Palm Sunday
When Jesus and his followers approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives. Jesus gave two disciples a task, saying to them, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter it, you will find tied up there a colt that no one has ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘Its master needs it, and he will send it back right away.’”
They went and found a colt tied to a gate outside on the street, and they untied it. Some people standing around said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them just what Jesus said, and they left them alone. They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes upon it, and he sat on it. Many people spread out their clothes on the road while others spread branches cut from the fields. Those in front of him and those following were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessings on the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest!” Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. After he looked around at everything, because it was already late in the evening, he returned to Bethany with the Twelve.
Mark 11:1-11 (CEB)
In the buildup to Jesus’ crucifixion, we see story after story where his disciples—those who followed him most closely and likely knew him best—seem repeatedly to miss the point. In fact, sometimes their reactions to Jesus’ words and actions make us wonder whether they really knew him at all.
Even as the authorities were closing in around him, even as he tells them over and over what he believes is about to happen, they still cling to their preconceived notions of what they believe Messiah is supposed to do and how it’s supposed to happen.
It’s as if they simply weren’t listening…not paying attention to the bigger story Jesus was trying to tell or understanding how radically he meant to change their lives—and the world.
Which raises the question…how well are we listening? And what spiritual practices can help us listen more deeply?
Please join us this Sunday, March 24, in the New Wineskins Virtual Theology Pub powered by Zoom as we wrap up our Lenten journey by learning how deep listening changes our perspectives on our neighbors and the world.
6:00pm ET: Happy Half-Hour (informal meet & greet time)
6:30pm ET: Presentation & conversation begin
This week’s discussion video from The Work of the People examines the relationship between silence and listening, the ways deep listening opens pathways to relationship, and how a practice of listening helps us recognize what’s really real in our lives.
Click here to view this week’s discussion video (email address required)
Join our virtual Easter sunrise service!
Richard Rohr says that “(r)esurrection and renewal are […] the universal and observable pattern of everything.” We invite you to celebrate this Resurrection Sunday with the New Wineskins community as we gather in the New Wineskins Virtual Theology Pub powered by Zoom for a visual liturgy and brief conversation about the practical power of resurrection as part of the pattern of reality and how it shapes our work as a liberationist community.
Join us live at 8:00am EDT (7am CDT) on Sunday, March 31 OR participate when it’s convenient for you! In addition to our live Zoom gathering, we’ll publish a short video containing clips from The Work of the People and open our Wineskins Workshops Facebook Group for discussion.
Lent 2024: A Journey Into Self-Awareness
Many of us have experienced Lent as a season of repentance and self-sacrifice…of giving something up or letting something go.
But what if we saw it instead not as self-sacrifice, but self-awareness? What if we use these six weeks as an opportunity to know ourselves better and seek the kind of transformation that Divine Love invites us into?
This year for Lent, we’ll be exploring various spiritual practices designed to awaken us to who we are and what our place might be in the ongoing love project of transforming the world.
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