Hi, Diana, I'm prepping for my sermon next week. I have a question. I love the mantra -“Table - trial - cross - tomb/tomb - table.” What if it is a chiasm? It would make the cross the center. My theology says it's the table, though. Had you thought that through?
I just reread this post when I found it in a “saved folder” in my inbox. It is as powerful today as it was then! I’m curious about the quotes from Beatrice Bruteau’s writing and would like to know the souce.
I’m reading this for the first time thanks to your link in the current post, and I agree 💯. I was never comfortable with the emphasis on the crucifixion in general and Jesus’ death on the cross as substitutionary atonement in particular.
Your description reminds of the first Maundy Thursday I participated in. I was 12 years old. It was my first Communion. We sat around tables in the Fellowship Hall. We broke bread together and passed it among one another. I still remember who all was sitting at the table — our family and the Hinshaw family. Thank you for capturing that memory for me.
Thank you! This is one of the most radical and revolutionary directions I have heard regarding this Holy Week. Thank you for this wonderful reframing and redirection. I "see" so differently now. Happy Holy Thursday!
Table is kind of a westernized idea. There wouldn’t have been a table. They would have gathered and sat on the floor and eaten in a large single plate called Mandi and drank from a single cup, much like how they do it and have been doing it for hundreds of years in the Middle East. A meal is more closer to the concept you are alluding to.
Thank you for this. It has really changed what I thought I was going to say tonight. For a few years now I've been more aware of the forgiveness and love Jesus offers in the holy meal, even knowing what comes next. When Jesus says his body is the bread and his blood is the wine and offers it as a gift his execution illustrates what he did at the table. And his mind and heart were convinced to follow God's will in the garden. All to demonstrate his depth of love. I apologize if this sounds like rambling, but I'm thinking out loud.
Jesus said “yes” to everyone, especially at the table. And His incredible instruction that we should love one another as He loves us is more than humbling. For me, it means saying “yes” to so many whom, up to now, I have been saying “no.”
“The table is the point.” Yes!! As I have struggled to free myself of the church’s emphasis on atonement as the point, you have finally given me the answer! Of course the table is the point!
For me the crucifixion was purely an almost-inevitable political act, not the will of God.
Not my first heretical notion and undoubtedly not my last!
Thank you so much for sharing this again. I missed it last Easter - hadn’t yet discovered your wonderful work. What a great way to put the transition from the old year to the new in perspective. You are a blessing to us all.
So. One small word. About ten years ago, I had to preach my first sermon about antisemitism, and I remember walking up the pulpit steps thinking, "I can't believe I have to preach this, in this day and age, living in liberal Massachusetts." But I did, and I had to after research what to say. I learned two salient points: first, how the World Council of Churches was founded largely in response to the Holocaust as the churches came to an astounded awareness of their Christian complicity in it; and second, how the Nazi's held Kristalnacht on a pre-existing day of celebration in Germany (Martin Luther's birthday). I can't imagine critiquing Diana Butler Bass, and like you, I lost track in all the comments, of all the points, below. But for me, I had to force myself to read past the words "for fear of the Jews." I am a deacon of the Episcopal Church with a strong commitment to scriptural integrity. But for me, those words need to be eliminated, since the fearsome nature of the identity of these oppressors was not that they were Jews. They were fearsome authorities, nor fearsome Jews. So that's what I say. That is what I have read, because I know Christian children are listening. [For more information on this, I highly recommend Susannah Heschel's book on Christian complicity: The Aryan Jesus. The liturgical photos are grotesque. She is the daughter of Abraham Joshua Heschel, who is so revered.] Please forgive me if this seems harsh; we must be so careful, especially today. "For fear of the Jews," in cold print, just jolted me in a way I felt I had to describe.
Powerful vision of The Last Supper. Makes me ponder about the Last supper and the table. Could I please use your words when I preach on the Second Sunday of Easter. Blessings Barb
Yes! This was my experience Thursday evening with a small gathering from church around a table. It was remarkable - the best ever. I am a term pastor here so we did not prepare “the usual” tennebrae rehearsed enactment that led right into Friday on Thurs. night. There would be prayer in the chapel the next afternoon, so we simply gathered around a table, shared, began with a Julian body prayer (await, allow, accept, attend), talked about all that lad led up to that night, began reading John 13 (“he loved them to the end,” footwashing, Judas/Peter, etc), shared “dayenu” and added our own lines, then communion, guided visualization, & part of Jesus’ prayer for his “friends.” A poem by a member, a Celtic Benediction, and off into the night - but not in silence…everyone was so excited about our evening - my best Maundy Thursday ever - and truly “Maundy” with the command to love and serve and savor life. And then someone told me to read your post today - YES! This has been a transformational week - experienced and validated! Thank you - and for Jesus Deconstructed, tho I missed first & last sessions - hope to catch up. Blessings-
Hi, Diana, I'm prepping for my sermon next week. I have a question. I love the mantra -“Table - trial - cross - tomb/tomb - table.” What if it is a chiasm? It would make the cross the center. My theology says it's the table, though. Had you thought that through?
I just reread this post when I found it in a “saved folder” in my inbox. It is as powerful today as it was then! I’m curious about the quotes from Beatrice Bruteau’s writing and would like to know the souce.
I’m reading this for the first time thanks to your link in the current post, and I agree 💯. I was never comfortable with the emphasis on the crucifixion in general and Jesus’ death on the cross as substitutionary atonement in particular.
Your description reminds of the first Maundy Thursday I participated in. I was 12 years old. It was my first Communion. We sat around tables in the Fellowship Hall. We broke bread together and passed it among one another. I still remember who all was sitting at the table — our family and the Hinshaw family. Thank you for capturing that memory for me.
Thank you! This is one of the most radical and revolutionary directions I have heard regarding this Holy Week. Thank you for this wonderful reframing and redirection. I "see" so differently now. Happy Holy Thursday!
Table is kind of a westernized idea. There wouldn’t have been a table. They would have gathered and sat on the floor and eaten in a large single plate called Mandi and drank from a single cup, much like how they do it and have been doing it for hundreds of years in the Middle East. A meal is more closer to the concept you are alluding to.
Thank you for this. It has really changed what I thought I was going to say tonight. For a few years now I've been more aware of the forgiveness and love Jesus offers in the holy meal, even knowing what comes next. When Jesus says his body is the bread and his blood is the wine and offers it as a gift his execution illustrates what he did at the table. And his mind and heart were convinced to follow God's will in the garden. All to demonstrate his depth of love. I apologize if this sounds like rambling, but I'm thinking out loud.
Jesus said “yes” to everyone, especially at the table. And His incredible instruction that we should love one another as He loves us is more than humbling. For me, it means saying “yes” to so many whom, up to now, I have been saying “no.”
Trying again …
“The table is the point.” Yes!! As I have struggled to free myself of the church’s emphasis on atonement as the point, you have finally given me the answer! Of course the table is the point!
For me the crucifixion was purely an almost-inevitable political act, not the will of God.
Not my first heretical notion and undoubtedly not my last!
Thank you, Diana!
I wonder at the table motif compared to the garden. Both are book ends of the story. Both center around food. Both are a place prepared for us.
Huh, you got me thinking.
Thank you so much for sharing this again. I missed it last Easter - hadn’t yet discovered your wonderful work. What a great way to put the transition from the old year to the new in perspective. You are a blessing to us all.
So. One small word. About ten years ago, I had to preach my first sermon about antisemitism, and I remember walking up the pulpit steps thinking, "I can't believe I have to preach this, in this day and age, living in liberal Massachusetts." But I did, and I had to after research what to say. I learned two salient points: first, how the World Council of Churches was founded largely in response to the Holocaust as the churches came to an astounded awareness of their Christian complicity in it; and second, how the Nazi's held Kristalnacht on a pre-existing day of celebration in Germany (Martin Luther's birthday). I can't imagine critiquing Diana Butler Bass, and like you, I lost track in all the comments, of all the points, below. But for me, I had to force myself to read past the words "for fear of the Jews." I am a deacon of the Episcopal Church with a strong commitment to scriptural integrity. But for me, those words need to be eliminated, since the fearsome nature of the identity of these oppressors was not that they were Jews. They were fearsome authorities, nor fearsome Jews. So that's what I say. That is what I have read, because I know Christian children are listening. [For more information on this, I highly recommend Susannah Heschel's book on Christian complicity: The Aryan Jesus. The liturgical photos are grotesque. She is the daughter of Abraham Joshua Heschel, who is so revered.] Please forgive me if this seems harsh; we must be so careful, especially today. "For fear of the Jews," in cold print, just jolted me in a way I felt I had to describe.
Powerful vision of The Last Supper. Makes me ponder about the Last supper and the table. Could I please use your words when I preach on the Second Sunday of Easter. Blessings Barb
Yes! This was my experience Thursday evening with a small gathering from church around a table. It was remarkable - the best ever. I am a term pastor here so we did not prepare “the usual” tennebrae rehearsed enactment that led right into Friday on Thurs. night. There would be prayer in the chapel the next afternoon, so we simply gathered around a table, shared, began with a Julian body prayer (await, allow, accept, attend), talked about all that lad led up to that night, began reading John 13 (“he loved them to the end,” footwashing, Judas/Peter, etc), shared “dayenu” and added our own lines, then communion, guided visualization, & part of Jesus’ prayer for his “friends.” A poem by a member, a Celtic Benediction, and off into the night - but not in silence…everyone was so excited about our evening - my best Maundy Thursday ever - and truly “Maundy” with the command to love and serve and savor life. And then someone told me to read your post today - YES! This has been a transformational week - experienced and validated! Thank you - and for Jesus Deconstructed, tho I missed first & last sessions - hope to catch up. Blessings-
Thank you so very much. Thank you! Freedom - fresh faith ... new life
Beautiful thank you what refreshing insights