Sermon by Don Portwood on Palm-Passion Sunday April 9,2006
The Gospel According to Mark 11:1-11
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will findtied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it.
If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' just say this, 'The Sovereign needs it and will send it back here immediately.'" They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, "What are you doing,untying the colt?" They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it.Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it.
Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields.
Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Sovereign! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
This is such a well loved image of Jesus. Every year, Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a colt to the sound of people shouting, "Hosanna, save us". Palms waving or being placed before him on the road. Great scene, but why did Jesus, with forethought, enter Jerusalem this way?
Like other prophets of his Jewish tradition, Jesus was acting out his message by performing a symbolic act. Last week we talked about the "new covenant of the heart" about which the prophet Jeremiah spoke. Of all Hebrew prophets, Jeremiah was known for his prophetic, symbolic acts - dashing a potter's flask to the ground in front of city leaders and declaring that God would destroy the city in a similar way; or buying land in a Jerusalem under siege by the army of Babylon, in order to witness to God's hope and future for the people of Israel.
Jesus followed in this prophet tradition. Three weeks ago we talked about Jesus' cleansing of the temple, dramatically turning over the tables of the money-changers. This was a prophetic act against the politics of holiness at that time that had become oppressive - and was used as a way to separate the people of God.
Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, the way he chose to enter, was also a prophetic witness. A symbolic act. Marcus Borg in his book, Jesus A New Vision, writes "Jerusalem always had a garrison of Roman troops come into Jerusalem during major festivals to cope with the throngs of Jewish pilgrims. So in this season of Passover, Roman troops arrived at Jerusalem from the west in a procession led by the Roman governor, accompanied by all the trappings of imperial power."
So, where did Jesus enter Jerusalem? From the east - possibly on the same day as the troops. Not on a stallion covered with battle gear, symbolizing great power and intimidating the gathered crowd. According to Mark, Jesus deliberately made arrangements to enter the city on a donkey's colt.
What was Jesus' message, why would he ride into Jerusalem at this time and in this way? He was enacting a passage from the prophet Zechariah, who spoke of a king of peace riding "on a colt, the foal of an ass." It wasn't that Jesus was trying to fulfill this prophecy, rather, he used this familiar symbol from his tradition in order to say that the kingdom of which he spoke was a kingdom of peace, not war, of love not domination.
What we've come to call Palm Sunday - Jesus' entry into Jerusalem -is an act of prophetic witness for society to move in another way, the way of peace.
In our own Jerusalem, the center of power and domination in Minnesota is the state capitol. We have all seen the nearly daily maneuvers and attempts that some, also caught up in the politics of holiness, are demanding - changing our state constitution by a vote of the people to define marriage as a union only between one man and one woman. With no legal equivalents.
Unlike previous state and national constitutional amendments intended to expand and protect the rights of individuals, this constitutional amendment is intended to deny rights to a minority.
Last summer, appropriately enough on July 4th, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ passed a resolution in Support of Equal marriage Rights for All. That resolution affirmed equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender and declared "that the government should not interfere with couples regardless of gender who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities and commitment of legally recognized marriage." In essence, the General Synod resolution supports same-gender marriage.
This resolution also called upon all settings of the UCC to engage in serious, respectful, and prayerful discussion of the covenantal relationship of marriage and equal marriage rights for all couples, regardless of gender, and after prayerful biblical, theological, and historical study, to consider adopting Wedding Policies that do not discriminate against couples based on gender.
Marriage is such an important institution in our society. Look at the passions these discussions have generated in this nation. Because marriage is not only about love, but about providing a secure place to raise children, about care giving rights, property, economics. When I sign a civil marriage license, for opposite gender couples, I sign over, more than 1100 rights and privileges that are written into law for those couples. When the state grants those rights to heterosexuals, that's heterosexual privilege. When the state denies those rights to same-gendered couples that is injustice.
I have come to believe that no matter what the state says, "What God has joined together, let no one put usunder," so for me the very essence of marriage is about two persons, committing to loving one another for as long as they both shall live. I want that for same gender couples, too.
I cannot continue to discriminate against people in our own congregation and community. Once I have officiated at four weddings this summer that I've already agreed to perform, I will perform no more civil marriages for opposite gender couples, but only religious marriages for same and opposite gender couples alike, until the state of Minnesota recognizes the loving commitment of all couples.
That means I will no longer be an agent of the state of Minnesota. I will no longer participate in the perpetuation of a system of injustice and oppression. Today, that is the only way to treat all couples equally.
I recognize there is nothing exceptional or abnormal about giving opposite gender couples the rights conferred by a civil marriage. That is the way it has always been. That is also the way domination systems behave. Marcus Borg and Dominic Crossan even call this system of domination "the normalcy of civilization," that clashed profoundly with the passion of Jesus and clashes with all who seek to live with Christ's Spirit guiding them.
My decision is a prophetic witness, a symbolic act, in the midst of the debate in St. Paul and our nation calling other pastors to get out of the business of the state. Other pastors in Minnesota and in the United Church of Christ have also chosen to stop signing civil marriage licenses. I hope more pastors will in the future.
We as a congregation have also engaged in serious, respectful, and prayerful discussion of the covenantal relationship of marriage and equal marriage rights for all couples regardless of gender as General Synod called us to do.
We had a 6 week adult Education class led by John Gustav-Wrathall, and three forums the past two weeks for the congregation to discuss their questions, concerns and thoughts. And so.
After prayerful biblical, theological, and historical study, we meet following worship, as a congregation to consider adopting Wedding Policies that do not discriminate against couples based on gender.
The Stewardship Council of Lyndale Church is recommending to us that as a Church we affirm equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender and endorse marriage policies that do not discriminate against couples. If that vote is positive, effective today, Lyndale Church would no longer provide a place for civil marriages, only religious marriages for all couples, same or opposite gender.
Our congregational vote is also a prophetic witness; of greater value, I believe, than mine. For it is a congregation, a people of faith, not just one pastor, saying "We will no longer participate in this oppressive system of discrimination." I'm not sure how many congregations in Minnesota, or the country have made this witness. Mayflower Church is discussing it and will be voting in May. The Council for the Unitarian Universalist Church in White Bear Lake, along with their pastor have made this decision. So we're out in front in this prophetic witness. And need not be surprised if the forces of injustice and dominance rear their holiness heads in fear and lash out. It's been known to happen. Today is called Palm/Passion Sunday for a reason.
But you may also be thinking, "Will this make any difference?" I said in the question and answer portion of the newsletter that "affirming the Stewardship Council's recommendation would be a prophetic witness in support of marriage equality for all caring, committed couples in the midst of heated debate in our state.
It will be a prophetic witness to the larger community outside our walls.
It won't tear down the "dividing wall of hostility" that presently exists.
It will loosen another brick.
That image of the dividing wall of hostility comes from the letter to the Ephesians, chapter 2. On this Palm Passion Sunday, as Jesus rides into the hostility of Jerusalem on a symbol of peace, a colt, a prophetic witness of what can be...hear too that message of peace from Ephesians:
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end.
And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to God.
So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Sovereign; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."
May our prophetic witness this day..continue Jesus ministry of breaking down the dividing wall of hostility; loosening it brick by brick. And bringing God's people, all people together in peace and love. A dwelling place of God in the Spirit. May it be so.
