Episode 58: Back Dat Donkey Up or Palm Sunday A
Opening Music:
For Sunday, April 13, 2014
Episode 58
Welcome to the Pulpit Fiction Podcast, where two local pastors discuss the lectionary reading for the week.
Jesus you look good, won’t you back dat donkey up?
You a fine mother pastor, won’t you back dat donkey up?
Call me your brother when you back dat donkey up.
Pilate, who you payin’ wit? Just back dat donkey up.
This is episode 58 for Sunday April 13, Palm Sunday or Lent 6A.
Matthew 21:1-11 Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem
Psalm 118 - Enter the Gates
Sponsorship
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Introductions
Check-in
- Made our Goal!
- Palm or Passion?
- Holy Week plans
Primary Scripture - Matthew 21:1-11 Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem
- Initial Thoughts
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- How does Jesus ride two donkeys?
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- Biblical Literalism at its best
- Jesus riding Payton Manning
- Biblical Literalism at its best
- No Palms
- Clear political statement
- How does Jesus ride two donkeys?
- Bible Study
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- Quoted passage
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- proof texting or capturing the messianic fervor?
- Not two donkeys
- Isaiah 62:11b
- Zechariah 9:9
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- Messianic age of peace
- God will overthrow the oppressive nations
- All will dwell in peace
- Messianic age of peace
- proof texting or capturing the messianic fervor?
- Hosanna
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- literally means, “Save us”
- Saved from what?
- Saved for what?
- We must be able to answer these questions or at least explore them if we hope to speak about Jesus
- Was it wrong for the people to want to be saved from Roman oppression?
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- don’t we hope to be saved from oppression- economic, political, social, etc.
- Does Jesus care about Rome or about each person in community?
- don’t we hope to be saved from oppression- economic, political, social, etc.
- We join the crowds shouting, “Save us” but do we want to be saved from without (from poverty, oppression, etc) or saved from within (self delusion, jealousy, greed, victimhood, power and control seeking, fear)?
- literally means, “Save us”
- Donkey and procession
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- Parody of a conqueror entering the city in a display of power
- How does Jesus show his power? (James O’Duke, Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Feasting on the Word – Year A, Volume 2: Lent through Eastertide.)
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- “Lordship, indeed even messianic lordship, is here defined in terms of servanthood. Gentleness, humility, peaceableness, mercy, and self-giving acts of generosity and compassion are marks of God's domain.”
- Jesus is not aligned with any political party- then or NOW
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- Jesus is not a republican or a democrat (or an American for0 that matter)
- Jesus is challenging the political and social state of the world
- Jesus is not a republican or a democrat (or an American for0 that matter)
- “Lordship, indeed even messianic lordship, is here defined in terms of servanthood. Gentleness, humility, peaceableness, mercy, and self-giving acts of generosity and compassion are marks of God's domain.”
- Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, Lask Week
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- Two Processions: Pilate from Jaffa Gate and Jesus from Galilee
- Kingdom of God vs Empire of Rome
- The stage is set for the week
- Two Processions: Pilate from Jaffa Gate and Jesus from Galilee
- Parody of a conqueror entering the city in a display of power
- Crowds
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- Palm Sunday is often focused only on Jesus, but it is a very communal event
- Disciples get the donkey
- Donkey is donated
- Crowds chant and gather
- Crowds proclaim who Jesus is...kind of
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- prophet from Nazareth in Galilee (not the Son of God)
- prophet from Nazareth in Galilee (not the Son of God)
- Veronice Miles, Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Feasting on the Word – Year A, Volume 2: Lent through Eastertide:
- Palm Sunday is often focused only on Jesus, but it is a very communal event
- Quoted passage
History is replete with the stories of common folk who have recognized that we are able to accomplish more together than we can alone; stories that we might reclaim and rehearse as we continue our Lenten journey. They include the women and men who provided safe passage on the Underground Railroad for persons seeking freedom from chattel slavery in the United States in the mid-nineteenth century. Remember also Dietrich Bonhoeffer and others in the Confessing Church in the 1930s, who took a definitive stance that their loyalty was to Jesus as Lord, not to Hitler and the Nazis. Youths in South Africa stood against apartheid and formed the African National Congress Youth League in 1944 under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, envisioning a world in which racial domination would no longer exist.”
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- Systematic theology explosion
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- Soteriology - save us!
- Christology - the power(less) of Jesus
- Eschatology - the beginning of the end
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- v.10 the whole city is in turmoil (or trembling) similar to the earthquakes at Jesus’ death - pre-tremors or what is to come
- v.10 the whole city is in turmoil (or trembling) similar to the earthquakes at Jesus’ death - pre-tremors or what is to come
- Ecclesiology? - the crowds?
- Soteriology - save us!
- Systematic theology explosion
- Preaching Thoughts:
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- We must be able to answer these questions or at least explore them if we hope to speak about Jesus
- Was it wrong for the people to want to be saved from Roman oppression?
-
- don’t we hope to be saved from oppression- economic, political, social, etc.
- Does Jesus care about Rome or about each person in community?
- don’t we hope to be saved from oppression- economic, political, social, etc.
- We join the crowds shouting, “Save us” but do we want to be saved from without (from poverty, oppression, etc) or saved from within (self delusion, jealousy, greed, victimhood, power and control seeking, fear)?
- Jesus did not align himself with any religious or political party or group...would Jesus align himself with the church?
- We must be able to answer these questions or at least explore them if we hope to speak about Jesus
click the above link for lyrics and more of Richard’s great music!
Secondary scripture - Psalm 118 - Enter the Gates
- Initial thoughts
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- Lectionary selection for both Palm Sunday and Easter for all three years, though the selected verses overlap.
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- Both weeks read the intro v 1-2
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- “Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever. Let Israel say it: "God's faithful love lasts forever!" (CEB)
- “Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever. Let Israel say it: "God's faithful love lasts forever!" (CEB)
- v 24-29 overlap
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- “This is the day the LORD acted; we will rejoice and celebrate in it! LORD, please save us! LORD, please let us succeed! The one who enters in the LORD's name is blessed; we bless all of you from the LORD's house. The LORD is God! He has shined a light on us! So lead the festival offering with ropes all the way to the horns of the altar. You are my God—I will give thanks to you! You are my God—I will lift you up high! Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever.”
- “This is the day the LORD acted; we will rejoice and celebrate in it! LORD, please save us! LORD, please let us succeed! The one who enters in the LORD's name is blessed; we bless all of you from the LORD's house. The LORD is God! He has shined a light on us! So lead the festival offering with ropes all the way to the horns of the altar. You are my God—I will give thanks to you! You are my God—I will lift you up high! Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever.”
- Both weeks read the intro v 1-2
- Lectionary selection for both Palm Sunday and Easter for all three years, though the selected verses overlap.
- Bible Study
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- Psalm 118’s place in Ancient Hebrew worship is debated. One theory is that this was a Psalm that “celebrated the reenthronement of the Davidic monarch” (James Newsome on p 232 of Texts for Preaching, Year A).
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- Fits Palm Sunday as an enthronement psalm, when Jesus is acting as a new kind of King in his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
- Fits Palm Sunday as an enthronement psalm, when Jesus is acting as a new kind of King in his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
- End of what Clint McCann calls the Hallel collection (113-118) which came to be used at Passover.
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- Can also be seen in context of Israel’s return from exile. It’s use is versatile, as thanksgiving, victory.
- Can also be seen in context of Israel’s return from exile. It’s use is versatile, as thanksgiving, victory.
- Tone and emotions of the Psalm are all over the place. Lots of praise, also distress, so the lection tries to cut it up to make it fit Palm Sunday and Easter.
- “A psalm of thanksgiving sung by one who has been to the edge of the abyss and who has been delivered by God” (James Newsome on p 231 of Texts for Preaching, Year A).
- Non Palm Sunday section
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- v 1-4 Call to Worship - Let all say “God’s steadfast love endures forever”
- v 5-13 I was in distress, but God saved.
- v 14-18 God is victorious
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- salvation, victory, valiant, strength
- salvation, victory, valiant, strength
- v 1-4 Call to Worship - Let all say “God’s steadfast love endures forever”
- v 19-24 Procession
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- In midst of procession is reminder of the failure that preceded this celebration
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- v. 22 - The stone that was rejected has become the cornerstone.
- v. 22 - The stone that was rejected has become the cornerstone.
- The people have come to celebrate, but it is the Lord that is taking action
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- v. 24 This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.
- This is the proper order - Acknowledge God’s action, then rejoice.
- v. 24 This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.
- In midst of procession is reminder of the failure that preceded this celebration
- v 25-29 Call for salvation and thanksgiving
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- Ending verse mirrors the opening
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- 118:29 “Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever”
- 118:29 “Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever”
- Ending verse mirrors the opening
- Psalm 118’s place in Ancient Hebrew worship is debated. One theory is that this was a Psalm that “celebrated the reenthronement of the Davidic monarch” (James Newsome on p 232 of Texts for Preaching, Year A).
- Preaching Thoughts and Questions:
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- Pattern of praise and petition affirm God’s sovereignty. More realistic as a whole psalm, instead of chopping it up. Isn’t most of life full of both praise and petition?
- Powerful as communal prayer and individual promise. Martin Luther called it “My own beloved psalm.” (Clint McCann, New Interpreter’s Bible, v. IV, p. 1156).
- Pattern of praise and petition affirm God’s sovereignty. More realistic as a whole psalm, instead of chopping it up. Isn’t most of life full of both praise and petition?
Psalm Song - "We Wait in Hope For Your Word" by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan
click the above link for lyrics and more of Richard’s great music!
CLOSING
Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Pulpit Fiction Podcast!
Shout outs:
Thank you to Thalia KR, Suz Cate, and Marianne Paul who all left great comments on our blog.
On Twitter: Richard Crawford @underpope, who recommended us on twitter, and Brendan @IndyBrendan who responded, “That was a good call, I’m going to be a very well-informed listener on Sunday.”
Thank you to Nadia Bolz Weber @sarcasticlutheran, Christian Piat - Thursday Night Specials
Our opening music was “Love Dat Donkey” by Mac Dre a song which other than the brief intro we do not recommend.
Our featured musician for Lent is Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, we played his song "Into Your Hands" which is based on Psalm 31 from his album Sharing the Road, vol. 1 of the Psalms Project.
You can find out more about Richard’s music at worldmaking.net
Our theme music is Misirlou by Dick Dale and the Del Tones and our closing music is “Oh No” by Paul & Storm.
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