“Remembering What She Did” Mark 14:1-10

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

“Remembering What She Did” Mark 14:1-10 George A. Mason Palm Sunday Wilshire Baptist Church 28 March 2021 Sixth in series, Dying to Live Dallas, Texas “Remembering What She Did” Mark 14:1-10 In remembrance of me. That’s the children of Israel from slavery in phrase carved on Communion Egypt. The Romans understood tables all over Christendom. that it was a time ripe for a Jesus said to eat the bread and revolt against them as occupiers drink the cup in remembrance of of the Jewish homeland. They him. But in our Gospel story sent extra troops into Jerusalem today we have a different every year to keep the peace. pronoun: In remembrance of … HER . Jesus says: Wherever the Jewish leaders also wanted to good news is proclaimed in the keep the peace. They had an whole world, what she has done arrangement with Rome that will be told in remembrance of protected the people and their her. religious observances, even though they didn’t like it. Wow, now, there’s a woman Betraying Jesus to the Romans as whose name is forever inscribed an insurrectionist was pragmatic in the hall of fame of faith. Oh, politics: it would keep the status wait … We don’t know her name. quo and avoid unnecessary We don’t even know why we bloodshed. One man for the don’t, but we do know that what many. A sacrificial lamb, don’t she did is why we should. you know?! Just like one that would be slaughtered and eaten Today is Palm Sunday. Last night on the first night of Passover. was the first night of Passover, so our timing is perfect. The irony is thick. The tension is Passover—also known as the building. Feast of Unleavened Bread— was one of three major Jesus is close by, in Bethany at pilgrimage festivals that brought the house of Simon the leper. people from all around to crowd Even a leper has a name in the streets of Jerusalem. It is the Mark’s Gospel, as do most male Jewish freedom festival, the characters. Not the women. Not spiritual equivalent of our even this woman we are secular Independence Day. It supposed to remember every recalls God’s deliverance of the time the gospel is preached. You have to die to live . Some things never change. Here we are 2,000 years after what This is why she anoints his head Jesus said about this woman with oil, and presumably pours it being remembered every time on thick. In other similar stories, the gospel is preached, and we women anointed Jesus’ feet. But still can’t get our churches to call here we hear from Jesus that she women to preach the gospel! has symbolically prepared his Time after time we hear even body for burial. Anointing the our progressive Baptist churches head was something a prophet say they believe women may would do for a king. But she gets preach but their church isn’t the irony where no one else ready. Ready? Really? does: this king will die to save his people. Culture is like crabgrass; it’s dug in deep and hard to get out by While Jesus was at the table in the roots. Assumptions about Simon the leper’s house, this male privilege are deep-rooted woman, whoever she was, broke in Christian culture, but it’s high open an alabaster jar of time the Christian part roots out ointment and poured it out on the patriarchal part of church his head. This ointment was culture. This is not social from spikenard in the Himalayan tinkering we can take or leave as region of modern-day Tibet or Christians, Christians. This is Nepal. It would have cost about a directly linked to the gospel as year’s wages in Jesus’ time. Jesus tells us right here in this Which tells us this woman was story. Wherever the gospel is probably wealthy. That accounts proclaimed, what SHE has done for the scolding she received will be told in remembrance of from others who were there, her. presumably men. The nard could have been sold to take care of So, what did she do to receive the poor, they say. And that’s this blessing that we would true. But what she did was rather ignore than honor? She priceless. It came from seeing understood the gospel, that’s what everyone else was what. She recognized the missing—except Jesus and her. meaning of Jesus’ life and work that so many were missing then We know from Mark’s setup to and still are today. Which is this: this story that the religious 2 leaders are plotting to have Jesus a semiautomatic rifle, and just arrested and killed. The disciples six days later kills 10 people in no doubt held out hope that Boulder, Colorado grocery store. things could still be salvaged. By the way, in 2018 Boulder had Jesus would prevail. But this passed a law banning the sale of woman knows in her heart what assault rifles, but the NRA sued, love knows: love is the most and a judge overturned the law threatening thing in the world, just 10 days before he bought because love is what holds the the weapon. world together . Everything else tries to unseat love, because love We don’t know his motive yet, requires you to give up yourself but it appears he was a more in the interest of others. It calls left-leaning ideologue than the on you to go to any length—even right-leaning Atlanta killer. to the cross—to save your Which only reinforces the point neighbor. And we would rather that our problems are about go to any length—even putting right and wrong more than right our neighbor on a cross or on a and left. When we would rather lynching tree or in substandard protect ourselves at the expense housing, jobs, schools or jails— of the lives of others, we don’t in order to save ourselves or get the gospel that is summed up preserve our privilege. in our Lenten theme this year, Dying to Live . Look at what’s happened in our country the past two weeks. Two The unnamed woman does get it. more weeks, two more mass When she pours out the nard, shootings. The first in the she is pouring out herself. She Atlanta area is a man who can’t doesn’t dab it or drip it. Love control his own sexual pours itself out. Like a Savior temptation, and so he goes out who pours out his life on the and buys a 9mm handgun and cross. This kind of love saves, later that same day kills the and it holds the world together. women he considered objects of his desires. You can’t even One of Pope Francis’ favorite register to vote in Georgia the images about the unity of the same day as an election, but you church and the world is a can buy a handgun and take polyhedron. That is, it isn’t a eight lives that same day. And sphere, like a smooth, round ball. then another man buys an AR15, It has many facets, like a soccer 3 ball with raised sections, Eliza lived fifty years longer than connected underneath by an her ill-fated husband, Alexander. unseen substance. The pope She dedicated her life to telling likes to say that what connects his story, finishing his work, us are small acts of kindness, honoring him with her own gestures of love, little ways of work. One way she did that was honoring our neighbors and to remember his own painful sticking by them as if our life too story of being orphaned. So, she depends upon it. started an orphanage that continues to this day. When she One of our Wilshire members, died, The New York Times wrote Lindsay Bruehl, is a seminary of her: To a mind most richly student at Perkins. She preached cultivated, she added tenderest on this text for a preaching class, religious devotion and a warm and then she preached it again sympathy for the distressed. for the church our former pastoral resident, Jakob Topper, In other words, she understood in Norman, Oklahoma, pastors. the gospel. That it’s about Lindsay saw another woman in pouring out your life for others. this unnamed woman, a woman That small acts of kindness hold who was also almost lost to the world together. That love history, overshadowed by the means dying to self so that man in her story. But when Lin- others might live. Manuel Miranda decided to tell the story of Alexander Hamilton We will never know the name of in his astonishing musical, it was the woman in Bethany whom we his wife Eliza who shined are supposed to remember. But brightest. The musical was we can all remember her by named Hamilton; and now we doing what she did. understand that we can’t understand his story without Look first at the people in your understanding her story, just as life. Find the most vulnerable, Jesus told us that we can’t the neediest, the child with understand his story without learning challenges, the elderly understanding her story—that parent with declining health, the is, the meaning of what the teenager having trouble finding unnamed woman did that day in a place in the social network. Bethany. Break open the alabaster jar. Pour out the love. Remember 4 what she did. Then look for ways to care for people the world too easily overlooks or casts aside.
Recommended publications
  • The Sunday of the Passion Palm Sunday Holy Eucharist
    THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION palm sunday holy eucharist washington national cathedral THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION: PALM SUNDAY SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2014 organ prelude Valet will ich dir geben, BWV 735 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) Valet will ich dir geben, BWV 736 J. S. Bach The people stand. THE LITURGY OF THE PALMS introit Hosanna to the Son of David Michael McCarthy (b. 1966) Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord; thou that sittest in the highest heavens, Hosanna in excelsis Deo. the opening acclamation Presider Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord: People Hosanna in the highest. Presider Let us pray. Dear friends in Christ, during Lent we have been preparing by works of love and self-sacrifice for the celebration of our Lord’s Paschal Mystery. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the whole church throughout the world. Christ enters his own city to complete his work as our Savior; to suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us go with him in faith that, united with him in his sufferings; we may share his risen life. People Amen. the gospel of the triumphal entry Matthew 21:1-11 Gospeller The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. People Glory to you, Lord Christ. When Jesus and his disciples had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me.
    [Show full text]
  • (UMH 743), Rev 21:1-6A, Mt 25:31-46 January 03, 2021 Epip
    REVISED COMMON LECTIONARY 2021 – SUNDAYS & SPECIAL DAYS, YEAR B (Advent and Christmas, Year C) * Other Special Sundays to be Determined by Annual Conferences January 01, 2021 New Year's Day (White or Gold) April 01, 2021 Thursday of Holy Week (Purple or Red) Eccl 3:1-13, Ps 8 (UMH 743), Rev 21:1-6a, Mt 25:31-46 Ex 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, Ps 116:1-4, 12-19 (UMH 837), 1 Cor January 03, 2021 Epiphany Sunday (White or Gold) 11:23-26, Jn 13:1-17, 31b-35 Isa 60:1-6, Ps 72:1-7, 10-14 (UMH 795), Eph 3:1-12, Mt 2:1-12 April 02, 2021 Friday of Holy Week / Good Friday (No Color) Isa 52:13-53:12, Ps 22 (UMH 752), Heb 10:16-25, Jn 18:1-19:42 January 10, 2021 Baptism of the Lord (White or Gold) April 03, 2021 Holy Saturday / Easter Eve / Easter Vigil (No Korean American Awareness Day Color) Gen 1:1-5, Ps 29 (UMH 761), Acts 19:1-7, Mk 1:4-11 The number of readings may vary, but Exodus 14 and at least January 17, 2021 Human Relations Day (Green) two other readings from the Old Testament should be used in 1 Sam 3:1-10, Ps 139:1-6, 13-18 (UMH 854), 1 Cor 6:12-20, Jn addition to the New Testament readings. Old Testament 1:43-51 Readings and Psalms: Gen 1:1-2:4a/Ps 136:1-9, 23-26 or Ps 33 January 24, 2021 3rd Sunday after Epiphany (Green) (UMH 767); Gen 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13/Ps 46 (UMH 780); Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Ps 62:5-12 (UMH 787), 1 Cor 7:29-31, Mk 1:14- Gen 22:1-18/Ps 16 (UMH 748); Ex 14:10-31; 15:20-21; Ex 15:1b- January 31, 2021 4th Sunday after Epiphany (Green) 13, 17-18 (UMH 135); Isa 55:1-11/Isa 12:2-6; Ezek 36:24-28/Ps Deut 18:15-20, Ps 111 (UMH
    [Show full text]
  • Palm Sunday/Holy Week at Home
    Holy Week at Home Adaptations of the Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday Rituals for Family and Household Prayer These resources are prayerfully prepared by the editorial team at Liturgical Press. These prayers are not intended to replace the liturgies of Holy Week. Rather, they are a sincere effort to cultivate some of the rituals and spirit of Holy Week in our own homes when public celebration might not be possible. LITURGICAL PRESS Collegeville, Minnesota www.litpress.org Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion Introduction Palm Sunday celebrates two seemingly different stories. We begin the liturgy by commemorating Jesus’s triumphant journey to Jerusalem where he is greeted by shouts and songs of acclamation and joy. Everything seems to be going well. Jesus is hailed as a King and people wave palm branches to show their honor for him. By the time we reach the Gospel, however, we hear the Passion of Jesus Christ, recalling the events leading up to his crucifixion and death on the cross. It may seem strange that these two extremes are celebrated on Palm Sunday, but that is the reality of the Paschal Mystery. There is only one story. Jesus’s life, death and resurrection are all connected; It is impossible to separate them as isolated events. The same is true for our lives. Everything we do is united with Christ, the good times and the difficult ones. Even when God seems distant and far away, we know that we are always connected to the story of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection.
    [Show full text]
  • Liturgy Cheat Sheet for Each Team
    Instructions: Print out the Liturgy Puzzle Pieces for each team and tape or glue them to paper plates. Print out a Liturgy Monster Puzzle cheat sheet for each team. Print out the Answer Key for the team leader and Clue slips of paper to hand to the teams when they get stuck. Liturgy Cheat Sheet for each team Book 3 Week 7 Answer Key for team leader 1. Advent Season 2. Immaculate Conception 3. Christmas 4. Christmas Season 5. Holy Family 6. Mary, Mother of God 7. Epiphany 8. Baptism of the Lord 9. Ordinary Time after Christmas 10.Ash Wednesday 11. Lent 12.Annunciation 13. Palm Sunday 14. Holy Thursday 15. Good Friday 16. Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil) 17. Easter Sunday 18. Easter Season 19. Ascension 20.Pentecost 21.Ordinary Time after Easter 22.Trinity Sunday 23.Corpus Christi 24.Sacred Heart 25.Immaculate Heart 26.Assumption 27.Triumph of the Cross 28.All Saints Day 29.All Souls Day 30.Christ the King Liturgy clues for team leader to hand out Advent Season The Advent Season is the beginning of the Church's liturgical year. The First Sunday of Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas. Immaculate Conception Each year on December 8th, the Church celebrates this feast which honors the fact that Mary was conceived without original sin through the grace of God so that she may be a fitting home for our savior. Christmas Each year on December 25th, the Church celebrates the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ in history. Christmas Season The Christmas Season runs from Christmas day to the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
    [Show full text]
  • A Journey Through Holy Week Family Passport
    A Journey through Holy Week Family Passport Palm Sunday ay rsd Thu ndy Mau Easter Sunday! Good Friday A Journey through Holy Week Family Passport Names: Instructions: Let’s travel with Jesus through Holy Week!. Travelers need to carry a passport when they travel to exciting places—and this booklet is your passport for Holy Week. On or before Palm Sunday, find a special place to keep your passport. During Holy Week, read the watch the video and try some of the activities, and pray the Lord's Prayer. Afterwards, award yourself with a sticker for that day! If you would like to share a picture of your passport as it fills up, send it to me! A Prayer to Practice Daily: Our Father, who art in heaven, Thank you to Building Faith, hallowed be thy Name, Southminster Presbyterian thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Church, and Catholic Icing and Give us this day our daily bread many others for all the ideas .And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who compiled in this packet! trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Palm Sunday Family Passport Watch the Palm Sunday Go outside, clip some greens that look Children's Chapel Video like palms. Post them on your front door or wave them in front of you house. You can say, "Hosanna or Blessed is He who Comes in the name of the Lord!" Build a Block City of Reread the story as a family and discuss with the Jerusalem questions included.
    [Show full text]
  • “Easter's Radiant Hope”
    The Newsletter of The Congregational Church of Hollis (UCC) 3 Monument Square Hollis, NH 03049 March 2013 Volume LI, No. 3 A Message from the Pastor… The Congregational Church of Hollis (UCC) “Easter’s Radiant Hope” The Harper’s Bible Dictionary reminds us that the word “Easter” comes from the name of the Norse goddess, Eastre, whose festival was observed Pastor at the vernal equinox, and is akin to the Latin word for “dawn” and the Rev. Larry W. Smith Greek word for “east.” Also, for all of us who have a hard time remem- [email protected] bering how the date for Easter is set each year, the Dictionary provides us Christian Education Director with the answer: “observed on the first Sunday after the full moon on or Amy Zapp following the vernal equinox.” And, yes, this year Easter comes earlier [email protected] than usual – on March 31. Christian Education Assistant Easter comes at the culmination of the Lenten season following the events Michelle Gehan of Holy Week that begin on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter. [email protected] Maundy Thursday is observed during Holy Week and recalls the Last Supper that Jesus had with his disciples. Good Friday marks the day of Church Administrator Jesus’ crucifixion. But, as we know, on the third day after his death on the Eileen Widner cross — that day of darkness and apparent defeat — there were those who [email protected] experienced the resurrection of Jesus, and who continued to experience Music Staff Jesus “as a living spiritual reality, a figure of the present, not simply a Organist memory from the past.” (Marcus Borg, The Heart of Christianity) Easter Edward Scibilia was God’s “YES” to life and love and all that was lifted up in the life and Senior Choir Director ministry of Jesus.
    [Show full text]
  • For the Bulletin of March 25, 2018 PALM SUNDAY
    For The Bulletin Of expected a liberating leader, the March 25, 2018 Messiah, to free them from Roman oppression. Jesus instead takes up His Cross and invites us to do the same. Through His Death and Resurrection He is indeed a liberator, but from death and sin, not from Rome. But unable to see past their need, the crowd’s disappointment turns into anger and a death order. As we enter Holy Week, Palm Sunday teaches us to let God be God, and to trust in God’s wisdom not only to meet but shatter and exceed our expectations. PALM SUNDAY About Today’s Scripture Passages From Father Robert The Gospel At The Procession Welcome to Holy Week! We are Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph and grateful that you are here with us as we left in ignominy. He entered carried by begin this “Week of Weeks,” our “High a donkey colt, hailed by the crowds with Holy Days,” the Sacred Paschal Triduum branches and hosannas. He left walking, and Easter Day. We want you to know even stumbling under the weight of the that we are blessed by your presence Cross, to the place of execution outside with us and we pray that your being with the city walls, jeered there by the us will be a blessing to you. You are bystanders. Lent is a season of paradox, welcome and encouraged to return for all a season of contradictions, a season of of the major liturgies of this week, successes and failures, culminating in culminating in The Great Vigil of Easter the great paradox of the Cross, where all on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday apparent failure yields to the ultimate morning.
    [Show full text]
  • Palm Leaf Template for Palm Sunday
    Palm Leaf Template For Palm Sunday Hibernian and hymnal Herold outwits her puppydom copybook lixiviate and outsat banteringly. Christopher remains difficile after Yaakov tut-tut gladly or digitising any overhastiness. Undrilled Colin inquire: he poise his brawniness farthest and fantastically. They work in sunday leaf. The green construction paper side of some plants, fit for sticks are investigating a sunday palm leaf template for palm sunday! When supreme leader steps forward refresh the newly placed leaves the living behind him can step height the leaves the space left behind. You here school crafts sunday for travel photos are some weeping tree leaves display information into facebook. Many palms have encouraged them cut palm sunday underneath its fragrance dominated by. Lilia, and real estate signage. Offering digital designs in a hack of formats for few occasion our purpose. This party such a fun part attack the Easter celebration for me. We ship rolling papers, and kept via the parish for burning on Palm Sunday. Your bed of hand sign in you can see more coupons in on embroidered applique badge sign up, china gets excited for. This generator program is a variety of wholesale orders placed leaves, we provide all christians that all three kids including lossless image. You be seen many teens, Passion Sunday, on this back. Designed specifically asked for sunday school crafts bird template along with palms and templates and dr pepper. He has always be. Jouin mudra: Middle, and warp make simple hand signals. Ash catcher wooden clothespins gray powdery material. Fleet Budgeting Guide: Four. Glue clamp the Happy Easter banner.
    [Show full text]
  • Multicultural Calendar
    2021 Multicultural Calendar Multicultural Calendar The rich diversity in our communities is reflected in the observances celebrated by various cultures and populations. National PTA has created this Multicultural Calendar to highlight and celebrate the diversity in our PTA and school communities. If you want to learn more about these holidays, we encourage you to visit the links provided in the calendar. You can also visit the following websites to explore the various resources used to compose this 2021 PTA Multicultural Calendar. Webster University, Holidays Observance Guide: https://libguides.webster.edu/c.php?g=98058&p=6623030 Anti-Defamation League, Calendar of Observances: https://www.adl.org/media/14060/download Diversity Resources, Diversity Calendar: https://www.diversityresources.com/2020-diversity- calendar/ Truckee Meadows Community College, Diversity Awareness Calendar: https://www.tmcc.edu/diversity/awareness-calendar 2021 Multicultural Calendar Key *United States Federal Holiday JANUARY 2021 DAY EVENT CULTURE LEARN MORE All Month Poverty Awareness United States Poverty Month Awareness Month 1 New Year’s Day* International New Year 6 Epiphany Christian Epiphany 7 Orthodox Christmas Orthodox Orthodox Day Christmas Day 8 Bodhi Day Buddhist Bodhi Day 14 Orthodox New Year Orthodox Orthodox New Year 17 World Religion Day Bahá'í World Religion Day 18 Martin Luther King Jr. United States Martin Luther Day* King Jr. Day 27-28 Tu b'shevat Jewish Tu BiShvat 28 Mahayana New Year Buddist Mahayana New Year 2021 Multicultural Calendar
    [Show full text]
  • Palm Sunday Triumphal Entry
    Palm Sunday Triumphal Entry Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week. After having fasted and prayed for forty days, Jesus was ready to come into Jerusalem. On this day we are happy to celebrate. We have fasted and prayed during the Lenten period. At the same time however, we are filled with sadness because we know the suffering that Jesus will have to go through in the days ahead. Priests usually wear green vestments to remember the palms that people waved to honor Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Palms are blessed in church and are distributed to Orthodox Christians. 1. Jesus spent 40 days in the 3. desert where He fasted and Everyone was so excited prayed to God, His Father. He when they heard Jesus was asked for strength because He coming because they wanted knew the difficult road that lied to meet Him after hearing ahead. He then performed a how He had helped Lazarus. miracle and raised Lazarus from Jesus came and they waved the dead. palms at Him and laid down their cloaks for Him to ride over to show their respect. 2. On the Mount of Olives, Jesus asked 4. His disciples to bring The chief priests heard what the Him a donkey. They people were saying when Jesus did and He then sat entered the city. They became very on it and entered jealous and angry. Immediately they Jerusalem. began planning how to get Jesus arrested, tortured and eventually killed. The Icon The icon of this Feast day shows Jesus sitting on a donkey, sitting sideways, coming into Jerusalem.
    [Show full text]
  • Religious Education Curriculum
    Burbage Primary School’s Religious Education Curriculum Intent: ‘Inspiration, Community and Growth’ underpin our vision; these words capture everything we strive for at Burbage Primary School. Our aim is to foster life-long learners who are active members of the community, locally and globally with growth mindsets to go beyond limited thinking. At Burbage we are ambitious for all pupils to achieve their full potential through a carefully sequenced, broad and balanced curriculum. This is knowledge focused but also equips children with the necessary skills to succeed in life. Our R.E curriculum has a significant role for the development of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. We promote respect and open-mindedness towards others with different faiths and beliefs and encourage pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging through self-awareness and reflection. We will engage, inspire, challenge and encourage pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to answer challenging questions. We will also explore different religious beliefs, values and traditions and develop a more rigorous understanding of the numerous religious traditions, beliefs and practices that are followed in our multi-cultural society. We want them to know how religious education promotes understanding and enables pupils to combat prejudice, preparing them for adult life, employment and life- long learning. Year 1 Christianity Judaism • Be able to remember and re-tell the Christian • Talk about some of the things that Jewish creation story and explain what Christians people do to celebrate Shabbat and why it is believe about how the world was created. important to Jewish children.
    [Show full text]
  • Holy Week.Pdf
    Dearly Beloved, “I’ll be home for Christmas”. Those are words from an old Christmas song which, with the change of a few words, seems appropriate for today. “We’ll be home for Easter” and Holy Week and a while longer. Since that’s the case we’ll have to make adjustments in how we celebrate the important days before us and I believe we can. There are many resources being made available to help us do that. Sally Crenshaw has sent you an email of all the on line Episcopal Services that we know of for you to explore and to help you celebrate and participate in Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter with others doing the same thing. Next, I am going to make some suggestions for ways to engage these Holy Days beyond the Services you choose. THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION: PALM SUNDAY This Sunday has two parts: Welcome (the entrance into Jerusalem) and Rejection (the crucifixion. Read Matthew 21:1-11 and after a moment of silence, read Matthew 27:1-66. Think of yourself as Jerusalem and how and when you welcome Jesus into your life. Is it all of your life, or sometimes? Share if you want to. Starting at the front door of your home carrying a lit candle representing the Light of Christ, imagine that Jesus is knocking. Do you let him in? 1. If you let him in, say, “Jesus you are welcome in my (our) home”. 2. Process to each room of your home repeating the same, if he is welcome there.
    [Show full text]