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A Prophetic Witness

Mark 11:1-11
Lyndale United Church of Christ
Palm/Passion Sunday
Rev. Don Portwood

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 find tied 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 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, Jesus A New Vision, writes "Jerusalem always had a garrison of Roman troops come into Jerusalem during major festivals to cope with the throng 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 de 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 asunder", 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 recogni lso 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, if thinking, will this make any difference? I said in the question and answer portion of the newsletter that "affirming the Stewardship Councils' 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 ho R>God's people, all people together in peace and love. A dwelling place of God in the Spirit. May it be so.

Reprinted with permission of the author.

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