Then about 9 years ago while worship planning, I came across a list of themes for the different weeks of Lent. As I read through them songs started popping into my head that for me spoke to those themes and a series was born.
As I continue this new blog, I draw on the liturgical and lectionary themes each week and consider songs, movies, TV shows, and other contemporary resources to bring out the themes I encounter. I had not intended to necessarily recreate that original blog series, but sometimes my mind wanders back to revisit those themes.
Today is Maundy Thursday in the liturgical calendar. This evening many churches celebrate the last meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before he was handed over by religious leaders to be executed by the government. One of the Gospel stories of that last meal is read so that we can hear Jesus continuing to teach even in his final hours. He continues to focus on themes related to their love and care for one another, to their service to others (especially in John), and the symbolism of the meal itself (especially the synoptic gospels).
While I still think Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance draws well on many of these themes, I was listening to the radio a couple of weeks ago when Ho Hey by The Lumineers came on. For some reason I heard it this time as Jesus' last love sing to his disciples.
The song starts out "I've been trying to do it right/I've been living a lonely life." I can see Jesus feeling this way as he sits in this last meal with his closest friends and family. The last several years have been spent trying to teach the world a better way to be, a life focused on love of God and love of each other. He taught not just in words but in actions. And yet those gathered here at the table with him never quite got it. They were always expecting something else. They knew he was the Messiah, they had experienced the miracles. But they still didn't really understand what that meant. They understood power as the Romans that ruled them did, so they had a difficult time understanding the power of Love. It must have been quite lonely to know that those closest to you never fully understood who you are.
Continuing in the second phrase, they sing "So show me family/All the blood that I would bleed/I don't know where I belong/I don't know where I went wrong/But I can write a song." I hear Jesus at table looking around at those closest to him. This is his family. Some were chosen and likely some were related by birth, but in the end they are all related by his blood. We know at least he knew what was coming next, all the blood that he would bleed. But again, he comes back to the sense that perhaps he failed somewhere along the way. He likely had his own doubts. Later, in the garden, he certainly prays for a different way.
Then comes the refrain: "I belong to you, you belong to me, you're my sweetheart." In a lot of ways this sums up all that Jesus has taught. We belong to each other. We love each other, care for each other, serve each other. This is one of the final reminders Jesus wanted to leave with his disciples. And the readings from John on this day highlight this. In John 13.15 Jesus reminds the disciples to follow his example and serve others as he has served them. And then in verse 35, Jesus again reminds them that it is their love for each other that will tell people they are his followers.
Then comes the refrain: "I belong to you, you belong to me, you're my sweetheart." In a lot of ways this sums up all that Jesus has taught. We belong to each other. We love each other, care for each other, serve each other. This is one of the final reminders Jesus wanted to leave with his disciples. And the readings from John on this day highlight this. In John 13.15 Jesus reminds the disciples to follow his example and serve others as he has served them. And then in verse 35, Jesus again reminds them that it is their love for each other that will tell people they are his followers.