March 28, 2021
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Dear Lake B Family & Friends,
In this season of Lent, you will be hearing from different voices in our community - offering weekly devotional reflections to encourage our own journey toward Holy Week, the Cross and the Resurrection. Our theme for Lent is “Beautiful Questions on the Way.” Thank you to this week’s contributing writer, Katie Russell. May God continue to meet us on the way in this Lenten Season, Grace and Peace, Pastor Lina Gospel Reading for the Sixth Sunday in Lent March 28, 2021Luke 19:29-44 This passage takes place on a two-mile stretch of road between the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem. Even though it’s a relatively short physical journey, it’s not difficult to imagine the wide range of mental and emotional challenges Jesus and his disciples might have encountered along the way. Jesus told two of his disciples, Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a young donkey that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this, “The Lord needs it.” What might those two disciples have thought about Jesus’ request? “Yes, but… what if someone mistakes us for thieves? What if we get caught?” What do you think would be your initial response to Jesus asking you to do this? Is that different from your response to other requests and calls on your life? What limitations or freedoms come as a result? Jesus rode the donkey through crowds of people praising him and spreading their cloaks on the road before him. Jesus also encountered Pharisees who demanded that he order the disciples to stop the crowd from honoring him. It’s easy to identify the crowds as “good” and the Pharisees as “bad,” when in fact most of us have been both. Have we found ourselves asking those noisily celebrating and praising Jesus to stop? Who or what helps us to lift up those voices instead of asking them to be quiet? As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it… Jesus knew that he was on his way to be crucified, yet he wept over the city. What comes to our minds when we view our city from a distance? How do we understand “lament” when we consider our city? Our country? Our world? On his final journey into Jerusalem, Jesus went from being revered to being questioned and accused, and still had compassion for the city. Where and how do we imagine ourselves in that scene? Thanks to contributing writer, Katie Russell. |