So on point with our Sunday School lesson this am - the moment we think we are different from Judas, is the moment we don’t understand Easter Grace at all.
This is wonderful. It reminds me a bit of Hannah Arendt's ruthless detailed account of Eichmann's trial in Jerusalem: the account that is summed by by her phrase "the banality of evil". He was no comic book supervillain...he was an accountant, just trying to get by day to day, making some small shortcuts to righteousness at first but who became evil small step by small step. As a Bruce Cockburn song says, "you get bigger as you go"...That is all of us. We evolved as social animals, and the social pressure of living in our neighborhoods, states and countries are such that few are those who stand their ground. Except for the saints...the martyrs...the godlike...
I deleted my first comment because I got a bit carried away with my reflection. I appreciate your weekly reflections, Nadia, and experience them as a sermon being taught to us by a much loved and respected pastor. I wish there had been a better way for Jesus to get his message out to us - that so much suffering for him was not involved. But one big truth that became evident to me in my reflection on your message today - and maybe not what you intended - is that if you're going to change for the better because of his teachings and example; if you stand up for good morals, ethics, and the truth; you should be prepared for the fact that you may get pounded. I so deeply wish that Jesus had not suffered as he did, but I am a nurse and alleviating suffering is part of my philosophical foundation. I think anyone who loves him feels the same. I am no Jesus, but I experienced being pounded myself when I stood up to a powerful physician who was a known sexual predator. I lost my job, but gained new friends, and ultimately a quiet respect for myself grew out of the big "D" depression. The leaders of His time taught me by a negative example that being unselfish and diplomatic makes a better leader than does creating fear in your constituency. Had I been present in Jesus' time, I might not have been so strong and fear might have been my teacher too. If you look at how those who defied the laws of time were put to death, you would most likely do what you were told to avoid that for yourself. I am humbled.
Been feeling utterly crushed by my faults for the last few days - such a good reminder that Jesus loves me not because I will someday fix them and become the tesla version of myself.
What was the purpose for Jesus participating ..arriving on donkey in jerusalem? Was it to fulfill prophecy? Was it to stir people in power to anger and arrest? Certainly shows fickleness of people … danger of crowds…
Cause me to reflect on social media, gossip, outrage that rises and falls with video and posts…
Have you seen the movie "The Seventh Sign". It's from 1988. It's final question haunts me to this day. I often feel that my doubts and falling away cause Jesus to be sacrificed all over again and at my hand. It's not a static story from long ago but lives in eternal presence.
Funny, I was just last night remembering some of my “oh shit” moments…
I’d like to believe things WOULD be different because we have already witnessed the resurrection. Through history we have seen many martyrs deliberately follow Jesus to their own deaths, torture, humiliation…so maybe…just maybe we might be different.
was thinking today about the past and asking why I was doing that....I started thinking maybe I was beating myself up like if I had done something different in the past then would there be less pain then or less pain now.....but I was reflecting that pain is the condition of our life on this earth, pain and suffering and change and all things arise and pass away. As you say there are no better humans and there is no better time in the past or future when humans are free of suffering. If I had made different choices in the past I would have different pains and problems now. So maybe I can stop flogging myself with these soggy old dead issues or at least tune out their boring, tedious voices.....if there is something we need to learn from the past then let's frigging do it and move on. Otherwise set it down....can't go back now anyway.
Oh, yeah! Just last night, when I hadn’t yet read your post, I was thinking about all the times that I screwed up in the past, and praying for forgiveness….
Not guilty of having had big hair, but I did have a horrible curly perm in the 1980s!
I love the re-enactment of Palm Sunday to Easter with time to reflect on the Hosannahs and celebration of arrival in Jerusalem. I quickly realize that I cannot hold onto the incarnate Jesus and still have the resurrected Jesus by the grace of God to forgive me for all the dumb things I do each day. Thanks the the reminder, that God is bigger than us and needs us to focus on doing our job, not his.
These are the words I most wanted to hear today. I love that you speak directly and raise feelings that I need to grapple with. Bless you dear woman, from someone who gave into the "big hair" fad wishing she hadn't caved so I could have focused on what mattersto me earlier than I did.
Your words give me the courage to face myself honestly instead of hiding behind the little rule-following Catholic girl that I was or the should-be-more-aware Episcopal adult I have become. This is grace.
So on point with our Sunday School lesson this am - the moment we think we are different from Judas, is the moment we don’t understand Easter Grace at all.
This is wonderful. It reminds me a bit of Hannah Arendt's ruthless detailed account of Eichmann's trial in Jerusalem: the account that is summed by by her phrase "the banality of evil". He was no comic book supervillain...he was an accountant, just trying to get by day to day, making some small shortcuts to righteousness at first but who became evil small step by small step. As a Bruce Cockburn song says, "you get bigger as you go"...That is all of us. We evolved as social animals, and the social pressure of living in our neighborhoods, states and countries are such that few are those who stand their ground. Except for the saints...the martyrs...the godlike...
“yep. these are mine.” Greatest 4 words …to be claimed by God. Thank you Nadia for great and needed message
I deleted my first comment because I got a bit carried away with my reflection. I appreciate your weekly reflections, Nadia, and experience them as a sermon being taught to us by a much loved and respected pastor. I wish there had been a better way for Jesus to get his message out to us - that so much suffering for him was not involved. But one big truth that became evident to me in my reflection on your message today - and maybe not what you intended - is that if you're going to change for the better because of his teachings and example; if you stand up for good morals, ethics, and the truth; you should be prepared for the fact that you may get pounded. I so deeply wish that Jesus had not suffered as he did, but I am a nurse and alleviating suffering is part of my philosophical foundation. I think anyone who loves him feels the same. I am no Jesus, but I experienced being pounded myself when I stood up to a powerful physician who was a known sexual predator. I lost my job, but gained new friends, and ultimately a quiet respect for myself grew out of the big "D" depression. The leaders of His time taught me by a negative example that being unselfish and diplomatic makes a better leader than does creating fear in your constituency. Had I been present in Jesus' time, I might not have been so strong and fear might have been my teacher too. If you look at how those who defied the laws of time were put to death, you would most likely do what you were told to avoid that for yourself. I am humbled.
"yep. these are mine." Those words reach right out and touch me.
Been feeling utterly crushed by my faults for the last few days - such a good reminder that Jesus loves me not because I will someday fix them and become the tesla version of myself.
What was the purpose for Jesus participating ..arriving on donkey in jerusalem? Was it to fulfill prophecy? Was it to stir people in power to anger and arrest? Certainly shows fickleness of people … danger of crowds…
Cause me to reflect on social media, gossip, outrage that rises and falls with video and posts…
I'm no expert...but look at these:
https://blog.israelbiblicalstudies.com/holy-land-studies/palms/
https://www.thetorah.com/article/sukkot-in-the-new-testament-from-lulav-and-hoshana-to-palm-sunday
Thank you for the links.. i will read them
Have you seen the movie "The Seventh Sign". It's from 1988. It's final question haunts me to this day. I often feel that my doubts and falling away cause Jesus to be sacrificed all over again and at my hand. It's not a static story from long ago but lives in eternal presence.
Funny, I was just last night remembering some of my “oh shit” moments…
I’d like to believe things WOULD be different because we have already witnessed the resurrection. Through history we have seen many martyrs deliberately follow Jesus to their own deaths, torture, humiliation…so maybe…just maybe we might be different.
I pray I’m never tested so severely…
was thinking today about the past and asking why I was doing that....I started thinking maybe I was beating myself up like if I had done something different in the past then would there be less pain then or less pain now.....but I was reflecting that pain is the condition of our life on this earth, pain and suffering and change and all things arise and pass away. As you say there are no better humans and there is no better time in the past or future when humans are free of suffering. If I had made different choices in the past I would have different pains and problems now. So maybe I can stop flogging myself with these soggy old dead issues or at least tune out their boring, tedious voices.....if there is something we need to learn from the past then let's frigging do it and move on. Otherwise set it down....can't go back now anyway.
Oh, yeah! Just last night, when I hadn’t yet read your post, I was thinking about all the times that I screwed up in the past, and praying for forgiveness….
Not guilty of having had big hair, but I did have a horrible curly perm in the 1980s!
I love the re-enactment of Palm Sunday to Easter with time to reflect on the Hosannahs and celebration of arrival in Jerusalem. I quickly realize that I cannot hold onto the incarnate Jesus and still have the resurrected Jesus by the grace of God to forgive me for all the dumb things I do each day. Thanks the the reminder, that God is bigger than us and needs us to focus on doing our job, not his.
These are the words I most wanted to hear today. I love that you speak directly and raise feelings that I need to grapple with. Bless you dear woman, from someone who gave into the "big hair" fad wishing she hadn't caved so I could have focused on what mattersto me earlier than I did.
I always thought the palm sunday crowd was cringey too. Thanks for the friendly reminder that would absolutely have been me.
Your words give me the courage to face myself honestly instead of hiding behind the little rule-following Catholic girl that I was or the should-be-more-aware Episcopal adult I have become. This is grace.
You go to Palm Sunday service year-after-year and hear the same message. I never thought about it like this. Thank you for the learning!