Jesus Protect Me From Your Followers

It is all too easy in a week like this for Christians - especially regular churchgoers - to become so enthralled with the platitudes, the church words, and the small "s" spirit of the impending Easter Sunday to become insufferable to others. 


We act like we have the answer to all of life's deep questions. We don't. At best we have an answer that makes sense to us. Our theology about the Divine is of our construction. That's not a bad thing; it's just that to suggest that somehow we can characterize the mystery that is God is arrogant and offensive to those who characterize the Divine differently. 


Walking Humbly


On this Holy Monday I share this video to remind us how some of our actions are perceived by others. We celebrated Palm Sunday yesterday. Palm Sunday is a day when, according to the gospel narratives, our ancient forebears thought they were about to succeed in propping Jesus up as an earthly king. They continually ignored his warnings about what was to come by Friday. 


So, as we journey through Holy Week, let us not forget what the Lord requires of us: 


‘With what shall I come before the Lord,

   and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before [God] with burnt-offerings,
   with calves a year old? 
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
   with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
   the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’ 
[God] has told you, O mortal, what is good;
   and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
   and to walk humbly with your God? 
Micah 6: 6-8 NRSV (Read these verses in context here.)