Well, Jesus was a man who put himself out there; he challenged injustice, he called out those who used their power to suppress the ordinary people, he healed on the Sabbath, he spent his short ministry preaching love and forgiveness. And he took huge risks in the hopes of encouraging others into living a better life with God. He paid dearly for these risks with his own life.

The story for Palm Sunday is shared below:

Matthew 21:1-11 – NIRV Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

21 As they all approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethpage. It was on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent out two disciples. 2 He said to them, “Go to the village ahead of you. As soon as you get there, you will find a donkey tied up. Her colt will be with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them. The owner will send them right away.”

4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would come true. It says,

5 “Say to the city of Zion,

‘See, your king comes to you.
He is gentle and riding on a donkey.
He is riding on a donkey’s colt.’” (Zechariah 9:9)

6 The disciples went and did what Jesus told them to do. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt. They placed their coats on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Some of the people went ahead of him, and some followed. They all shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Psalm 118:26)

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. The people asked, “Who is this?”

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus. He is the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Yes, Jesus rode into Jerusalem in triumph, but he left in despair and death.

We cannot ride a donkey into Jerusalem. But we can, in the days and weeks ahead, reach out to others in whatever way possible. We can inspire others to be as strong and courageous as Jesus was, spurred on by the spirit at work within us in this coming Holy Week.

My prayer for you this Palm/Passion Sunday:

Through the hosannas and the waving of palms, the singing, and the joy

let us walk the road with Jesus.

Through the betrayal and the denial, the shouting, and the sorrow

let us walk the road with Jesus.

Through the waving of palms and the passion, the prayers, and the pain

Let us walk the road with Jesus.

Let us have the courage to say Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

We will walk with him today, tomorrow, and always. Amen

In peace

Pastor Beryl, DLM

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March 24, 2023

Lent Five: Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead

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March 24, 2023

Our focus reading for the 5th Sunday in Lent is John 11:1–45.

This somewhat disjointed conversation between Jesus and the disciples contains complex layers of imagery and allusions to Jesus’ coming anointing, death, and resurrection.

The act of raising Lazarus happens right at the end of the narrative, followed by the observation that some people “believed in him.”

Jewish understanding was that it took three days for a soul to leave the body completely; thus, Lazarus had been dead long enough to have nothing left other than a body decaying rapidly in the desert heat.

This fact doesn’t quite explain Jesus’ delay. When Jesus does decide to return to
Judea, the disciples are concerned for his safety, but the need to “work while it is still light” drives Jesus on. Thomas expresses loyalty and fear but also foreshadows Jesus’ self-sacrifice.

Burial took place immediately after death in the hot climate of the Middle East, and ritual mourning followed. Family, especially the women, sat in the home and were
visited by friends.

However, when Jesus approaches, Martha defies custom and goes to meet him. Was she impatient for his arrival, or was she protecting Jesus from a potentially hostile gathering?

Her statement, perhaps, reveals Martha’s grief. She understands the Jewish teaching of resurrection at the last days but finds something hopeful in what Jesus says. She
puts her faith entirely in him. Mary’s plea to Jesus is similar to Martha’s, and the sadness of the situation disturbs Jesus greatly.

Martha, Mary, and the assembled mourners all ask the same question – why didn’t Jesus come and heal Lazarus? Jesus’ prayer sums up the purpose of this final sign.

God’s glory will indeed be revealed, but at enormous pain and cost to both Jesus and
his friends. Jesus then issues three commands. Everyone has a task to do. Jesus calls Lazarus back to life, but it is the community that rolls away the stone and unbinds Lazarus from the trappings of death and releases him.

This is a story of hope. In our new reality, listening to the news, absorbing images of uncertainty around the world, it is easy to give up hope. It is easy to assume that things will not turn out well and, unfortunately, there is always that possibility.

But it is precisely in the face of such times that God challenges – almost dares us – to read the stories of new life and new hope in the Scriptures.

Resurrection is not a one-day event. It happens each and every time we greet a new day. Each day is a chance to see new possibilities, different answers to old questions, a better way of dealing with things. Each day is a new beginning, a resurrection in its own way.

How can we give up hope when God is so loudly proclaiming life in the midst of chaos?

And, perhaps more important, how can we, isolated as we feel we might be, continue to find ways to share that hope with one another?

My prayer for this week is:

Creator God, in the midst of darkness you offer light.

In the midst of despair you offer hope.

In the midst of confusion and uncertainty you offer new ways of

seeing and understanding things.

Help us to remember this always.

Amen

In peace

Pastor Beryl, DLM

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March 15, 2023

Lent Four

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March 15, 2023

Our focus reading for the fourth Sunday in Lent is John 9: 1-41

God’s restorative love is expressed in Jesus’ life and ministry. Blindness and other ailments were often viewed as punishment for sin in ancient times. The disciples of Jesus and the leaders who oppose him assume this.

Biblical scholar Richard Rohrbaugh speaks of an ancient custom of spitting in the presence of the blind to protect oneself from the “evil eye.” Jesus transforms that act of disdain into one of healing.

Sabbath-keeping was the most visible mark of practicing Judaism. Its weekly ritual of renewal reflected the God who “rested” (translating the Hebrew shabath) on the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:2).

In this story, Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath creates the initial controversy (verse 16). At issue is what can or cannot be done on the Sabbath, and many oral traditions developed to provide guidance.

“Kneading” was technically forbidden. Jesus’ making of mud (verse 6) could be viewed as such an activity. The larger question involves Sabbath and healing. Has Jesus broken or kept the law by performing this act?

The healing creates division within the community. Neighbours are divided over whether this is the same man they had known (verse 9). Pharisees are divided over whether Jesus is from God or not (verse 16). Even the man’s parents distance themselves from their son for fear of the religious leaders (verses 21–22). These divisions within the narrative hint at divisions between church and synagogue in the author’s time.

The transformation of the healed one is not just from blindness to sight. Initially, the blind man is a passive recipient of Jesus’ actions, but he becomes more active as the story goes on.

By reporting what has happened, he becomes a teacher of theology to the teachers of theology. Eventually, this healed one becomes a disciple of the one who healed.

With some mud and some spit, Jesus changed the life of a blind beggar. These ordinary elements were used to change not only the life of one person but also a community as the news of the miracle spread. Jesus offers us guidance, refuge, hope, and healing.

When we see these as gifts from God rather than as gifts for us, our perspective can change. When we see those we want to cast out or ignore the way God sees them – as individuals who are valued and have worth – our entire world view can change as well.

Our prayer for Lent 4:

God, help us to see the ways you turn the ordinary elements of life into something amazing.
Shift our perspective to place you at the centre so we may be transformed as we look at the world differently. Amen.

In peace

Pastor Beryl, DLM

Words adapted from Seasons of the Spirit, 2023