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| Image by Mike Plucker |
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bodies in social protest
A GREETING
In the morning bring me word of your constant love,
for I lift up my heart to you.
Show me the path I should tread.
(Psalm 143:8)
A READING
Great crowds of people spread their cloaks on the road, while some began to cut branches from the trees and lay them along the path. The crowds—those who went in front of Jesus and those who followed—were all shouting, “Hosanna to the Heir to the House of David!
Blessed is the One who comes
in the name of the Most High!
Hosanna in the highest!”
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred to its depths, demanding, “Who is this?” And the crowd kept answering, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee!”
(Matthew 21:8-11)
MUSIC
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
Do not nurse hatred for a neighbor. If you are angry with your neighbor, speak frankly about it, to avoid storing up ill feelings. Never seek revenge or hold a grudge toward your relatives. You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. I am God.
(Leviticus 19:17-18)
A POEM
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
- from "Hope is the thing with feathers,"
by Emily Dickinson
VERSE OF THE DAY
For you do justice for your people;
and you have compassion for your faithful.
(Psalm 135:14)
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| "Ode to Renee Good and Alex Pretti," by Julie Shelton Smith. |
Today marks the end of the Lenten portion of this devotional: on Monday, we will move into Holy Week. In the story of Jesus that we tell, the shift from Lent to Holy Week is marked by Palm Sunday. In most churches this Sunday, congregations will observe the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem; some will also hear the Passion read that day as well.
In a guest sermon for the Martin Luther University College worshipping community earlier this week, Eastern Synod Bishop Carla Blakley described Palm Sunday as "a protest, not a parade." Drawing on recent experiences in Israel and Palestine, Bishop Carla invited those gathered to hear the entry into Jerusalem as a call to enter into the much needed protests of our own time -- to push back against injustice. (She also captured this in a Facebook post.)
Sometimes, our sense of overwhelm at the crises and catastrophes taking place in our world lead to a deep feeling of disconnectedness. Our spirit is out of alignment with what we see going on around us. Bringing our bodies into social protest helps to recalibrate our sense of wellbeing. There is a kind of euphoria that sometimes comes from marching for justice, as we feel the surge of gratitude within, to be able to use the whole of ourselves to try to change the world. But it always also requires elements of courage.
Recently, we have seen extraordinary acts of solidarity, protest and resistance from the people of Minneapolis, as they have cried out against the unjust escalation of abduction and detention of immigrants. Their resistance takes many forms, including singing: songs that had grown up in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, or which had other histories and origins, are being sung alongside brand new songs written for the times we are in. Singing resistance movements have spread to other cities including some here in Canada.
In one remarkable moment, the singing community in Minneapolis sang in front of the hotel where border patrol and immigration officers were known to be staying. The call was to invite them to lay down their arms and join them in the singing resistance. The idea came from a turn of the century Serbian movement called Otpor! in which protesters invited police authorities to lay down their arms and join them. Eventually, they were so many in number that the Serbian government fell.
When we engage Palm Sunday in the spirit of protest, we are forced to change our orientation: instead of waving at Jesus as he passes by us on the donkey, a spectator in the crowd, we instead become a member of Jesus's own party -- the flow of disciples walking behind him and entering the city. We become a part of the movement of justice. How might we then feel some of the fear and trepidation that group of friends must have known?
Who are you in the Jesus entourage? How can you keep that perspective with you as you enter into the city and prepare yourself for the events to come?
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Source: Singingresistancetc on Instagram.
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Scripture passages are taken from The Inclusive Bible.
The devotions will now take a two day break and return on Holy Monday, March 30th.
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LC† From Dust, Still Holy is a devotional series of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help support the ongoing work.
Thank you and peace be with you!