Palm Sunday/The Sunday of the Passion, 29 March 2015
Liturgy of the Palms
Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Liturgy of the Passion
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
St. Mark 14:1-15:47
Background: Kingship
The
events of Palm Sunday bring into sharp focus the role of kingship not only at
the time of Jesus, but earlier. It is those prior notions of kingship that
inform the theology and semiology that attaches itself to the Jesus Story, and
helps to define him as a religious character and symbol. The kingship of
Mesopotamian region and of Egypt as well contributed to Israel’s understanding
of the kingship that developed during their time in Canaan. Prior to the period
of Samuel, the life in Israel was rural and tribal, with leaders emerging from
time to time to deal with issues larger than tribe and family. It is the order
that kingship brought (economic, religious, agricultural, and military) that
made it so attractive to these rural peoples. It brought sense to both
marketplace and battlefield. But these were not the only advantages of which
the people were aware. In the ancient near east, kingship was considered a
sacred order. This idea lasts until our own time, when monarchs were ordained
into their own sacred order. Kingship functioned in ancient times as a sacred
responsibility alongside and often times combined with priestly service. The
kings of Sumer and Babylon, among others, had a sacred role in the New Year
Festival that assured the fertility of the earth – thus economic success.
Israel
moves from a theocracy, a society “governed” by God, to a divine monarchy that
is appointed and blessed by God. Thus, when we talk about Jesus as being one of
“David’s Line” we are talking about a royal succession that includes the both
of them. For instruction in this, take up the book of Hebrews where you will
see Jesus’ portrayal as both priest and king. Others added the role of prophet
to this list of characteristics. Marcus Borg in his book The Last Week pictures Jesus entering Jerusalem as an anti-king,
as Pilate enters the city from another direction as the imperium. Jesus own teaching includes the notion of kingship when
he proclaims the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Kingdom of God. All of this comes to
bear as we see Jesus enter the city in triumph. He will, however, as Luke will
teach us, rule from the cross.
At the Liturgy of the Palms
St. Mark 11:1-11
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and
Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus 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!"
Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple;
and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went
out to Bethany with the twelve.
Mark has Jesus move slowly
but deliberately to Jerusalem, for it is there that he will meet his fate. Thus
we begin this reading, “approaching
Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany.” We are not quite there yet – other
arrangements have to be made. The Mount of Olives is mentioned as well, which
calls to mind the reading from Zechariah 14:4, “On that day his feet shall
stand on the Mount of Olives…one half of the mount shall withdraw northward,
and the other half southward.” Thus this is a place of decision-making, and of
taking a stand, for it is here in this place that the prophet saw YHWH making
the nations aware of his power and might against them. Here Jesus arranges for
either a donkey or even a horse – it doesn’t matter – what does matter is the
purity of the animal, “that has never
been ridden.”
Many talk of Jesus’ entry
into Jerusalem as a “triumph”. In reality it is probably more like an action,
such as the prophets took, that symbolized a higher religious truth. Jesus goes
to the temple and “looks around” in a
way similar to those reconnoitering at a battlefield. Here is where the action
will happen. Then he returns to Bethany. The beauty of the moment is just that
– momentary, and soon we are back in the real
politik of the events of the week. Jesus comes, observes, and then takes
strength with his supporters just outside the city.
Breaking open St. Mark:
1. What does Palm Sunday mean to you?
2. How is it a triumph?
3. What else might it be?
Or
St. John 12:12-16
The great crowd that had come to the festival heard
that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and
went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in
the name of the Lord-- the King of Israel!" Jesus found a young donkey and
sat on it; as it is written: "Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look,
your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not
understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they
remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.
The alternate gospel is
slimming down of the account in John. The actual pericope lasts from 12:9-19. You may want to give the entirety of it
a glance. What Mark hints at in the locations at Bethany and Bethphage, John
brings to the forefront, “The chief priests, however, planned to kill Lazarus
too, because on his account many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and
believing in him.” These details enrich the setting in which the entry into
Jerusalem happens. Many view this entry as a scene of triumph and joy, and so
it is. However, the background of plots and dark ideas make clearer Jesus’ fate
and the importance of all of his acts in the Passion. What is seen in the other
Gospels as an act independent of and set apart from the Roman imperium, is here
seen in a more universal character. The closing line of the pericope sums it
all up, “At that the Pharisees remarked to one another, ‘you see, you are
getting nowhere. Look the world has run off after him.’”
Breaking open St. John:
1. Why does John place Lazarus so prominently in his Palm
Sunday Gospel?
2. In what ways is Jesus a political victim? Or wasn’t
he?
3. How has the world “run off after” Jesus?
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.
Let Israel now proclaim, *
"His mercy endures for ever."
Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the LORD.
"This is the gate of the LORD; *
he who is righteous may enter."
I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.
The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the LORD'S doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
On this day the LORD has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Hosannah, LORD, hosannah! *
LORD, send us now success.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
God is the LORD; he has shined upon us; *
form a procession with branches up to the horns of the
altar.
"You are my God, and I will thank you; *
you are my God, and I will exalt you."
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.
It is too bad that this
psalm is not used in most parish celebrations of the Liturgy of the Palms. It
goes out of its way in providing a theological context for Jesus’ prophetic act
of entering the City of Jerusalem. We are drawn to the notion of the gates of
justice that are opened up to the one who enters the city. In ancient times it
was here that the judges sat and heard the cases that people brought to them.
It was here that justice was rendered, and that gave meaning to the verse, “Open for me the gates of righteousness.” Implicit
righteousness is seen in those who enter by these gates. This righteousness,
however, is to be expanded and will be seen in a larger context. The author
hints at that with the verse about the stone “that the builders rejected.” Some aspect of righteousness was
unseen and ignored. To the many who entered the gates seeing themselves as
unrighteous, God has seen differently.
In the Marcan account of the entry into Jerusalem, Jesus goes
immediately to the Temple “and looks
around.” That is the action that is implied here – all stones, some
fashioned in an elegant manner, and some rude and rustic, are all gathered
together in the glory of the building – the Temple. Here all gather, and all
are seen as just. Did Elizabeth the First quote this psalm when she heard that
she was now Queen, “This is the Lord’s
doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” I hope so, and I hope that every
man and woman sees in this righteous procession their place and part as well.
Breaking open Psalm 118:
1. Where have you found justice where you least expected
it?
2. Is justice valued in our society? Why or why not?
3. What does it mean to be “the cornerstone”?
At the Liturgy of the Word
Isaiah 50:4-9a
The Lord GOD has given me
the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens--
wakens my ear
to listen as those who are taught.
The Lord GOD has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious,
I did not turn backward.
I gave my back to those who struck me,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.
The Lord GOD helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
It is the Lord GOD who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Some have characterized the
Jewish religion as a religion of words. Thus in this “psalm” from the second of
the Isaiahs we meet the speaker in this Song of the Suffering Servant who knows
what forms the relationship of God and the author – “The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher (or some say
“learner”).” Here we note the similarity of what this Isaiah says to what
Jeremiah taught us in last Sunday’s first reading – that everyone should know
God, and that this knowledge was internal and not external. That is the intimacy, which God
desires, and it is a vocational call read out to each of us. “The Lord God has opened my ear.” The
speaker prepares for the conflict that is to come by concentrating on the
lessons that God teaches. What are dismissed are the lessons of violence, and
insult. These have no place, when God is the one who helps. There is a stubborn
steadfastness here, “I have set my face
like flint.” Perhaps this reading serves as a prayer with which both Jesus
and we greet the coming harrowing events. Set like flint, we face them, and
realize that it is “God who helps me; who
will declare me guilty?”
Breaking open Isaiah:
4. What other “suffering servants” are in the Bible?
5. In what ways is discipleship difficult or harsh?
6. In what ways do you discipline your faith?
Psalm 31:9-16 In te,
Domine, speravi
Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; *
my eye is consumed with sorrow,
and also my throat and my belly.
For my life is wasted with grief,
and my years with sighing; *
my strength fails me because of affliction,
and my bones are consumed.
I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to
my neighbors,
a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *
when they see me in the street they avoid me.
I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *
I am as useless as a broken pot.
For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;
fear is all around; *
they put their heads together against me;
they plot to take my life.
But as for me, I have trusted in you, O LORD. *
I have said, "You are my God.
My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.
Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me."
In Psalm 23 we hear the
phrase, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” Here we are
in a different place as the verse prior to this reading declares, “And you did
not yield me to my enemy’s hand, you set my feet in a wide-open place.” The one
who follows God is set in a defensible place and place where there is an
awareness of God. What we are met with in these verses of the psalm are all the
straits and narrows that the author sees in his life. We recognize the human
condition in “sorrow”, “grief”, “affliction”, “reproach”, “forgotten”. The
focus is clearly on this one human being and “the affliction” that follows. There is loneliness and singularity
such as we read of in Job. Neighbors and others “avoid” and “whisper”. The
images are clearly focused on the “apartness” of this human. To make this
perfectly clear the text compares this situation with that of the dead; “I am forgotten like a dead man, out of
mind.” Into the midst of this lonely despair God is invited in, “my times are in your hand; rescue me from
the hand of my enemies.” Like the Suffering Servant above, the psalmist
knows God as one who vindicates, rescues, and remembers.
Breaking open Psalm 31:
1. For what do you grieve? Why?
2. How does God stand beside you in your troubles?
3. In what ways is your life like that of the suffering
servant?
Philippians 2:5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
On this Sunday we are
invited to share in both the humiliation and exultation of Jesus. Some see this
combination as a burden, being able to wrestle with only one emotion at a time.
Here, however, Paul wrestles with both – A Jesus who “emptied himself,” and a Jesus “that
is above every name.” We have a Jesus who was “in the form of God.” And yet he empties himself. Why? We might
wonder. What should be God’s objective here? The beginning of the verse gives
us a clue in that it invites us to share in this “mind” that Jesus has, namely
to be obedient, even to death. Jesus is not only lifted up as something for
whom we ought to give thanks, but Jesus is also lifted up here as an example
and model. Jesus becomes someone who life might serve as a model for our own.
The implicit reward that might come with the behavior is demonstrated after the
word “Therefore.” There are consequences. For Jesus it is exaltation and being
named with The Name. (Remember the importance of words to the Hebrews?) Here it
is the importance of the Name. Silent in ages past, now it can be said, “Jesus!” Thus in this person, Jesus, we see not
only God’s intentions of salvation for us, and the possibilities for our life,
but also the veritable vision of God purpose – seen in Jesus.
Breaking open Philippians:
1. What emotions do you have when you read that “Jesus
emptied himself”?
2. What does that mean to you?
3. Jesus was exalted, how have you been exalted in your
life?
St. Mark
14:1-15:47
It was two days before the Passover and the festival
of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way
to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; for they said, "Not during the
festival, or there may be a riot among the people."
While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the
leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of 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 this way? For this ointment could have been sold for
more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And
they scolded her. 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."
Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went
to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they
were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for
an opportunity to betray him.
On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the
Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want
us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?" So he
sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go into the city, and a man
carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say
to the owner of the house, `The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I
may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large room
upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there." So the
disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told
them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
When it was evening, he came with the twelve. And when
they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, "Truly I tell
you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." They began to
be distressed and to say to him one after another, "Surely, not I?"
He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into
the bowl with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to
that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that
one not to have been born."
While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, 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."
When 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." 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.
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to
his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took with him Peter and
James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And said to them,
"I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake."
And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if
it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, "Abba, Father,
for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want,
but what you want." He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter,
"Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and
pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak." And again he went away and prayed, saying
the same words. And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were
very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. He came a third time and
said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The
hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up,
let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand."
Immediately, 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. But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the
slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to them,
"Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a
bandit? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not
arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled." All of them deserted him
and fled.
A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing
but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran
off naked.
They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief
priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled. Peter had followed him at
a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting
with the guards, warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the
whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but
they found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony
did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,
"We heard him say, `I will destroy this temple that is made with hands,
and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.'" But even on
this point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before
them and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify
against you?" But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest
asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus
said, "I am; and
`you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power,'
and `coming with the clouds of heaven.'"
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said,
"Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is
your decision?" All of them condemned him as deserving death. Some began
to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him,
"Prophesy!" The guards also took him over and beat him.
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the
servant-girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself,
she stared at him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the man from
Nazareth." But he denied it, saying, "I do not know or understand
what you are talking about." And he went out into the forecourt. Then the
cock crowed. And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the
bystanders, "This man is one of them." But again he denied it. Then
after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, "Certainly you
are one of them; for you are a Galilean." But he began to curse, and he
swore an oath, "I do not know this man you are talking about." At
that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that
Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me
three times." And he broke down and wept.]
As 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. Then he
answered them, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"
For 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
back, "Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Why, what evil has he
done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify him!" So Pilate,
wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging
Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of 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 own clothes on him. Then they led him out to
crucify him.
They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the
country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander
and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means
the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did
not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them,
casting lots to decide what each should take.
It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified
him. The inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the
Jews." And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one
on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying,
"Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save
yourself, and come down from the cross!" In the same way the chief
priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and
saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the
King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and
believe." Those who were crucified with him also taunted 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?" When some of the bystanders heard it, they
said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah." And someone ran, filled a
sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying,
"Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down." Then
Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was
torn in two, 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 the younger and of
Joses, and Salome. 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.
When evening had come, and since it was the day of
Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a
respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for
the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then
Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked
him whether he had been dead for some time. When he learned from the centurion
that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen
cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in
a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door
of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was
laid.
In Mark’s Passion Narrative
we see Jesus as the righteous suffering one, known in Isaiah, the psalms, other
prophets, and in Wisdom Literature as well. Wisdom 2:12-20 says it best, “Let
us lie in wait for the righteous man.” Jesus is prepared for this by anointing,
which is proper, but especially interesting is that he is prepared for this by
anointing by a woman. This should give us clues as to what the Passion Narrative
is really all about, and who will be involved. Under this text lies a subtext
of plots and collaborations to do Jesus in. Thus even at the meal that is
shared, we see what and who lies in wait for the Righteous One. In the midst of
this unrighteous community bent on violence, Jesus institutes a new community
and binds them with bread and wine, Body and Blood.
We are tempted to think of
the plotting and prevarication as lying outside of the inner circle. Judas
proves us wrong once, and Peter (“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living
God”) proves us wrong again, as he denies even knowing the one he had earlier
acknowledge as the Christ. This is all very human, from the sleepiness of the
disciples to Judas’ kiss. The Jewish leaders attempt to preserve their position
and wisdom, and Pilate is at odds to know what to do with this “righteous
man.” Others are drawn into the
circle, Simon of Cyrene, the woman, John, the Roman cohort; all serve as
witnesses to the act. Not all of them will understand, at least not in the same
way. Places are important in Mark. We travel from Jerusalem to Bethany, and
then back, thence to the Mount of Olives and back. Finally it is Golgotha and
the Tomb. We are sent traveling from one point of eschatological importance to
another. An in each place Jesus suffers as the righteous one. What shall we
proclaim on this day, other than Peter’s tears, and Mary’s steadfast presence?
Breaking open the Gospel:
1. Do you ever meditate on the Passion of Jesus?
2. What images come to your mind when you hear the
Passion read?
3. How do you, like Joseph of Arimathea, take down and
receive the body of Christ?
After breaking open the Word,
you might want to pray the Collect for Sunday:
Almighty and everliving
God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus
Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving
us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the
way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.
Questions
and comments copyright © 2015, Michael T. Hiller
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