In The Blink of An Eye | Monday Invocation

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. You may have participated in a Palm Parade at the beginning of a Palm Sunday service or your place of worship may have decorated the space with palm fronds. You may even have seen pictures on social media of your friends waving palms as well.

This celebration marks the stark contrast for what is to come at the end of the week, when the crowd is yelling, “Crucify him!” instead of “Hosanna!”. You may have had a time in your own life where you have felt like the crowd was cheering you on, and then everything changed in a split second, in the blink of an eye. Maybe that was when you came out, or were outed. Maybe that feeling came with a sudden change in a romantic relationship. No matter what that experience was, chances are there was pain associated when “the crowd” started to treat you differently. This coming week, we invite you to continue to listen deeply to these stories to allow new learning to unfold with each reading of the Biblical text.

Throughout this season, we have journeyed through scripture while engaging with different spiritual practices. For some, these practices were new and unfamiliar. For others, they offered us a deepened perspective of the road towards the resurrection.

Today, we utilize Contemplative Scripture Reading as we submerge our senses into this familiar scene found in Mark. As a practice of immersing oneself in the words of the reading and bringing them to life, read 1-2 verses at a time, and pause after each set of verses for a time of meditation. During that time, imagine the scene that is being described. What do you see, hear, or smell? How do you feel? How do others in the scene feel? What are their facial expressions? Explore the scene in your mind.

Repeat this practice until all of the verses have been read. Once the entire passage has been read, you are invited to journal your experiences. What stood out? What did you see, hear, smell, or feel?

We are focusing on Mark 11:1-11:

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Here are some additional questions for you to ponder and journal about after you finish this particular spiritual practice, either now or throughout this week:

• After entering Jerusalem, Jesus visits the temple and then leaves because it was late. What might be the significance of Jesus surveying the temple and then choosing to leave? How does this action set the stage for subsequent events in Jerusalem?

• Jesus' choice of a colt, a symbol of peace, instead of a war horse, which was a symbol of conquest, offers a perspective on his understanding of kingship. How might this define or redefine the concept of a king or leader from a Christ-centered perspective?

• How does the crowd's adoration during Jesus' entry into Jerusalem contrast with the events of his trial and crucifixion later? What might this tell us about public opinion and faith?

• How does this passage challenge or affirm your personal understanding of who Jesus is and what he represents?

Join our Lenten Reflections Group!

Would you like to engage with some of these spiritual practices in community?

Join our Lenten Reflections Drop-In Group! This group will be led by QCF Community Members Emerson Quadri (they/them) & Jessica Quadri (she/her) Wednesdays at 8PM ET. Join us for a time of reflection and discussion as we head into the Easter season.

Visit the link below to learn more!