Mark 11:1-11

Palm Sunday - Year B

 

What an anti-climax. A lot of time to set the scene

Then - look around - note it was late - leave for Bethany-over-the-hill.

A lot of energy is expended on Palm Sunday. If Jesus were to look in on one of our Palm wavings, would he note that it was too little, too late and take off to fast with friends instead of sticking around.

What is it we think we are celebrating when we go the Palm Sunday route? What sort of Palm waving is going on as Americans enter Bagdad? Can we learn anything from Jesus turning away for Bethany after a "triumphant" entry?

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/april2003.html

 

 

In Mark we play an important part of setting up the recognized presence of Jesus. We go out of our way to get the colt/donkey/vehicle of peace ready to present Jesus and place our outer lives/coats on the line (vulnerable to receiving the "mark of the donkey" as it passes over).

In John, King Jesus has resources available at the snap of a finger, only royal palms are used, and, instead of retiring for the night, the Pharisees stay up to complete and confirm their assessment of having no option but to destroy this king in their midst.

Two very different perceptions and recounting of the same event. In some sense this is a reversal point. Usually speedy Mark lingers over preparation processes while loquacious John is the briefest of the four accounts.

Finding which of these stories best describes the situation we are in will give us another piece of information about next steps. In Mark, our part is taken back as Jesus goes on to his last act of power, a cursing of the fig tree, and the cleansing of the temple money/sacrifice exchange system. In John, we then see outsiders moving toward Jesus. There is a continuing play between myself and G*D as represented here with my active going to prepare and then Jesus retiring or with Jesus riding forth and my response to find out more. In the back and forth specifics we also find a generally forward arc toward life renewed and life eternal.

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2006/april2006.html

 

 

Palms: Here at least permission is directly given for the lending or leasing of a colt (perhaps because it only entailed one animal? [grin]). Or, a young donkey is "found".

It is instructive that the Gospels (at least part of them) are written from the perspective of the resurrection. Later folks remembered more than they knew at the time. This remembrance was just in time to be recorded as eternal truth for all time. In this circle we are freed, if we desire to live in freedom, to anticipate future insight as well as newly appreciating past experiences. It is helpful to both name the original understanding and the later revision. This grounds both in a larger reality of growth and allows a better appreciation of the witness.

A process of "midrash" is still of the utmost importance to breaking through the religious restrictions that have accumulated down through the years about expected meaning of particular passages. These midrash moments are appropriately responded to with, "Hosanna!"

Passion: Any of the numberless deadly sins could be used as a lens for this section. An easy one to use is that of greed. The set up is John's version of an anointing story and the harassing of the woman on the basis of perceived loss of revenue (greed excused as a good thing because it is "concerned" about the poor - not that they would have received any real help after an appropriate amount of administrative costs and overhead were taken out).

From there we can ask about greed of position, greed of power, and greed of control (all experiences can be commoditized).

We can also ask about generosity as we follow the story of a number of Marys. They offer their time and energy to a faithful presence. It is not as though they have any position, power, or control - they simply are witnessing. I am reminded of the women of the disappeared who publicly dance in solitude with the missing loved ones. To speak would be to be disappeared, but their act of witness is critical.

= = =

looking back brings new insight
mining experience is valuable
we polish events
bringing their deeper significance
to the surface

standing quietly by
witnessing events is valuable
we avoid secrets
pushing common realities
into the background

hands over eyes, mouth, ears
quickly diminish values
we increase ignorance
keeping insight restricted
to authorized versions

looking standing vulnerable
caring presence is valuable
we join life
partnering common good
with uncommon good

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html

 

Humility is not prized in domination systems (sucking up in hope of finding the leverage for a coup, is).

We are talking planes of existence here that slide by one another with little to no contact. We approach Jerusalem (really the Temple) and make choices about the mode in which we will arrive – a beast of burden, not a charger of triumph.

Of course there are those who are blind to such a choice and still see the charger, even with a colt in front of their eyes. Here is a reverse case of the Emperor's New Clothes. Folks are not able to see humility for the log of domination in their eye. No mater how Jesus says he is not a Messiah in the military/economic/political sense, he is still so perceived.

When Jesus finally arrives at the Temple, there is nothing to see for one who has their eye set on a larger future. No matter how much Jesus looks around, it is too late, any glory once present, has faded.

What is your symbol of humility and non-violence in these days? Regardless of whether others recognize it or not, you will know what you are about.

What are we looking for in these days? Look around - its gone from the places we thought it might be and we are called to see a new manger. If its not where you are looking, head off with your friends to further build community.

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html

 

 

They also serve who stand aside when something is needful for the common good. It is so easy to claim life as our property. Sometimes that is another person as they slave invisibly producing what we consume. Sometimes it is fish, birds, or animals that are but bits of our food chain. Sometimes it is the life we cannot see in coal and oil and humus that we co-opt for our desires.

Since the party returns to Bethany for the night, it seems that the colt was from there, rather than from Bethphage. That detail may be important to the “owner” of the colt, but of more import for the purpose of this writing is the dynamic of being able to relinquish.

Palm Sunday can so easily devolve into Hosannas projecting a Power Messiah (revisit your memories of the Power Rangers). It may be important to note the ministry of humility or relinquishment before and after all the Hubbub.

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2012/03/mark-111-11.html