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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Holy Week Yr B
Gif animator K Downs in collaboration with original image artist Natalie Andrewson, "Procession", downloaded 3/8/2021 from K. Draws Stuff website. Used with permission.
Zanino di Pietro (Italian, active from 1389, died before 1448), Leaf from Book of Hours, mid 15th century (before 1463) (Medieval)
Published date 3/212024
Introduction
Introduction
A note about the image associated with this page. This kinda fits with my view of that first procession: an exuberant but rag-tag group of folks making their way into Jerusalem, big and little, normal and not-so-normal, ushering their "king" in a triumphal entry! How like that are we today (if we but have eyes to see). We are none of us just like the other. We are a rag-tag group of folks, big and little, normal and not-so-normal, ushering our king into our hearts and lives. It will be miraculous when we can look around with love to accept each other as is. [I hope none are offended by the image; that was not my intent.]
Mark 11:1-11
Mark 11:1-11
When they were approaching Jerusalem, . . . 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; . . . 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!”
From sermon4kids.com: “Jesus wants to be the ruler and Lord of your life. He doesn’t want to be your “King for a Day,” he wants to be your “Forever King.” ”
Scripture: March 24, 2024—LITURGY OF THE PALMS—Mark 11:1–11 or John 12:12–16 (image); Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29 (image); LITURGY OF THE PASSION—Isaiah 50:4–9a (image); Psalm 31:9–16 (image); Philippians 2:5–11 (image); Mark 14:1–15:47 (image). A visual/audio journey. Coloring page for Psalm 31.
Collect: 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.
Reflection: The passion of Christ is a story of terror in which, against all odds, love wins. How might this story reshape your week, your life, our world? Where will you commit to letting love win? How will this change your life?
For Jewish people, Passover is a day of remembrance and celebration. For Christians, every Lord's Supper is also a day of remembrance and celebration. Both Jews and Christians are enjoined to hand on to the next generation what we have received from the Lord.
When do you first remember receiving the Lord's Supper?
What words, phrases, memories, or practices of this sacrament do you especially wish to pass on to the next generation?
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year B, Volume 1 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press)
Symbols of the Church
Symbols of the Church
There are many symbols of the Passion of Christ. Here are two images depicting the "weapons of Christ".
In the first image, the instruments left to right are: the cross of the penitent thief Dismas, ladder, sponge on reed, hammer, angels, Cross of Christ, cock, star, pincers, ladder, spear, cross of the wicked thief Gestas, and two hyssop plants growing from the ground (église Saint-Pierre de Collonges-la-rouge).
From the second image, continuing with the instruments of the Passion left to right are: chalice, torch, lantern, sword, flagellum, pillar of flagellation, Veronica's veil, 30 pieces of silver, dice(?), reed sceptre, hand which struck Christ, torch, pitcher of gall and vinegar.
from "Arma Christ" (or weapons of Christ) website.
Eye Candy:
A plethora of images about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem—many different media, many different styles. Take a minute to enjoy.
Ear Worm:
“Hosanna in the Streets” by Pepper Choplin;
“It is finished” from Seven Last Words by Michael John Trotta;
“Ride on, King Jesus” spiritual arranged by Moses Hogan
Brain Food:
“Passiontide” by Michael Coffee;
“The grim comedy of St. Mark’s passion” by Debra Dean Murphy;
a poem about the miniature shown below of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem.
Parables:
“Contact” (1998, PG), Ellie is welcomed back but . . ., "reason must yield to mystery", faith in the midst of science, Review1, Review2;
“The Passion of Joan of Arc” (1928, passed), comparison of passions of Christ & Joan of Arc, Review;
“Sling Blade“, (1996, R), “no such thing as good or redemptive violence”, Review
For families: Study guide and activities (former guide), group activity, snacks, kid video (a bit longer than usual)
For children: See family guide/activities (another activity), bulletin, craft;
For middlers: See family guide/activities (another activity), bulletin, craft
For youth: Often the Youth of a church will participate as zealots in the Palm Sunday procession round the church to commemorate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Find a way for you to commemorate this momentous event.
Also there is much to be learned from Mark’s passion gospel reading this week. It opens with Jesus sending disciples to get a room for their last supper, continues through the first sharing of wine and bread that forms our present-day Eucharist, walks us with Jesus through his grief and betrayal in Gethsemane and his trial, depicts his crucifixion and agony on the cross, his death, and his entombment. So much to absorb and think about. Read the gospel lesson again. How would you apportion it into “stages”? Now focus on one of those stages. What do you feel?
What do you think about the reflection below in "What is the Way?" part of this issue.
Feel free to comment by sending an email to FaithatHome2020@gmail.com
A reflection on the Passion Gospel of Mark.
. . . Mark begins his Gospel with these words:
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
One can have a lengthy Christological discussion as to what exactly “Son of God” means, what it meant, and how it relates to our understanding of Jesus being fully God and fully man.
However, Mark doesn’t have that Christological discussion. Mark is no theological tractate, full of scholarly and philosophical argument. No, when Mark wants to define “Son of God” he does so by painting a picture, albeit with words.
And, it’s a picture of crucifixion. It’s a picture of death.
After Jesus breathes his last, after his body is deflated from the Life which once occupied it—THEN is when the centurion exclaims in wonder:
Surely this man was the Son of God.
. . . when I’m in a hospital room and someone dies there is something—perhaps inadequately describable—that changes. Death casts a pall. What once was clearly alive is clearly no longer. We may stand around a casket in a funeral home and talk about how the dearly departed “looks peaceful” and “sleeping,” but when death has just come, it’s hard to use such words.
Skin tone changes. Eyes are empty. Cheeks sink.
And, when Jesus is in that very moment—when he makes the turn from tortured man to corpse—THAT’s when he is proclaimed as “Son of God.” That’s the penultimate moment. The moment when he has just been broken.
There’s something to that. I’m not sure it can be denied. It’s the death of Jesus Christ which, for Mark at least, exalts him above all creation.
Perhaps this should cause us to reflect theologically. Break out our old textbooks from Christology 101.
But, at the very least it should give us cause to sit at the foot of the cross this Holy Week. Before we break out the trumpet lilies and the white vestments—before we don the white vestments. Before then, perhaps we should sit at the feet of Jesus Christ, the corpse. The dead. The broken.
And behold the Son of God. . . .
Excerpted from Rick Morley website.
Today’s liturgy is in two parts. The Liturgy of the Palms celebrates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of the week of his Passion. After we hear Luke’s account of that event, we give thanks over the branches that we carry. A procession then moves into the church building with festive songs of “Hosanna in the highest!”
The second part of today’s liturgy changes from triumph to tragedy as it focuses on the suffering and death of Jesus. The account of the Lord’s Passion from Luke’s gospel often is read with individuals and congregation taking various parts so that we may have a fuller sense of sharing with him in his redemptive acts of dying and rising for our salvation.
The Old Testament reading is one of Isaiah’s poems about the suffering servant of God whose suffering atones for the sin of the people. This passage and others like it are understood by Christians to foretell the suffering and death of Jesus.
The reading from Philippians is an early Christian hymn which announces that Jesus’ Lordship is revealed not in the power of his divinity but in self-giving love to the point of dying for us, his beloved. This is the ultimate restoration from exile brought about by Jesus.
Today we enter into the celebration of the mighty acts of God which brought about that restoration. During this week, we will rediscover what God has done for us, rediscover the meaning of baptism, and rediscover the meaning of our sharing in Eucharist.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
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