Gospeling Your Life According to Mark

 

Yesterday, you had the chance to read Mark’s Palm Sunday narrative.  Jesus rides into Jerusalem (the center of religion and politics ~ the capital city ~ a seat of power and privilege) on a donkey.  This echoes King David who also rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.  It would be like a person today riding in a boat across the Delaware River evoking memories of George Washington.  This confronts and contradicts Caesar who rides in on a stallion with a show of force.  Two different parades that still dominate our world today.  There are plenty of parades where might makes right is still on display.  There are plenty of parades and pulpit pounding demanding power and fear mongering.  There are plenty of parades where it is about cowering.  Jesus offers an invitation to a different parade, one that is based on humility, unconditional love, and grace.  The people cry, “Hosanna,” which means “save us”.  What really saves us?  Does military force?  Does yelling and scoring points on some imaginary score board on social media?  Does making fun of others?  Does posting cynical and anonymous posts with keyboard courage?  Mark’s Gospel is the shortest, but in chapter 11, the writer slows the narrative down to dwell and dive deep into Holy Week narratives.  Chapter 11 reminds us that Christ-like-ness is about facing suffering honestly, dealing with anger (Jesus turns over tables that unjustly hurt those on the fringe and fray and prey on the vulnerable), being questioned by those in power, how to live in Empire (see 12:13 about paying taxes and remembering God is God), loving God with your full self as you love your neighbor, serving others, facing death, and the promise of life that can be mysterious.  There is so much in chapters 11-13, it is like a dense/rich German chocolate cake.  Take time to go back, re-read, and savor.  Which verses in chapters 11-13 sing to your heart?  Which are like sandpaper to your soul?  Which confuse you (I know for me the whole fig tree image is a bit odd)?  Which passages are flat soda left uncapped in the fridge for a month, where do you think, “Meh”?  Take time with these chapters, remembering that one of this Gospel’s questions is, “how do we face suffering, struggle, and stumbling in life?”  How does Christ face this last week of his life?  How might the truths you read here meet you in your life?  May you also take time to breathe, knowing we are almost done with Mark and his witness to the Good News of God’s love.