Lenten Drama V
Dear siblings in Christ,
This April Fools’ Day doesn’t feel very funny. We should have been able to gather one last time around tables in Endter Hall with soup and bread and good conversation. Instead, I hope you can set aside some time with these materials for reflection and conversation with God.
Scene
The splendid Our Redeemer acting troupe has graciously recorded their performance of this week’s scene for us. This is Act V of Sparks around the Fire.* In each scene, some of Jesus’ disciples sit around the fire as they are traveling toward Jerusalem and the cross. They argue, analyze, and interpret one of Jesus’ parables or teachings in each scene.
Recap: Previous Scenes
The first week, they discussed the Prodigal Son parable in Luke 15:11-32. They came to the conclusion that the remarkable thing about this parable is not the son’s prodigal nature, but the father’s prodigal, abundant love for his son. This tells us about our abundantly loving God, a Prodigal God.
The second week, a Samaritan woman joins the conversation about Jesus’ parable The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Even though we read in Genesis that all humans are made in the image of God, she feels “least in the image of God,” because of the way the world treats her. But in this parable, she discovered God’s love in the care the Samaritan gave the injured Jewish man. So this caring, Samaritan God shows love—dare we say prodigal love?—regardless of the boundaries we put around ourselves and the categories we put others in.
The third week, the disciples try to understand Jesus’ teachings about separating sheep from goats and caring for the “least of these” (Matthew 25:31-40). The sheep and the goats can be a scary text, seemingly full of “who’s in and who’s out,” but Jesus’ disciples in this scene come to the conclusion that Jesus does not want us to worry about Judgment Day, but about how we treat other people today. The point is more about the compassion we have for each other as equals made in the image of God.
The fourth week, Peter’s teenage brother Jacob voices skepticism about Jesus’ “turn the other cheek” teaching (Matthew 5:38-41). This scene presents a different interpretation of this teaching than you may have heard before. The disciples explain to Jacob how Jesus’ teachings are actually strategies to nonviolently draw attention to the violent, unjust ways of this world. This is, of course, only one interpretation, but I think it is a compelling way to see Jesus as exposing truth instead of just recommending his followers become “doormats.”
This Week’s Scene
This week, the disciples discuss the parable of the maidens with oil lamps as they approach Jerusalem just in time for Passover (Matthew 25:1-13). I recommend that you take a minute now and read the text (use a Bible or https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+25%3A1-13&version=NRSV), then watch the video of the scene.
The story the disciples tell of the little girl who contradicts Jesus isn’t in the Bible, but it’s a lovely way to explain a troubling parable. Instead of thinking the message of the parable is “be prepared,” she takes a stand for compassion, saying “I’m takin’ my flask of oil, and I’m sharin’ it with them that’s got too little. And if that means I miss the stupid ol’ marriage feast, fine, I’ll have my own party with the least of them folk on the outside.” That seems like a good summary of Jesus’ teachings. There is nothing more Christ-like than having compassion, being conscious of who is on the “outside,” and sharing and celebrating with them.
Reflection
Do you see yourself as one of the prepared maidens or one of the “foolish” ones? Who has shared with you? Who have you shared with?
Prayer
Gracious, Prodigal, Samaritan, Truth-revealing, Compassionate God, please help us be aware of “the least of them folk on the outside” and show compassion. Show us opportunities to share with others and celebrate who they are. In your name we pray, Amen.
Peace to you, dear friends. I’m praying for health, peace of mind, love, and connection for each of you this week.
Pastor Jennifer
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