Tag Archives: Last Sunday in Lent Year C

Language, Luke, Teaching

Luke 19:28-40 – Liturgy of the Palm, Year C

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After telling a parable to the crowd at Jericho, Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.'” So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord needs it.” Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

——————–

This is the Gospel selection that will be read by a priest (usually outdoors), prior to the main service inside the nave on Palm Sunday, Year C, according to the lectionary for the Episcopal Church. This begins the “Liturgy of the Palms,” which will precede a singing aloud in unison of Psalm 118 verses, as there is a precession into the nave. In that song of praise David wrote, “I will give thanks to you, for you answered me and have become my salvation. The same stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”

In Year A the Gospel reading outside comes from Matthew 21:1-11. In Year B it comes from Mark 11:1-11. This reading from Luke offers some confusion, as to the timing of this event. That confusion can breed doubts of truth being told; so, it is important to explain away all doubts.

It is important to see that Luke tells the story of Mary the mother of Jesus, not the eyewitness accounts of the physician named Luke. The story told in Luke then shows that Mary the mother of Jesus was with him when he stayed in the safety zone that was Beyond the Jordan. Because Jesus was not safe returning to Capernaum, where his mother could be with him there, when Jesus and his disciples went in Perea, Mary went along. Thus, her story tells of the return from there, after Jesus was told of Lazarus being ill (which Mary did not witness, not tell about). That included the story of the blind man healed and the stay with Zacchaeus in Jericho. So, when verse twenty-eight says, “After telling a parable to the crowd at Jericho, Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem,” that one verse becomes a separation from those verses that follow.

Because Jesus returned with his disciples for the purpose of the Passover coming soon, he came back well prior to his entrance into Jerusalem. His disciples stayed in Bethphage (a house, not a town), while Jesus went into Bethany (a town, as well as a the house of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus), where he raised Lazarus from death. The disciples did not witness that event, so neither Matthew nor Mark wrote about that miracle. Luke also does not write about it; so, that means Mary must have met her brother-in-law Clopas (or Cleopas, brother of Joseph) and his wife Mary, who escorted Mother Mary from Jesus being with the disciples in Bethphage, to Emmaus. Jesus then left Bethphage to raise Lazarus; and, following that was a dinner given in Jesus’ honor at Simon the leper’s house, where Matthew, Mark and John told of Mary Magdalene pouring nard on Jesus’ feet, rubbing the perfume in with her hair. Mother Mary was not a witness to that event; so, Luke did not write about it.

This means that when Luke wrote in verse twenty-nine: “When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,” this is telling of a subsequent time, when Mother Mary (along with Cleopas and wife Mary had returned to meet up with Jesus again, in order to all enter Jerusalem as one large group (with a large group meaning it was safer for Jesus). It is imperative to realize that separation of time, supported by the other Gospel stories, so there is no confusion here, thinking Luke is telling contradictions to the other Gospels.

A while back, most likely when Palm Sunday was in Year B, where the entrance into Jerusalem story is told in Mark 11, I was not writing regular commentaries then; but I read the Liturgy of the Palms then and was moved to investigate that reading. I wrote and published on my WordPress blog this report on Mark 11:1-11. That report has been moved onto my Katrina Pearls website (R. T. Tippett), so it can be found only there. In it, I had a dawning of understanding, as to why archeologists cannot determine where a settlement named Bethphage was located. I realized it was not a town, but a house.

The Hebrew word “bayith,” which becomes transliterated as “bet” or “beth,” when combined with another word. As such, “Bethany” means “House Of Answer, Business, Affliction, Singing,” while “Bethphage” means “House Of Unripe Figs.” Because Bethany is known to be a town (and still is today, called Al-Eizariya – “Place of Lazarus”), but Bethphage is a mystery location, the name explains that it was one of the houses of the vicinity that was the town Bethany, but it was owned by a family who grew figs. This becomes a name of a place that becomes explanatory as to why the disciples would stay there (camp or lodge) and why Mother Mary, Cleopas and Mary would join other family there, before entering Jerusalem.

The dawning came to me that all fruit initially appears in an unripe state. No fruit stays in that state, as all fruit on trees ripens and falls to the ground, where it rots and turns to seed, unless the fruit is picked. Because the Passover festival begins a commanded counting of the gathered produce of the land, fifty days these offerings would be placed in a designated area of the Temple in Jerusalem, where a priest would oversee their maturity (fruits, grains, oils and wines), until declared fit for consumption on Pentecost. All “first fruits” would be gathered in an unripe state; so, there was one estate in Bethany that was known for its fig trees and being where unripe figs would be gathered in omer baskets and ceremoniously taken to the Temple in offering. That harvesting of the unripe figs would be what the disciples did for the time Mother Mary was in Emmaus; but she and her relatives would come to carry baskets of unripe figs to the Temple. Therefore, that explains why this entrance into Jerusalem was not unusual, other than the fact that Jesus knew this would be his final entrance there, before his death; meaning he was the sacrificial lamb being offered, with his disciples being the unripe fruit that would mature on Pentecost.

As for the other detail that Luke writes of, which are mirrored in the accounts of Matthew and Mark, I beg you to read the linked commentary of Mark 11, which is entitled “Understanding Bethphage, a donkey colt, and palm branches.” It is an informative read, one which I will not repeat, knowing this Gospel selection will only be read outside on Palm Sunday, where priests are known to do no sermons of explanation. Instead, I will make a couple of observations that have come to me since I posted my prior commentary.

The first new insight that comes to me is relative to Jesus sending two disciples to a village (on the other side of the peak of Mount Olivet from Bethany), where the Jericho Road split, going to both that village and to Bethany, before joining together again, going down the mount to the Kidron Valley crossing below Solomon’s Temple (the Portico above). Jesus told them to say, if asked why they were untying a colt (and they were asked, so they said what Jesus told them to say), “The Lord needs it.” [NRSV translation] That needs further discussion.

Because Luke’s Gospel (like the other three) is in Greek, there is a disconnect between the Hebrew statement of “Yahweh” and the English translation as “the Lord.” In Greek the word for “Lord” is “Kyrios,” where a slave would call his “master” the lower-case spelling: “kyrios.” This means the capitalization in the Greek scriptures always denotes a divine elevation in meaning, such that “Lord” [“Kyrios”] becomes confused. One is forced to hear Jesus give his disciples a command to say “the Lord needs it,” so it is easy to think “Lord” means Jesus was identifying himself as who needs the colt. Readers think Jesus told his disciples to tell some prearranged friends of Jesus – those who worked for him or followed his commands – “Jesus needs it.” That works until we reach the point of the reading where the people begin singing from Psalm 118 (the accompanying Psalm for this reading).

In an idyllic Christian world, where everyone lazes about on pillows, being fed grapes by cherubs, every word of Scripture is spoken by the Biblical characters in English paraphrases. Christians love how ancient Israelites sang songs in a yet invented language – the only one American Christians know. American Christians walk in precession from an outdoors setting, where pieces of palm leaves are passed out and everyone begins reciting Psalm 118 in English. In verse 26 they all recite: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord.” American Christians then imagine themselves reenacting that scene in ancient Jerusalem, where everyone said “Lord.”

The reality is Jesus spoke Aramaic, as did all his disciples and family members. When they went down the hill and crossed over to the road that went along the eastern wall, a boundary for the City of David, the words sung by the Jews were in Hebrew, so “Yahweh” was sung, not “Kyrios.” The people all knew Psalm 118 and sang loudly, “bā·rūḵ hab·bā bə·šêm Yah·weh.” When that realization is made, Jesus then told his two disciples to go into the village and untie a colt that had never been ridden, and if anyone asked (and they did), tell them, “Yahweh needs it.” After all, that is the truth. Yahweh had spoken through the prophet Zechariah, which prophesied “your king comes to you … humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” So, Jesus had nothing to do with needing a donkey colt. His Father needed it, so Jesus could fulfill prophesy.

In both Matthew and Mark (not Luke or John), after Jesus had entered Jerusalem and left to return home (to Bethany), we are told of Jesus going to a barren fig tree, cursing it, causing it to wither and die. It should bot be seen as disconnected from the meaning of Bethphage. The fig tree must be seen as one of that “House of Unripe Figs.” In the botany of fig trees, those which bear fruit only do so for thirty-five years. Before they mature so they can begin to bear fruit (those species that are fruit bearing), it usually takes five years before a new fig tree gives forth fruit. Knowing this, it should be seen that: a.) the fig tree was not one owned by anyone other than a family who knew Jesus well; b.) the fig tree was not new and should have produced at least one unripe fig that had not been picked for offering; and, 3.) the fig tree was barren, so it was wasting good soil that could be where a new fig tree would be planted.

As a Gospel reading given ‘air time’ in a limited capacity as the liturgy of the palm, it should be realized to bear the fruit of meaning that is still of Lenten value. That value is to realize Lent is not only a testing of self, because other selves are likewise being equally tested at the same time. The test of Lent is to understand passing does not make one king of the world. Instead, it makes one willingly display how humble and lowly one is, in service to Yahweh. When “some Pharisees asked Jesus to make the people stop singing,” it was because everyone knew Jesus was making a mockery of those who ruled over the people. The test of Lent is about one’s commitment to serve Yahweh; so, when comes and says, “Yahweh needs it,” you are tested to believe that is the truth.

Language, Psalms, Teaching

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 – A round stone and flesh going up in smoke

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1 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; *

his mercy endures forever.

2 Let Israel now proclaim, *

“His mercy endures forever.”

—–

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *

I will enter them; I will offer thanks to Yah.

20 “This is the gate of Yahweh; *

he who is righteous may enter.”

21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *

and have become my salvation.

22 The same stone which the builders rejected *

has become the chief cornerstone.

23 This is Yahweh doing, *

and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 On this day Yahweh has acted; *

we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Hosannah, Yahweh, hosannah! *

Yahweh, send us now success.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of Yahweh; *

we bless you from the house of Yahweh.

27 el is Yahweh; he has shined upon us; *

form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.

28 “You are eli, and I will thank you; *

you are my elohay, and I will exalt you.”

29 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; *

his mercy endures forever.

——————–

On March 31, 2021 I posted an interpretation of this Psalm, which is read each Palm Sunday, in Years A, B, and C. I recommend reading that analysis by following this link here. I am reposting this with adjustments in the NRSV text, which I was not making in my earlier commentary. You will note that there are ten places where David wrote the proper name “Yahweh,” only to have some modern English translation service change that proper name to a generic “Lord.” Also, in verse nineteen, the word written by David is “Yah,” which is an abbreviated form of “Yahweh.” I have restored that written by David in bold type.

In verse twenty-seven is a use of the Hebrew word “el,” which is misleading to translate it as a capitalized “God.” It and the two forms of “el” that are “eli” and “elohay” (both translated as “my God”) are misleading in the way they were translated; so, I have restored the Hebrew text [transliterations] in italics. I will explain my reasons for this soon.

This song of praise is closely associated with the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, prior to his final Passover festival there. The whole of the theatrics of that “triumphal entrance” is anything but. In Zechariah’s prophecy, where verse nine says, “your king is coming to you , righteous and having salvation he , lowly and riding on a donkey , and upon a colt foal of a donkey .” That prophecy, which Jesus fulfilled, says everyone who thinks Yahweh is going to send some human hero to become another temporal David reborn is a fool. The prophecy say celebrate the fact there will never be anyone other than Jesus. Thus, that needs to be understood in this song of David.

In verses nineteen and twenty, David wrote of “the gates of righteousness” and “the gate of Yahweh.” This needs to be merged with Zechariah’s prophecy of “the king is coming to you.” Prior to Zechariah writing that, he called to the “daughters of Zion [meaning Dryness]” and the “daughters of Jerusalem [meaning “Teaching Peace],” with “daughters” needing to be seen as every soul living in a body of flesh. A body of flesh is a “daughter,” who is then the bridesmaid of Yahweh. The ”gate” is then the marriage pathway to a soul, penetrated by the divine. The “king” is then the new Lord over one’s flesh, which is the “righteousness” of “Yahweh.” The symbolism of Jesus riding a donkey colt into Jerusalem, through the Dung Gate, says one is sacrificing one’s soul to a most divine possession. Nothing in the material world will catch one’s eye, as all heads are bowed in total submission to Yahweh, because salvation is one’s only prayer being answered in holy matrimony.

In the past several months (or so), I have come to an entirely new view of the meaning of verse twenty-two, which sings, “The same stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” When writing about the stone that sealed the tomb where Jesus’ body had been laid (the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea), it dawned on me how such a round stone was symbolic of how being reborn as Jesus places a movable stone, which allows a soul to escape a sealed in death, gaining eternal life. It makes no logical sense that any builder of merit would reject a solidly fashioned cube of stone as a cornerstone for a permanent building. However, they would reject a round stone all day long; and, that means one is not building materially (where mortals have no permanence), but spiritually.

The death one avoid by the round stone as one’s cornerstone is that of being a soul born into mortal flesh. Flesh is “mortal” because it will die. When the flesh dies, then the soul is released for Judgment. To be found sealed in a tomb with a squared stone sealing the entrance-exit, then death means coming back again into a body of flesh that is bound to die (repeated death). Only when one’s soul has been married to Yahweh and merged with the soul of His Son can one die of self, without physical dying. One becomes a changed person, as a Saint.

Verses twenty-three through twenty-six sing repeatedly (six times) about “Yahweh.” When we hear the song say, “This is Yahweh’s doing,” that is creating a Son that will be the stone rolled away after death, so one resurrects spiritual as Jesus did. We become Jesus because of Yahweh. This is divine marriage; so, when verse twenty-six sings, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of Yahweh,” the ”name of Yahweh” says one’s soul has taken on His name in marriage AND one has been born in the name of Jesus, as a Christ.

In verse twenty-seven, where David sang, “form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar,” this sings of a wedding “procession.” The “horns of the altar” are features of the Temple (Tabernacle for David) altar of sacrifice. Thus, marriage to Yahweh means the sacrifice of one’s soul, so it no longer claims control over one’s born flesh. Self goes up in smoke, which is a delight to Yahweh.

When verses twenty-seven and twenty-eight then mention “el” and then “eli” and “elohay,” this sings of the ministry in the name of Jesus that comes. An “el” is an eternal presence, like an angel is. A soul is an eternal entity, but it is not an “el,” per se. An “el” is a spiritual possession within one’s soul-flesh. This can be a demonic spirit that possesses a soul, making it do evil deeds. However, when “el is Yahweh” is stated, that becomes a statement of a divine possession, by Yahweh’s Spirit. That then leads to David singing “my god” (“eli” and “elohay”), these come in quotation marks, as said to a soul by Yahweh. That means Yahweh has heard one’s cries of “thanks” and told those souls “You are mine, as Yahweh elohim.”

As a Psalm that will be sung outside a church, in a precession into a nave for the reading of so much scripture that none of it can be preached (in a twelve minute timeframe), that means the test of Lent is to do your own contemplation about what scripture means to your own soul. Everything in Scripture is valuable insight towards deep faith. Going to a church to have priests do nothing that teaches the meaning of the Word says the blind are leading the blind to a huge pit. One must have more than twelve minutes to devote to Yahweh a week; or, one must plan on repeating life all over again (if lucky).

Isaiah, Language, Teaching

Isaiah 50:4-9a – A Passion prerequisite that requires a Teacher of Yahweh to explain

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[4] adonay Yahweh has given me

the tongue of a teacher,

that I may know how to sustain

the weary with a word.

Morning by morning he wakens–

wakens my ear

to listen as those who are taught.

[5] adonay Yahweh has opened my ear,

and I was not rebellious,

I did not turn backward.

[6] I gave my back to those who struck me,

and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;

I did not hide my face

from insult and spitting.

[7] wadonay Yahweh helps me;

therefore I have not been disgraced;

therefore I have set my face like flint,

and I know that I shall not be put to shame;

he who vindicates me is near.

[8] Who will contend with me?

Let us stand up together.

Who are my adversaries?

Let them confront me.

[9a] It is adonay Yahweh who helps me;

who will declare me guilty?

——————–

This song of Isaiah is read on every Passion Sunday (a.k.a. Palm Sunday), in Years A, B, and C.

September 2018 can be searched here. This is what my observations were, when this reading was part of the Proper 19 readings, for the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost lessons.

March 2021 can also be searched here. This was what I wrote when this was part of the Passion Sunday Year B service.

August 2021 also in here to be searched. This was when the same reading is presented on the sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost [Proper 19], during Year B.

In my last commentary, I adjusted the text to show “adonay,” “wadonay,” and “Yahweh.” I pointed out how that does not mean “the Lord God.” The word “adon” is the singular number Hebrew word that says “lord” (not capitalized), with the two variations of “adonay” being the plural version, clearly saying “lords.” To then pair that with the fools who translate Hebrew into paraphrased English (besides their changing a plural word into the singular and capitalizing that as a singular “Lord”), they all of a sudden stop translating “Yahweh” as “the Lord,” making Him be a “God.” Of course, they could explain that by saying, “Oh! Our paraphrase switched the order of the words written, so we translated “Yahweh” as “the Lord,” making “adonay” become “God.”’ Still, that ignores the plural number and their lie needing to be translated as “the Lord of lords.” That would actually be more in line with the true meaning of “adonay.”

In the time that has passed since August of 2021 (six months), I have come to realize more clearly that “adonay” is similar to the Hebrew word “elohim,” but with a slightly higher connotation. One of the “elohim” (an “el”) is an ‘angel in the flesh,’ which means a soul in a body of flesh has become married to Yahweh, with His Son’s soul (that of Adam-Jesus) resurrected within that soul hosting flesh, becoming divinely possessed. That divine possession is an “elohim” (one being an “el”). One has to reach that state of existence to become a Saint, one in the name of Jesus, as a Christ. That is the basic statement of divine possession. However, becoming one of the “adonay” (or “adonai,” as an “adon”) is the purpose for Yahweh divinely possessing a soul animating flesh; and, that is to teach.

In verse four, this aspect of teaching (as a Saint) is explained as Isaiah singing, “adonay Yahweh has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens — wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.” This becomes why the disciples called Jesus their “Teacher, Master, or Lord.” In John 13:13 (when Jesus had washed the feet of his disciples at the Seder meal in the upper room), he said, “you call me This Teacher kai this Lord , kai honorably you say , I am indeed .” This is the truth spoken by Jesus, because his soul in his flesh was not only as a Yahweh elohim (the Son of Yahweh reborn – Adam’s soul returning as one whose name says, “Yah[weh] Saves”), but also as the epitome of an “adon” or “lord,” as a “teacher” of those who sought the truth of Yahweh. Isaiah was another soul in human flesh that was an “elohim,” who was sent out to others, for the purpose of being “a teacher” of Yahweh’s truth.

Verse four states that clearly.

In the rest of these verses, which I have commented on prior (multiple times), it is important to see that an “adonay Yahweh” is a divine “teacher” of truth, where he listens to that told to his possessing soul (Adam-Jesus) by Yahweh [as Jesus said, “For I myself have not spoken, but this having sent me Father the same, me a commandment gave what I should say kai what I should speak.” – (John 12:49)]. These verses from Isaiah 50 reflect that same obedience, as a soul divinely possessed by the Father – Yahweh. Thus, it is important to see how the persecution of others, who direct their anger at anyone who acts righteously, to force them to stop pretending to be ‘holier than thus,’ because they do not believe such righteousness is truly possible. It is not only possible; but Isaiah (and Jesus too) sang how he could withstand the punishment, because he knew his ego had already been sacrificed for a much higher cause. Isaiah (and Jesus too) knew that punishment resulting in death would only release an “elohim” soul to eternal life, having already died as a lord over one’s flesh.

As an Old Testament song sung inside a nave, prior to the reciting of about two chapters of Luke (in Year C), no priest will have the balls – nor any parishioners have the guts – to spend a whole day explaining and listening to explanations (verse by verse), about everything that has been read aloud on what is called “Passion Sunday.” That is a reflection that no one is an “elohim,” no one is a Saint, no one is an “adon” of Yahweh, and (certainly) no one is Jesus reborn, as a Christ. It says Christianity has been reduced to some form of entertainment that is all about the pageantry of show, with no one ever able to become a teacher like Isaiah or Jesus. The only thing anyone gets out of this day is a blade of palm branch … and that is then given back to the church, so they can form them into crosses that will be passed out at another time, before collecting those to be burned for ashes to be added to oil (used on Ash Wednesday – more pageantry).

Aside Note:

In case this is difficult to grasp, it really is not. A soul in a body of flesh is the “lord” (“adon“) of its flesh … the flesh into which Yahweh breathed a soul at birth. As a child that grows, the fleshy brain (the seat of one’s “lord” or “adon“) is taught many things: from the environment, from parents, from friends, and from school teachers. A fleshy brain absorbs knowledge like a sponge (with not all knowledge the truth). When puberty kicks in, the body of flesh (extensions of the fleshy brain) begins to scream out, “Hey! What about me!” The body of flesh slowly becomes the “lord” over the brain, so the brain begins to justify the desires of the body of flesh. This is regardless of what one has been taught to guard against. Then, it takes an innocent soul and enslaves it to follow the whims of the flesh, which is what religion says are sins. While sins are natural, some become addictions. External things of the world … like drugs, sex, money … become influences (gods or elohim) that take total control over a soul and its body of flesh, making it not only sin, but do heinous acts that are criminal. In the Bible are stories of those demonically possessed; and, such demonic possessions are the presence of an evil soul within one’s birth soul. This becomes the “lord” or “adon” one was naturally born with being enslaved by a Satanic or Devilish soul that joins with one’s soul; and, that demonic presence becomes one’s “Lord.” This capitalized “Lord” is why a true Christian does not want to refer to Yahweh as something so general and non-specific. To have evil demons cast out, one needs to seek Yahweh’s help. That leads to an encounter with a Saint, who is a normal soul possessed by Yahweh’s Spirit, reborn with Jesus as his “Lord.” That presence initiates the Spirit, sent by Yahweh’s Son’s soul to enter one’s natural soul, casting out all bad demons. That is Baptism by the Spirit, which cleanses a natural soul, in the marriage of a soul to the Yahweh Spirit. The presence of Jesus’ soul within one’s soul (a good possession of spirit – the resurrection of Jesus within) makes his soul become one’s “Lord” or “Adon.” Jesus rules as “Lord” over one’s natural soul and its flesh. Rule over the natural soul ensures that soul a return to be one with Yahweh, when it leaves its body of flesh. If you would like to read more on this subject, look up Eudaimonia. The root word there is “daímōn,” which is where the word “demon” comes. It actually refers to a “spirit,” which is like a “soul.” One needs to realize there are bad spirits and there are good spirits. The capitalized “Spirit” (“Pneuma“) is the best Spirit to be possessed by. It is the challenge of a soul’s presence in matter. The soul must find the way back to Yahweh. Matter becomes the tomb, as well as the “Lord” to overcome. The antonym is “Disdemona” (from Greek “δυσ + δαίμων), which means “ill-fated, unfortunate.” Any spirit that takes over a body of flesh, enslaving a natural soul to serve it, is a “Lord.” A natural soul cannot defeat any “Lord.” Thus, a soul must surrender itself to Yahweh in divine union, which means His Son Jesus (“Yahweh Saves”) is one’s “Lord,” who defeats all others “gods” or “elohim.”

Psalms, Teaching

Psalm 31:9-16 – Begging for mercy when you don’t really think you need it

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9 Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am in trouble; *

my eye is consumed with sorrow, and also my throat and my belly.

10 For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing; *

my strength fails me because of affliction, and my bones are consumed.

11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors,

a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *

when they see me in the street they avoid me.

12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *

I am as useless as a broken pot.

13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around; *

they put their heads together against me; they plot to take my life.

14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, Yahweh. *

I have said, “You are elohay.

15 My times are in your hand; *

rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.

16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *

and in your loving-kindness save me.”

——————–

This is the Psalm that will be read aloud in unison or sung by a cantor (inside the nave), after a congregation has met outside the inner sanctuary of a church, holding palm spears and reciting in precession verses from Psalm 118. Here is when they begin to go brain-numb from having reached their maximum normal Sunday allowance of readings, with still many more minutes of readings to come, before wondering, “Now I remember why I only go to church a couple of times a year!” They have shown up on Palm-Passion Sunday because there is no sermon; but, they show up having forgotten how dreadfully long the service is.

In March 2021 I posted this commentary on this selection from Psalm 31, which can be searched here by that name and number. That was when this same Psalm selection was part of the Year B schedule of readings. This Psalm selection is read every Passion Sunday, in Years A, B, and C. It is not read at any other time in the lectionary schedule; so, because no sermon will ever be preached on a Sunday when the Episcopalian ‘twelve minute rule’ has already been broken by reading aloud half the New Testament (well, almost two chapters of Luke in Year C), nobody’s brain is capable of focusing on religious thought. Like everything about finding true Salvation for a soul … it is best done alone, without allowing any church to get in the way, mucking everything up.

I have come to the conclusion that the reason Christians allow their English translation service to change “Yahweh” to “the Lord” and “elohay” to “our God” is because they do not want to ever accept a Jewish dedication to scriptural memorization. Christians would much rather learn five sets of verse and chorus from a popular song book: example being Silent Night or Old Time Religion (where scripture has been aborted by some songwriter that never understood any meaning to scripture), than to memorize one hundred fifty psalms, divinely inspired by David (and maybe others) – In Hebrew – because that would take away from so much party time in life (by whatever means one calls ‘partying’). So, even though most modern Jews know some Yiddish and pretend to be closer to God because of extensive early education in religious scripture, Christians want to be known for being dumb as stumps, while superior because the Jews rejected Jesus.

This Psalm selection is chosen to be sung aloud on Passion Sunday, because the Passion (a word meaning “suffering,” not sexual rubbing) never is about Jesus. It is repeated year after year because of all the new souls that need to be “Suffering” like David wrote of them all begging for forgiveness. Those who only show up at some Christian church to be entertained a few times a year will find their souls in this position one day … because ALL MORTALS DIE. Bodies of flesh do not beg for forgiveness. Souls do.

As a song of lament and begging for forgiveness (something David did later in life, but Jesus never did) to be read aloud on Passion Sunday, the point is to foresee your own worthless soul facing your inevitable death and have a ‘come to Jesus’ talk with Yahweh [learn his name you lazy sinner!]. Learn that when David sang, “I have said, “You are my gods,” that truly means Yahweh says to His ‘angels in the flesh’ – His elohim – “You trusted in Me, when you became extensions of Me on earth … as Yahweh elohim. An “elohim” is only going to receive the Salvation of eternal life. Party hardy you fools and find this truth out when you miserable end times come. Then prostrate your souls before Yahweh and explain to Him why you never had time to serve Him in life. Now is the time to practice being sincere with you future answer … in tears … knowing something bleak is going to be your Judgment.

Language, Philippians, Teaching

Philippians 2:5-11 – This is important to understand

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[5] Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

[6] who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

[7] as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

[8] And being found in human form,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death–

even death on a cross.

[9] Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

[10] so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

[11] and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

——————–

This is the Epistle selection to be read aloud, along with two thousand, five hundred sixty three other words of scripture (Old Testament, Psalm and Gospel), on the day called “Passion Sunday.” This Word Count total does not include the “Palm Sunday” readings done outside a nave (a Gospel and processionary Psalm), while holding palm spears. Due to the excessive amount of readings collected for one day [Moses warned the children of Yahweh not to collect more manna than could be consumed in one day [unless it was a Friday, when two days’ worth could be gathered], it will turn to maggots and mush, being all pomp and circumstance – a ‘photo op.’ However, it is entertaining and the people do love a show. They come out from under their rocks for Sundays when they do not have to listen to some sinner pretend to know a thing or two about righteousness (at least the clothes the righteous wear).

In March 2021 I posted a commentary on Philippians 2 that can be searched here. I will let that stand for what I still believe should be found in these verses. However, as divine Scripture is so marvelous that it always has a way of shining new truths unseen before, I will add a couple of nuggets of insight for this posting (maybe new, maybe not, as it is hard to remember thirty minutes ago, much less three years back in time).

Do I just go home after a service with no sermon and do nothing? Or, do I take some responsibility to do something on my own, as I go forward?

The first verse of this selection from Paul’s letter to the true Christians he helped usher into that state of being says what must be grasped firmly, in order to have a true clue about what Paul meant … in any of his letters sent to true Christians everywhere [those able to read his words]. The Greek words he wrote are these: “Touto phroneite en hymin ho kai en Christō Iēsou”. In that are three capitalized words; and, all capitalized word in divine Greek Scripture bear an elevated state of meaning, relative to Yahweh. Then, there is one use of the word “kai,” which is a marker word that does not get read as “and,” but as a direction to look for importance to follow.

The capitalized word “Touto” takes it to an elevated state that is beyond a simple “this.” It is a word that points back to that which had just been said (written in verse four, but unread here), which the NRSV shows saying: “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” That means “This” is referring to self-sacrifice, such that in a Spiritual marriage of one’s soul to Yahweh, it is not simply (“this”) for one’s benefit alone. It is, instead (“This”) to be “to the interest of others,” so “you have understanding, think, judge, observe, and care for” [the meaning of “phroneite”]. “This” is not something natural to a normal human being of the selfish world, which takes great delight in “looking to your own self-interests.” As such, “This” is divinely elevated to have come “within your souls this,” which is read from the Greek words “en hymin ho.” There, “hymin” is normally translated simply as “your,” as the possessive pronoun written in the second-person plural; but when “This” is relative to Yahweh’s presence, which only deals with souls, “your” becomes “yourselves,” with a “self” understood to be a “soul.” Therefore, “This” divine ability to not be selfish means “your souls” have achieved “this,” when Yahweh’s Spirit is “within” one [not far, far away, externally, seeing heaven as in outer space].

Following the use of “kai,” Paul then explained what “within” means [from “en”]. He said “This” leading to “this” [from “Touto” and “ho”] is “within” [“en”] because one’s soul has been “Anointed” by Yahweh’s Spirit [the truth of “Christō”]. “This” is a most divine presence that comes upon one’s soul after that soul has submitted to Yahweh in holy union. The presence of Yahweh – becoming a ”Christ” – means all the selfishness of a sinful world has been washed away from one’s soul, so one’s filthy ass soul has become squeaky clean. That means the onset of a “Christ” [Yahweh’s “Anointment”] clears the way for one’s weak ass soul to be joined with His Son’s soul – two souls in one body of flesh. Once “Jesus” is resurrected “within” one’s soul, then his divine soul takes the place of one’s weak ass soul [the lord over its flesh, until the flesh has a revolt of lusts and turns a soul into its earthly slave] into flesh led by a most holy “Lord” [as seen in verse eleven].

The rest of this selection from Paul’s letter (presented as a song of praise) says oneself – one’s soul – steps to the rear and lets Jesus take over. The meaning of the name “Jesus” is “Yahweh Saves.” Without Jesus becoming one’s “Lord” of the flesh, one will always be sinning, because one’s soul is so weak and powerless to tell the flesh, “No!” The flesh bows down to the soul of Jesus, just as demon spirits would flee the bodies they possessed, when Jesus came near (during his physical ministry one earth). When one has been reborn as Jesus, then one can have the same effect on others; as long as one realizes that has nothing to do with glorifying one’s sorry ass. “This” divine possession is only so Yahweh can send His Son into a body of flesh to minister to others again.

As a selected Epistle reading on Passion Sunday, when nothing will ever be said about these important verses on that day. Fortunately, these same verses (within Philippians 2:1-13) will be read on the Proper 21 Sunday, in the Year A. So, at least there is a chance someone might pontificate some social politics and condemn his or her soul by using the name “Jesus Christ” as why social politics is so important. That is more maggot mush; so, please do not eat that crap. It is vital that one’s soul understand what Paul wrote. He wrote the same things over and over again, all truth, all meant for your soul to realize. The realization comes from taking more than one Sunday every year in devotion to Yahweh and becoming His Son reborn (regardless of what sex organ your body of flesh has).

Side Note: I had an elderly gentleman in a church Bible Studies class once ask the question, “Certainly nobody here thinks he or she is Jesus, do they?” This elderly man was a regular contributor to that church; so, being Jesus was never to be (in his mind). Going “to heaven” was all about sending money in regularly to that church and having a spot claimed in a pew, with pillows and tissues marking that spot as one’s.

The truth of this path to Yahweh is it is wrong. Upon the Judgment that comes from death, when a soul stands naked, colorless, moneyless, and wearing the face of self, not Jesus as one’s spiritual Lord, the cold realization is just how wrong it is to think “Certainly nobody here can be Jesus.” This is because, before Yahweh, He will say, “Nice try. The answer to your question is this: Every soul to be saved must be Jesus reborn. Now, this next life I will take away all your money, so you cannot buy pillows and boxes of tissues; so, you will know you must come back as My Son reborn. Sound good to you?”

This is when all shivering souls respond, “You know, Yahweh.”

Take this and realize the truth:

“They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.” (Jeremiah 31:9, NIV)

The name “Ephraim” means: “Two-fold Increase; Doubly Fruitful.”

Ephraim was a son of Joseph. He was a twin born with Manasseh, where Manasseh was born first. Ephraim was blessed by Joseph, not Manasseh, in the same way Jacob was the second-born twin with Esau, whom Isaac blessed. For Joseph to name his son “Doubly Fruitful,” he realized that when a second baby popped out of Asenath’s womb. Therefore, for Yahweh to speak through Jeremiah and say, “I am Israel’s father, and Two-fold Increase is my firstborn son, it means this:

Adam was the firstborn Son of Yahweh. Adam is the soul that was returned by Yahweh into the baby Gabriel announced to Mary, whom he told, “You shall name the baby Jesus. “Jesus” means “YAH Saves” or “YAH Will Save.” This says the soul of Adam (called Yahweh elohim in Genesis 2) is the firstborn of Yahweh, who is the father of Israel.

The name “Israel” means “He Retains God” or “God Is Upright.” “Israel” was the name bestowed upon Jacob, after his sorry ass wrestled with his sinner soul all night long, finally telling his sinner soul, “Get behind me Satan!” For winning that wrestling match, Jacob became “Israel,” as his “Doubly Fruitful” name – his Spiritual name – for having been reborn with the soul of Yahweh’s “firstborn son” – Adam.

To be “Two-fold Increase,” one’s sinner soul must be washed pure by the Anointment of Yahweh (made “Christos“), at which time one’s once sinner soul is joined by the soul of Adam, who now goes by the name “Jesus,” because “YAH Has Saved” a soul, as being given a Lord within, who will not allow a cleansed soul to every become dirty again. This means one lives righteously or “Upright As God.”

This is then divine possession, or a “guiding spirit of good,” called eudaimonia by the Greeks, which means the call of lost souls it to become Jesus resurrected within one’s flesh, as the Son of Yahweh reborn. Anything short of that is not a soul “Saved by YAH.” (Not “Jesus”).

Luke, Teaching

Passion Sunday Year C – Seventeen omers of manna to be spread out over two-plus weeks (Part I)

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It is very important to preface this presentation by saying this: The indoors production of what is commonly called “The Passion Play” follows the outdoors production of that called “The Liturgy of the Palms.”

In Exodus 16:4 is read, “Then Yahweh said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not.”

Because Palm-Passion Sunday is still in the testing period of Lent, this verse should be seen as Yahweh giving all who say they believe in Him and His Word through Scripture a clue that says, “Here is how I test faith.”

In Exodus 16:16-19 is written: “This is what Yahweh has commanded: ‘Gather as much of it [manna] as each of you needs, an omer to a person according to the number of persons, all providing for those in their own tents.’” The Israelites did so, some gathering more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed. And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over until morning.”

Aaahhh. But human beings are like children that do not listen. They love to fail tests. So, in Exodus 16:20-21 says this: “But they did not listen to Moses; some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul. And Moses was angry with them. Morning by morning they gathered it, as much as each needed; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.”

On the sixth day (Friday), the Israelites were allowed to collect two days’ worth, so they had to do no work on the Sabbath Day. Still, they only had one day’s worth of manna to consume; never having fifteen days’ worth.

On the fourth Sunday in Lent this Year C (three Sundays prior, or fourteen-fifteen days ago), the Old Testament reading was from Joshua 5, where we read: “The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the sons of Israel no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.” (Joshua 5:12) The deeper meaning of that verse says manna from the sky ceased, but spiritual food became those who were truly “sons of Israel.” The source of spiritual food was within those who Joshua crossed over into the Promised Land [which is not physical land, but a marriage of a soul to Yahweh’s Spirit – a Yahweh elohim, divinely saved]. As such, that state of blissful marriage only lasted a year; and, then they began having children and not teaching them how to do as they had become, in order to be truly “sons of Israel.” They soon fell onto hard time, needing to receive their spiritual food from Judges, Samuel, David, and a series of Prophets. Still, those only passed out spiritual food in daily amounts, not half-month loads.

The land, once the “sons of Israel” diminished to a trickle of souls, split and fell into ruin, scattering the peoples around the known world. When a few ‘sons of Israel” led some people back to what was once their physical earth once owned, but since lost, a new series of “sons of Israel” began dispensing spiritual food. The Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles are their versions of ‘manna from the sky.’ Still, only a daily allotment will lead a soul to being Spiritually self-sufficient, able to become a Yahweh elohim – a “son of Israel” (regardless of human gender). Cutting off huge chunks and letting them go uneaten before the next day’s sunrise means that huge chunk melts in the next day’s sun, turning to maggots and stinking to high heaven. That makes Yahweh angry.

The moral of this story I have told is this: I am going to salvage the spiritual food carved from Luke’s Gospel, and place it into omer-sized baskets for one’s daily nourishment from ‘manna from the sky.’ Any church that presents over 2,500 words in one morning service cannot possibly spend the time necessary to explain that spiritual food, so it has the benefit intended. It is like offering an all-you-can-eat buffet of Christian religion, paying nothing to get this freely provided ‘manna,’ while expecting to receive twenty dollars a head for using it in pageantry, not caring if it all goes to waste. To eliminate the shame that comes from just a couple of morsels here, which have been served up as one huge Passion Sunday dinner, will ever be taken out again (like leftovers) and served at other times in a three-year cycle; I will address everything as an individual lesson that should be known.

As I have now completed this project (one that was well worthwhile), I will say that I began it on one day, completing it eleven days later. I want you to think about that.

In eleven days, I examined ever word of every verse; and, there are 113 verses. Having never been told any of the meaning to those 113 verses (with Palm Sunday’s Gospel reading adding another thirteen verses), people calling themselves ‘Christians’ will go a lifetime never fully understanding the powerful message that Yahweh had Luke write. AND … that is just one of the four Gospels that tell additional details to this “Passion Play!”

In the past eleven days, I have written almost in a trance, so at this point there are plenty of nits and burs (misspelled words and grammatical errors) that will run off all English teachers (I presume there is a special place in hell for them, for that reason). So, beware reading unedited texts. My email is available for any questions (like that would ever happen!); but I feel enough is clear enough to see how much is missed in the theatrics of a “Passion Play,” when the players have no true passion (pains of dying with Jesus within).

It is important to know that this story is not told so everyone remembers how Jesus sacrificed his life so others could be saved. It is told (one way or another) every year because those sitting in the pews are killing Jesus over and over again, never once stopping to think, “I wonder what true commitment like that feels like?”

Every true Christian needs to see just how much they play the role of Temple Jews … the Sanhedrin … screaming at Pontius Pilate, “Crucify him!” More people calling themselves ‘Christians’ show up for church on this Sunday and the following Easter Sunday; so, they must prefer killing Jesus, rather than killing themselves so they can be reborn as Jesus.

For all the lazies that only have an hour or two a year for church things, I have made it easy to read each little section, one at a time, as your lazy leisure. Just click on the links

Don’t thank me. Enjoy! Eat all seventeen meals (over seventeen days or a lifetime) and grow into a true “son of Israel.”

Here are the first nine.

Part I, Divisions A through I (Luke 22:14-71)

A: Luke 22:14-23

B: Luke 22:24-30 [verses 24-30 also read on Saint Bartholomew – a Wednesday in 2022]

C: Luke 22:31-34

D: Luke 22:35-38

E:Luke 22:39-46

F: Luke 22:47-53

G: Luke 22:54-62

H: Luke 22:63-65

I: Luke 22:66-71

Luke, Teaching

Passion Sunday Year C, Seventeen omers of manna to be spread out over two-plus weeks (Part II)

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The change of chapters has to be seen as significant, in the terms of timing. All of the readings from Luke’s twenty-second chapter begin after six o’clock in the evening. Everything must be seen in terms of a fixed number of days in the Passover festival recognition, which is eight days: It begins and it ends on the same day of the week – ALWAYS. In this case – Jesus’ final Passover festival, where he is the sacrificial lamb – The first day of the Passover was a Sabbath, which began at 6:00 PM on the Friday night prior (14 Nisan). Because there are two Passover Seder meals that the Jews recognized then (and still today), the first Passover Seder was in Bethany, at Simon the leper’s house. Because travel from Bethany to Jerusalem (the upper room in the Essene Quarter) would be beyond a ‘Sabbath’s day’s walk,’ Jesus and his disciples and all family members in Bethany would have not begun to go there, from Bethany, until after six in the evening (in the Evening Watch of night). That travel would have been on an official timing of Sunday, on 15 Nisan. Therefore, everything written in Luke 22 told of the events that spread from about 6:45-ish P.M. on Saturday night (officially Sunday) 15 Nisan and extended into the Morning of Day, before the Sanhedrin, on official first day of the week. The arrest followed Jesus’ second Seder meal for that Passover, therefore his “last supper” (as opposed to his first supper).

Realizing the story of Joseph and Mary, when Jesus was born (unexpectedly) in Bethlehem, the reason there was “no room at the inn” was all the surrounding villages and towns of Jerusalem were packed like sardines, due to the Passover. Pilgrim from all around the globe had traveled there for this event; and, they would remain there until the Shavuot Festival (the fiftieth day, or Pentecost). So, imagine the tourists in a city for a Super Bowl, or coastal citizens fleeing their homes to an inland city, when a major hurricane is forecast. Everywhere is packed with people. There are no idyllic, peaceful roads, where silence and solitude are easily found. Due to that hectic level of activity, the Roman soldiers in the garrison of Fort Antonia and surrounding forts and placements, were on high alert to make sure no riots were caused by Roman force. All non-Jews headed to, through, or by Jerusalem would have been halted and forced to camp or take another route. Only Jews would be allowed in Jerusalem; and, it would have been packed with Jews. Because of that heightened level of people, there would be a long list of citizens requesting an audience with public officials; and, there would be no city clerks leaning on the elbows with nothing to do. All would be working feverishly to keep up with heightened demands for attention. Therefore, anyone who thinks Jesus went from seeing the Sanhedrin, to seeing Pilate, to seeing Herod Antipas, to back to seeing Pilate in one day is an idiot, who does not realize what getting a day in court demands. Try calling the governor’s office for your state and tell them you demand to see the governor in two hours. You will find out you are an idiot and certainly unimportant.

This means the text of all the Gospels that tell of the same time period during Jesus’ sacrifice as the lamb of Yahweh are not written to denote a short timeframe between verses. The Passover Seder meal begins after six o’clock, but Jesus’ arrest was around one in the morning, some six hours (or so) later. When Matthew and Mark and Luke says Jesus bork bread and then blessed wine, there was real time that passed between the verses that act as stenographer notes, in between sips of wine and eating a ritual dinner. Thus, in the same way, one can see a day taking place between Jesus being told to send Jesus to Herod, because all Galileans were under his area of rule. Herod was a king (puppet to Rome as that title was), but at this time the puppet ruler of Canada is acting like a baby tyrant, threatening peaceful demonstrations; but the word out recently says his family is in hiding, due to threats on his baby tyrant life. So, some person name Jesus of Nazareth, who Josephus belittles as nobody significant, was not some mega rock star or Hollywood celebrity, who would demand any ‘cutting in line,’ just so Herod could see him a.s.a.p.

Because it is shown that Jesus’ dead body was taken down from the cross on a Friday, when there had to be special approval to take a criminal’s body down before death had occurred – a statement that crucifixion was not a speedy form of death – it is highly likely that the other two men crucified on the same day as Jesus were near death, but still alive. That led to Jesus being proved to be dead, which allowed for his body to be taken down on Friday, when three days had not yet passed. Because Jesus appeared before the Sanhedrin on a Sunday and was taken down from his cross on a Friday, five days had passed, with the last two being when Jesus hang dying and dead on the cross, before being taken down. This timing says Jesus appeared before Pilate on Sunday; and, then he appeared before Herod Antipas on Tuesday morning, before being brought back to Pilate on Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday after noon was when Barabbas was chosen to be freed; and, Tuesday evening Jesus was scourged, then kept in a cell overnight. Wednesday morning he was led to Golgotha, crucified and died by three o’clock in the afternoon. He had been dead forty-eight hours when speared and taken down on Friday. Thus, it was on his Father’s day – the Sabbath – that Jesus resurrected, at three o’clock in the afternoon. All of this must be seen as planned by Yahweh.

Each of these nine sections from Luke 23 will be discerned separately and posted separately. A link to each commentary will be created, so all are welcomed to understand the great depth that comes from Scripture; so, it is not misused as too much manna gathered for one day. Of course, the whole of the Passion Sunday reading could be justified IF everyone reading and hearing read were committed to stay for the whole day, discussing the meaning of this divine Word.

Divisions A through F (Luke 23:1-56)

A: Luke 23:1-7

B: Luke 23:8-12

C: Luke 23:13-25

D: Luke 23:26-43 [Verses 33-43 read also on Proper 29 A]

[Part A] Luke 23:26-32

[Part B] Luke 23:33-38

[Part C] Luke 23:39-43

E: Luke 23:44-49

F: Luke 23:50-56