Luke 19:28-40
Palm Sunday - Year C
If the text says, “After this . . . .” it is wise to listen to what went before to set a context for where we now are located.
When reading what went before (a parable about kings or commanders-in-chief, a la Samuel’s warning that they will put the people in bondage) we will be able to hear a persistent fanfare for fairness under all expressions of privilege.
The New Interpreter’s Bible says this about the parable and justice:
“...the parable . . . is opposed to the quests of earthly kings for vengeance and profit at the expense of the poor.
”What should we say, for example, when those who have access to medical care protest the expense of providing medical care for those who have none? “Lord, they already have. . . .”? What should we say when municipalities channel funds for road repair, police protection, or school equipment to well-to-do neighborhoods while neglecting the needs in other areas? “Lord, they already have. . . .”? What should we say when regressive taxes are proposed that protect the assets of the wealthy at the expense of the poor? “Lord . . .”?
Now envision this Palm Sunday scene through the eyes of a public demonstration with huge puppets. Hear the sarcasm in “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” as they dance around one who has just taken a donkey because of his “need”.
Demonstrating goodness in teachings and healings had not reminded the powers that be of creation’s grace. This demonstration also has no effect on those interested in order and power for the benefits they derive from them.
Teachers do not accede to a demand to self-censor. Teachers know that wisdom is always latent and will eventually come out. Wisdom here is that a cry for justice is called for, particularly when it cannot be voiced. Even a dark, stone-sealed tomb is a cry for justice.
Don’t get caught thinking this story is just a procession ceremony. It is a last attempt to be seen by the invisible people of the day. When overt and covert rebellion failed, when modeled goodness failed, when public theatre failed, Jesus wept that the justice needed for peace to build upon it could not be brought about by any particular technique. This cleansing of tears leads to a cleansing of a symbol of economic injustice as strong in its day as reference to 9-11 is in ours.
Palm Sunday is not a feel-good children’s parade with palm branches, but a call to enter the stage of life, to experience catharsis, and to go forth to cleanse that which attempts to silence a creation-deep call for communal wholeness.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2013/03/luke-1928-40.html
When will stoney hearts understand and sing truth to power? After there has been a resurrection.
Of course this implies that things will get quite dead first.
No wonder these are difficult scenes. The palms will turn to ashes before the ashes can intentionally lead us toward resurrection that comes in its own time (3 days or years or generations).
Here we see knee-jerk reactions to immediate hope that someone else will take care of the issues of the day. Come King Jesus and make it all OK for us. Take us off the hook. Now there's a band wagon we all want to jump on.
But there is no white charger here, only a grey donkey. What asses we were to think we can return to our mother's womb and re-enter Eden and nevermore wrestle with what we know about good and evil in the world and in these images of GOD we call ourselves.
Believe it, stones and stoney hearts can change -- do change. But not easily or immediately. In remembering past changes we can anticipate the general theory of change without knowing the details of particular changes or trying to turn that into a technique.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/april2004.html
Palms:
Go, do ["this specific action"]! And they did.
"If these were silent, the stones would [take this specific action]!"
"This specific action" will happen. In the short-run or the long-run, a sign of a change is ready to be manifest.
Let's listen in to Luke recording of some other folks invited to "Go ...." As you listen, raise the question: where you are being led to "Go ...."? Without the question we might miss an invitation to an expanded life.
John the Baptizer: Lu 1:17 - With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Jesus: Lu 1:76 - And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
Shepherds: Lu 2:15 - When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."
Lepers: Lu 5:14 - And he ordered him to tell no one. "Go," he said, "and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them."
Lu 17:14 - When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean.
Lu 17:19 - Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."
Paralytic: Lu 5:24 - But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he said to the one who was paralyzed - "I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home."
John's Disciples: Lu 7:22 - And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them.
Anointing Woman: Lu 7:50 - And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Disciples: Lu 8:22 - One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they put out,
Lu 10:3 - Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.
Lu 22:8 - So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it."
Hemorrhaging Woman: Lu 8:48 - He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."
Would-be Follower: Lu 9:60 - But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Questioning Lawyer: Lu 10:37 - [Who was a neighbor?] He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Warners: Lu 13:32 - He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, "Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.
Potential Guest: Lu 14:10 - But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, "Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.
Feast Giver: Lu 14:21 - "Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'
Two Different Children: Lu 15:18 - I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
Lu 15:28 - Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.
- - -
being sent
brings questions
of ulterior motives
for whose benefit
am I sent
do I send
to be sent
on my way
as my way
is a great gift
not needing
batteries included
to send
on their way
as their way
is great ministry
not needing
eternal shepherding
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html
Pericopes that begin with phrases such as, "After he had said this," need an acknowledgement of "what went before" to which this now is an "after". In this particular there is a parable about money in the context of Jericho and Zacchaeus that has two conclusions. The first antecedent is "to all who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away".
What does Jesus have as he enters Jerusalem? He has his belovedness recognized in or affirmed by baptism. There are fellow-travelers who have no clout or persistence in the face of force. There are accumulated stories and events that raise the political stakes and activate principalities and power. Of these only belovedness counts in his favor. The coming events will further test and confirm belovedness.
The second antecedent is, "as for enemies of mine who do not want me to be in charge -- bring them here and slaughter them in my presence."
While this could well be put in the mouths of the high priests, Pilate, and Herod, it is also a challenge Jesus speaks to them with his entrance to Jerusalem. One of the issues we need to wrestle with is that of timing. Is this reversal immediate or eventual? A second issue is that of effectiveness. Is it an implicit death, their policies contain their own downfall, or is explicit, external power against power?
With this setting we come to verse 40, "if these people are silenced, stones would shout." It pushes us back to belovedness. Stones have previously been seen to be the locus of potential life - water and bread. Stones are earth, stones are mud. Stones are also the money given to slaves in the preceding parable. Stones are concentrated creation. Stones are persistent in remembering what they have experienced and will stick to such no matter how they might be crushed (in fact being crushed allows them to be wind-borne to take the tale further abroad).
Imagine here a city built of singing stones (aural walls in place of bejeweled walls) recounting and anticipating peace between earth and heaven, once and future, and you and me. It is this assurance of engaged belovedness and blessedness that will continue as long as Life or G*D.
So, don't get distracted by colts or cloaks - may your belovedness sing, knowing its persistence as a ground of new being.