling to buy the animals for sacrifice at the Temple, rather than carrying them for many days.  It wasn’t the selling of sacrificial animals, or even the money changing that was the problem; the problem was that this had taken over as the main activity of the Temple.

Again Jesus isn’t trying to beat the Temple Authorities in some game of who is the most powerful; Jesus is changing, transforming, the Temple back to the role of healing and praising God.

Throughout Lent we have been thinking about what it means to Pray: Your Kingdom Come. Here we have two kingdoms,
one kingdom is a kingdom of fear, power, oppression and death.

The other  kingdom of peace, freedom, healing and life.
One Kingdom reliant on state power to keep people under control
The other reliant on the Holy Spirit to enliven people
One Kingdom where the Temple is a place of economic activity
The other where the Temple is a place of healing and wholeness.

Jesus came to bring about a new order, a new kingdom.
how do we live into that new order?
how do we people of peace and hope and faith, in a world of fear and greed?

Living as the people of God is more than praying for peace, or healing, or grace; it is living out the kingdom in spite of the scorn of those around us.
Living as the people who are Christian, named for Christ, means following in the way of love and hope and generosity, even when that is dangerous.

Jesus came to bring about a new order, a new kingdom.
Is it this upside down, radically inclusive Kingdom which we pray for?

genrous, humble, christ like

Over the past 5 weeks we have mainly thought about the Old Testament readings for the week. This week we make up a little for that, with 2 gospel readings and a reading from Philippians.  Each reading will be followed by a reflection and hymn.

Reading: John 12:1-8

Reflection

 

Mary doesn’t speak about her love for Jesus

Mary doesn’t stay in the background

Mary shows her love

 

During Lent we think about giving something up,

often it is seen as a sombre time,

a time for grey rather than colour;  

a time to simplify our living

 

Yet, here we have this story of extravagance, of generosity.

Extravagance, not for herself, but for Jesus.

 

This is a family that is close to Jesus, we have heard about them in the raising of Lazarus, and the argument between Mary and Martha. In this section of John’s gospel we again see Mary at the feet of Jesus. Pouring perfume over his feet, wiping them with her hair. It sounds very sensual. Judas points out the cost.

 

When Jesus responds to Judas concern for the poor, he is quoting from Deuteronomy 15. “Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you: Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbour in your land.”

 

This is not to say ignore the poor, but live generously.

 

In what ways do you live, and give, generously?

 

Prayer based on John 12

http://stillpoint.unitingchurchsa.org.au/files/2012/04/Lent-and-Easter-liturgies-Year-C-2010.pdf

 

Hymn/song : TIS 439 What shall we offer our good Lord

Offering

 

Luke 19:28-40

 

Reflection

 

Some comments:

In Luke, there are no palms, only cloaks on the ground.

In Luke, it is the disciples not the crowds who shout in praise.

At his birth the angels sang:

 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

[Luke 2:14 New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised]

Here, the disciples call out :

"Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!"

 

At his birth, and as Jesus nears death, his is a reign of peace. Peace on earth and peace in heaven.

Can you imagine going to a parade to welcome not a winning sports team, not a political parade, but the one who brings peace without a sword?

Peace was a big issue for the community, then as now.  The Romans and Jewish leaders had their own version of peace, that is keep everyone so constrained that  nothing destabilises the empire.

That is not the kind of peace that Jesus lived, or that Jesus offers us.

Jesus does not rule us with terror and threats, Jesus offers life, and love and hope. Jesus is riding a humble animal into Jerusalem at the beginning of the festival season. A time when there is also a parade to ‘welcome’ the armed reinforcements to keep ‘the peace’.

It has been said that peace is not the absence of conflict.

How would you describe peace?

Peace in Heaven – the triumphal entry

— written by Lynette Wiebe, 2004. Posted on the Mennonite Church Canada Resource Centre website.

Hymn/song : Lord, What a Parade!

Prayers of the people      and    The Lord’s Prayer

 Philippians 2:5-11

 Reflection

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,”

In the first reading today we hear of a Jesus who accepted the offering of Mary, who defended her right to show extravagant love.

 

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,”

In the second reading we hear of a humble man, a man of peace, bringing in a peaceable kingdom.

 

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,”

In the letter to the Philippians we hear of a king who took the form of humanity.

We hear of a person who is humble and obedient.

 

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,”

 

Lent is a time when we prepare to hear again the passion story. A love story. A story of betrayal. A  story of courage and devotion. A story of fear and rejection.

 

This is a powerful story, a life changing story, a story with the potential to change the world.

 

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,”

 What needs to change in your life?

Hymn/song TiS 609 May the mind of Christ my Saviour