Suffering as a primary depiction of life of Jesus during Holy Week to almost the exclusion of everything else was discussed by John Dominic Crosson on Fresh Air. (Can you tell I listen to NPR a lot?) He says Jesus sharing in this suffering could be consoling in medieval times when folks were suffering plagues and invasions when this emphasis apparently became more prominent. LA Times film critic Tim Rutten finds another problem with this medieval articulation of the gospel message,"Gibson's narrative was studded with the kinds of anti-Semitic caricatures once associated with medieval passion plays." Interestingly, a primarily Latino Catholic congregation in our town stages a realistic procession each year that usually makes the paper. Many folks are farm workers or other low wage jobs in the neighborhood around this particular parish.

Crossan in the interview and in his book (with Borg), The Last Week, points out that the intent of Roman crucifixion was as a public warning. It was "a very definite type of capital punishment for those such as runaway slaves or rebel insurgents who subverted Roman law and order and thereby disturbed the Pax Romana."

I brought this out in the Lenten series I taught in recent weeks. As I've mentioned before, it reminds me of John Howard Yoder's The Politics of Jesus. All these authors see the focus being diverted from critical portions of Jesus' ministry. Crosson and Borg do a great job of using the two meanings of passion as the key to understanding how significant this is in how we perceive about Jesus. Hopefully I wasn't too preachy during the Lenten series but helped folks think about the significance of the week's event in the life of Jesus.

The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach about Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan is what I bought today and started reading after being reminded about it yesterday. As I prepared for the leading the Lenten Study and prepare myself for this "week of extraordinary importance for Christians" (Preface page vii), it seemed like the perfect book to use my Christmas gift card on. As I walked out of Borders, I make an impulse purchase with the rest of the money, The Story of Christianity - An Illustrated History of 2000 Years of the Christian Faith. I would like to become more familiar with Christian history. This appears to be a quality book that will be quite useful as a reference on the history of the Christian Church. Spong and others frequently point out that many beliefs were not part of Christian teaching till centuries after Christ. Funny since when I was hanging out with bible-bangers, we sang "Give Me that Old Time Religion" as if the practices came directly from the early church. Now I know more about what diverse beliefs existed until they were declared heretical and suppressed. Also that many of the practices and beliefs of fundamentalism are recent American inventions rather than being true to ancient Christianity.

I have been thinking about how I would like to reread some of my favorite authors from the years just after college. Like I said when I first heard about this book, it reminds me a bit of John Howard Yoder's The Politics of Jesus in talking about what was happening in relationship to the Roman Empire. There is a whole dimension to the political impact of Jesus in a time when the Jewish authorities were allowed to rule as long as proper tribute was paid to Rome.

I will be facilitating at least two more sessions of the Lenten study as the volunteer leader is getting over pneumonia. I was looking for additional inspiration as I read the student book and leader's guide. Searching for Marcus Borg on YouTube, I found Christianity as a Spiritual Path.

Borg's comments on how the modern emphasis in Christianity has become "all about believing" reminded me of the questioner from last weeks session. Lent is a time to talk about spiritual disciplines and our spiritual journey. Borg shows how practice is central to Christianity as a path; "paying attention to the reality of God and our relationship to God."

I then decided to check on a favorite site, Gratefullness.org, for anything Borg. The current reflection by Brother David Steindl-Rast O.S.B. was based on Marcus J. Borg & John Dominic Crossan book: The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’s Final Days in Jerusalem.

Lenten Study - I mentioned at the end of my February 19th entry that we had started a new Lenten series. The leader got sick and so I have ended up being the substitute teacher for lessons 2, 3, and 4. I enjoy the class and the preparation is good for me.

Last night one of the participants, who tends to interrupt the flow of the class by getting off the subject, asked if people of other faiths who don't believe in Jesus are condemned. I tried to get back to the topic by saying that was a good one to ask a theologian. He said he had and they were. The substitute leader from the first week said that she believed in a loving God and that was inconsistent. She certainly redeemed herself from the uncomplimentary comment I made about the Sunday School depth of knowledge. I agreed and added that speculation about other folks distracts us from our faith journey.

The questioner seems to try to make light-hearted comments to make sure it doesn't get serious. I have noticed that the group seems uncomfortable when someone starts talking in a serious way about their faith. If I teach the next class, I am wondering if I should make a comment to respect some of the deep sharing that goes on. I have not noticed this in other classes I have facilitated at our church.