Thread by @dianabutlerbass

This is #HolyWeek -- the week in the Christian year that marks the final days of Jesus' life.

It is not "holy" because it is super-spiritual, set apart, or sacred. It is holy because it shows how God is present in the world. 1/

The week is deeply mundane, political. 2/

It began w/ a protest rally. What we call "Palm Sunday" was a protest rally AGAINST imperial Rome. Those complicit w/Rome gathered on one side of the city to hail Pilate's entry into Jerusalem; on the other, the resisters welcomed Jesus & treated him as King. 3/

It was a direct act of political theater, a take-down of Empire in favor of the moral vision of an alternative kingdom -- the kingdom of God. 4/

Then, Jesus went to the Temple and cleared out those who had sold religion out to imperial power and revealed the hypocrisy of religious leaders who got rich from their support of corrupted politics. 5/

On Tuesday, Jesus delivered a barn-burner of a sermon further attacking religious leaders who are complicit.

This is also the day that Judas arranges a secret meeting that results in a pay-off to betray Jesus. 6/

The action of the week resumes on Thursday, when Jesus washes his follower's feet in a radical action of upending the social structure of status and service. 7/

And then they have a feast, a meal that reminds the disciples of God's promise to set a table in the wilderness, to recall the manna of God's love & provision, and to demonstrate that the world can be a table of hospitality and thanksgiving for all. 8/

The Last Supper is intended to be the "last supper" of the world of imperial injustice and the FIRST meal of a God's new order of love, service, gratitude. It was another political demonstration. 9/

For the inner circle. Do this in remembrance of me, says Jesus. Remember this. This is what the world is supposed to be like. This is what you are supposed to do from this point on. Set a table of welcome & feast. Don't build imperial cities. 10/

The meal is a dinner of liberation. It remembers the dream of God. AND IT ANTICIPATES what can be -- a new political order based in love.

After the meal, Jesus & his friends go off to reflect & pray about what they have just experienced together. 11/

While they are praying, the authorities arrest Jesus. Yeah, while praying. 12/

Thus, comes the confusing day of Jesus being passed between complicit religious authorities, Roman soldiers, and corrupt politicians in a gross "trial" with the pre-determined outcome that Jesus is guilty of . . . something . . . anything. The imperial system wants him dead. 13/

A massive abuse of power, injustice, oppression. 14/

The imperial political powers, of course, manage to convince the crowd to see it their way. 15/

Because fake Roman news. They put out word that Jesus is a danger. The story that Jesus is really a criminal spreads through the city. 16/

And so, Jesus is executed by the state.

For pretty much nothing. Preaching a vision of a world based in love.

OK. That's really everything. That's the ONE thing Rome couldn't bear. That there was a different way of life, a way that didn't include them. 17/

The authorities were going to toss Jesus' body in the trash. But a faithful Jewish man wouldn't let that happen. Bodies were created in God's image, to be treasured & honored. So, he gave his own tomb for Jesus' burial. 18/

But even that was a political act. To care for the dead in face of the Roman desire to destroy any life that opposed it. 19/

To put Jesus in a tomb was to say, "Rome doesn't get to treat Jews as garbage." It was an act of humanity in the face of political oppression. It was incredibly brave. 20/

And, with the body awaiting its dressing, everyone thought that was it. Once again, Rome wins. God's vision of a world of liberation, joy, and gratitude will have to wait. 21/

A couple days later, the women show up to care for the body. Note: the WOMEN show up. 22/

When Jesus' body is missing, an angel says "He is risen." Of course, nobody believes the women. The men think Rome stole the body. Because that's what Rome would do. Take the body and desecrate it. 23/

BUT THE WOMEN WERE THE FIRST ONES TO SHOW UP -- the first ones to KNOW that imperial powers were overthrown. AND THE WOMEN WERE RIGHT. (Yeah, all caps. Because you can't make this point strongly enough). Political lesson: Believe the women. 24/

Eventually, the guys get it. 25/

God ain't gonna put up with this oppressive shit any more. Rome's going down. Because Jesus came up. This is an up-rising. 26/

It is an uprising of love. 27/

The feast of God will replace every Roman temple, every unjust system, every oppressive, complicit religion and political system. 28/

The world is one of tables of abundance, with people from all walks of life, sitting together, sharing in the gifts of creation, rejoicing in gratefulness. 29/

Abundance and gratitude -- the receiving and sharing of gifts -- is God's vision of community, of politics. 30/

Easter means: Good-bye Rome. Welcome feast! 31/

And that's why it is "Holy." Because the political world is hallowed by the ever-creative, ever-loving God who "uprises" us to liberation and love.

Get ready. The uprising is here. 32/