[From the original version]
Autumn has always been a nostalgic time for me—smells, sounds of crunching leaves, fresh pencils and books for a new year of school. This sober, inward season is the setting when our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrate Rosh Hashana (September 7 and 8, 2021). It is a solemn beginning of a new year. Autumn is a season to meditate upon life and to discover the sacredness of time.
We have come to that place in Mark’s Gospel, which is the “autumn,” of Jesus’ earthly life. Jesus will be speaking about the End Times. It is the beginning of the end, which turns out to be a new beginning.
Today we flash back to Palm Sunday as Jesus, your King, rides into the heart of Jerusalem to take possession of God’s Kingdom. Walk beside the donkey.
[Paragraph from the version for families with children]
Jesus enters into Jerusalem in a flurry of glory—not unlike the colors that break out on the leaves before they fall and die. Think of the branches of leaves that are placed beneath Jesus’s feet. The crunching of leaves beneath our feet in this season can have us recall that moment of glory as Jesus enters into Jerusalem. He will be crowned king there–not with a crown of gold, but one of thorns! And there’ll be a different kind of throne too—the cross!
Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels. This year, we generally read
from the Gospel of Mark, this season, chapters 10 to 16.
For all the Firestarters in the original version I recommend the ebook. You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.
The Bible Through the Seasons 