Rev'd Up for Sunday
Listen along as the priests of St. Mark's, New Canaan (Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy) gear up for Sunday. Each week the preacher will lead a discussion of the scriptures of the day. Sometimes irreverent, often witty, always filled with love for our Lord: don’t miss these conversations about the questions, mysteries, and hope these three find in the Bible.
Rev'd Up for Sunday
"Confronted With Kingship" Matthew 21:1-11 (Palm Sunday) | Episode 251
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Palm Sunday isn’t just a parade, it’s a collision! Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy unpack Jesus’ deliberate and deeply symbolic entry into Jerusalem, where every detail, from the borrowed donkey to the cloaks on the road, carries theological weight. As Holy Week begins, we're presented with a provocative question: What does it really mean to follow a king whose power looks nothing like the world’s?
Read "The Donkey" by G. K. Chesterton
Questions for Further Discussion
Themes & Application
- What does it mean that Jesus intentionally stages his entrance into Jerusalem rather than letting events unfold naturally? How does that shape your understanding of his identity?
- In what ways does Jesus redefine kingship through humility rather than power? How does this challenge our cultural assumptions about leadership and authority?
- The episode highlights how every detail (donkey, cloaks, branches, geography) carries meaning. How does paying attention to symbolism deepen your reading of scripture?
Personal Reflection
- Where in your life do you prefer a “strong” or controlling version of God rather than the humble, self-giving Christ?
- Jesus refuses to be a “side dish” to our lives. What competes with your allegiance to him right now?
- When have you felt caught between celebration and uncertainty, like the Palm Sunday crowd?
Broader Spiritual Considerations
- The clergy suggest that Christianity can become more about “religion” than relationship with God. How do we guard against that?
- What does it mean for the Church to embody a different kind of kingdom in a world shaped by power, competition, and dominance?
- How might Palm Sunday be more than a reenactment and instead become a transformative spiritual practice?
Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org