Holy Week
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Holy Week Thoughts
I’m pretty sure I post something during Holy Week each year. When I think about this week, I am often just tired. I think we do too much. The pomp and circumstance keep building and the payout is the same. Regardless, this Holy Week Holy Week, I’m reflecting on things that are happening in my Continue reading
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Final Fragments: Easter
There are two main scriptures for today. Click here for Mark & Click here for John Both scriptures have a Jesus who will not be controlled. Mark has a Resurrection with no appearance and the women run away. (The gospel ends here, the rest is addendum to make it like the other gospels). In John Continue reading
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Holy Week Fragments: Silent Saturday
Click Here for a Link to Today’s Scripture Tom Waits is all we need….here’s a lyric excerpt…. Well, the moon is broken and the sky is crackedCome on up to the houseThe only things that you can see is all that you lackCome on up to the house All your crying don’t do no goodCome Continue reading
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Holy Week Fragments: Ecce Homo
Click Here for Today’s Lectionary Reading: John 18-19 I did not expect the “Ecce Homo” to stick out to me today. Ecce Homo is the Latin Vulgate translation of “Here is the Man” or “Behold the Man.” This is Pontius Pilate’s statement about Jesus, bleeding, wearing a crown of thorns, and wearing nothing but some Continue reading
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Holy Week Fragments: 30 Seconds at a Time
Here’s a link to today’s lectionary text – John 13:1-17, 31-35 The commentaries for today’s scripture remind us of a couple things. 1) There is a meal in John, but it is not the Lord’s Supper in the traditional sense but it connects to it. 2) The foot washing is something crucial to community to Continue reading
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Holy Week Fragments: Wednesday
Here is a link to the lectionary reading for today, John 13:21-32 Today’s scripture bothered me. I didn’t want to focus too much on Satan, betrayal and over explaining this. However, since, I’m not alone in my study of scripture, I turn again to commentators. Francis Moloney suggests that the thing we should look toward Continue reading
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Holy Week Fragments: Tuesday
Click Here for Today’s Scripture: John 12:20-36 Today’s scripture moves away from the action of donkey rides and perfume anointing to Jesus’ final public preaching. One could easily view this scripture as just a crucifixion/resurrection prediction and use the the kenosis model of Christ. However, Gerard Sloyan wants to explore something more identity oriented. Take Continue reading
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Holy Week Fragments: Monday
Today’s Scripture is John 12:1-11. Click here for the link. Mary pours a jar of perfume onto Jesus’ feet and washes his feet with her hair. Judas Iscariot (and likely other disciples) respond that they could have sold the perfume and given it to the poor. Jesus rebukes them and tell them the poor with Continue reading
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Holy Week Fragments: Palm Sunday
As the Scholar in Residence at First UMC, Newton, I challenged the congregation to read the gospel lectionary text for each day of Holy Week and to sit with it. Of course, I am doing this too. I wanted to provide my first thoughts on Holy Week from a rural theologian and Christian educator. Here Continue reading
Jonathan LeMaster-Smith 