My Apologies....

I have only a few moments, but I would like to apologize for not keeping up these past few weeks. For those in university, you will understand what I mean when I say that it is that time of the semester. I have barely had a moment to breathe and unfortunately, the first priority is those things which count toward my academia. Unfortunately, this blog is not one of those things. Once finals are over, I will be back in the swing of things and update the blog. I will do my best to catch up on the missed weeks, but I will start with the most current lectionary readings first and then fill in the gaps as I have time. Thanks for following the blog! Peace

Palm Sunday and the Cost of Faithfulness

Ah, Palm Sunday. I must admit, this is my favorite Sunday of the year, and not because I used to make all sorts of things with the palms during mass. This is, after all, the story of Christ’s Passion, the reason for God becoming human. Besides the fact that Palm Sunday kicks off Holy Week, it also serves as the most powerful reminder that God is present in the suffering of all people, that Jesus paved the way for us ride head on to challenge the oppressive powers of society.
We start off with the procession readings, first from the Psalms, and then from the last part of Luke 19. The irony evoked from these passages almost mocks the customs of the Roman Empire. The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is a juxtaposition of the triumphal entry of a Roman general after the slaughter of an enemy army. Jesus was praised by the powerless as he rode on a rather unglamorous animal. He knew the fate which awaited him in Jerusalem, yet, he still rode into the city, to the dismay of the Roman and Jewish leadership. When we come out of the closet, like Jesus riding his donkey into Jerusalem, we do so with much hostility from the status quo. But, we don’t need to worry because Jesus has done this before us. Many people, who, like the powerless who welcomed Jesus, welcome us with loving actions once we do come out. These are the people who support us as we take our first steps out of the closet and into hostile waters.
The second Psalm in the readings paints a picture of abused power. Even though the lectionary omits the distress of the psalmist, we have an idea of trust in the Lord, despite injustice. The psalmist understands that God’s protection is all inclusive and empowering, despite any experience.
Unlike the uncertainty surrounding the psalmists suffering, Jesus’ crucifixion is well understood. Jesus is accused of crimes against Rome and against Jerusalem. His message and ministry challenged the very factors which enabled the ruling class to have its power. He endured suffering for us on the cross and he endures it with us as we struggle with identity, as we come out as LGBTQ persons, as we are treated as second class citizens by the status quo.
Isaiah’s reading focuses on suffering under abused power. It is our duty to sustain the weak and downtrodden. When those around us, and even ourselves, are beaten down by overwhelming power, we must be there, to support and to give strength to those among us. I have found that the LGBTQ community is really good at doing this. Like the Psalmist finds strength in the presence of the Lord, so to do we find strength in the Lord, but also in the support of our ‘queer families.’
The reading from Luke is the culmination of all of Jesus’ ministry, of the message of the prophets. Jesus enters the city and is brought before the Jewish and Roman councils as a matter of destiny. Jesus' mission was to challenge the powerful, confront "normal" ways of organizing society and offer an alternative. Through our experiences, God is present, as God was at Jesus’ trial, and by our witness to the transformative love of God, we are liberated from all injustice.