Choose a Fruit of the Spirit for Lent

I was reminded this morning of one of our former Grace Church members who one year decided to ‘choose joy’ for Lent.  What a concept – to choose joy – over frustration, over anger, over jealousy, over all those things that distract us or draw us away from the joy of the Lord.  Joy is only one of the Fruits of the Spirit.  From Galatians 5:22-23 we learn:  “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”  The fruits of the Spirit are given to us as a free gift when we are living our life in tune to God’s love and promise.  

What if each person took on one of the Fruits of the Spirit as a Lenten discipline?  What if we responded to the world around us according to these fruits?  What difference could we create in today’s world?  If we live into even one of these fruits, and share them as our response to the world around us, they can and will make a monumental difference in a broken and torn world.  My prayer for all people during this Lenten season is that each of us can find that fruit of the Spirit which speaks to us and helps us to live into the fullness of God’s grace. 

What is Truth?

"What is truth?"    This is the question that Pilate asked Jesus 2000 years ago.  A number of years ago, a gentleman named  George Parks visited Grace, Alvin.  He put on a 'one-man' play called, "And what is truth?"  The only character was Pilate, a number of years after the crucifixion, talking to an unseen visitor about the events that occurred in Palestine on that fateful day.  And in this play, Pilate is still asking the question, "What is truth?"

It is a question well worth asking.  What is the truth about what happened in that small province, in the eastern portion of the great Roman Empire?  What did that truth mean then and what does it mean to us now?  In our human view of the world, very few people see the same 'truth' in any situation.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the light."  In the gospel of John,  Jesus said, "I tell you the truth..." 26 times.  It is very important, our very life depends on it, that we seek out the truth that Jesus brings to us and seek out the truth concerning his death and resurrection, and seek out the truth of his place in our life.

 

Pilate had a very difficult job.  He couldn't help feeling slighted to have been assigned to such a backwater province, trying to keep the peace among such a odd people with their strange god and ridiculous customs.  And in this case, he found himself caught between the proverbial "rock and hard place."  This rag of a man who stood before him didn't seem worth the time and effort that he was having to expend.  A king?   Now that was a laugh.  Why did these people want him dead?  He was obviously no threat.  But still they pressed.  Pilate tried to free Jesus, but they wouldn't let him.  They kept yelling and shouting - and then they threatened Pilate - threatened to go to the emperor - so Pilate gave in to their desires.  For Pilate, the truth was that this man did not deserve to die, but to keep peace among this people (and to keep from being reported to emperor as unfaithful), he gave in to their desires.

What is truth?  For Caiaphas, the high priest, truth was much more serious.  As high priest, it was his job, not only to perform the sacraments and rituals of the temple, but also to defend the faith as he knew and understood it.  Here was this Jesus who was challenging every belief that Caiaphas held to be truth.  Here was a man who was gaining popular support, not only in Jerusalem, but throughout the land.  Here was a man who was perverting the faith, the laws, and even the prophets as Caiaphas understood them.  Caiaphas, in his role as high priest, was also the acknowledged prophet of the faith.  And as with all who are anointed to a position of authority under God, he fulfilled that role as prophet, even unto this prophecy about Jesus.  When the Sanhedrin met, they said:  "What are we accomplishing?  Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."  Caiaphas spoke up to the Sanhedrin and said, "You know nothing at all!  You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."  Caiaphas prophesied truly in the power of God, but he misunderstood the meaning of his prophecy.  Truth for Caiaphas meant that, if this Jesus continued to gain the support of the common people and caused rebellion, the Romans would come in and destroy them and their temple.  It was imperative that he be stopped.

And there was Peter.  What was truth for Peter?  Peter the fisherman, the first called, the staunch defender of the faith.  Peter, alternately praised and reprimanded by the teacher and master he had grown to love and trust.  When faced by armed men in the garden, Peter drew his sword and was ready to lay down his very life to defend Jesus.  After being made to lay down his sword and leave, far from running away, Peter followed at a distance, right into the courtyard of Annas, father-in-law and advisor to Caiaphas.  For Peter, Jesus was truth.  Jesus was every good that had ever happened, and yet, three times during that long night watch, Peter denied the truth.  

And Judas?  We will never know what Judas saw as truth.  The one thing that is almost certain,  Judas never intended for Jesus to be crucified.  Maybe Judas thought that if he could just get Jesus and the Sanhedrin together, that they would be persuaded to believe Jesus.  Maybe Judas had grown disillusioned by Jesus pacifism and wanted to force him into action.  Whatever the reason, Judas' visions had not been realized.  And the truth of what actually happened drove Judas to despair and self-destruction.

In today's society, we are quick to find someone to take the blame for the ills that befall us.  We are told, "Never admit culpability."  Even in looking back 2000 years, we want to find a villan to blame.  But this idea of fixing blame is nothing new.  It began in the garden with Adam and Eve.  Adam defended himself before God saying, "It was the woman." and Eve defended herself saying, "It was the serpent."  In that same spirit we look for someone to blame.  It was Judas, it was the Jews, it was Caiaphas, it was the Romans, it was Pilate.  Yes, all these played their part, but the sin was not theirs alone.

The final player in this story is the victim,  Jesus.  What did truth look like for Jesus?  Truth was knowing God's plan, and knowing that regardless of the cost, that plan must be fulfilled.  Truth was redemption for all the sins of all the people in the world.  Truth was following God's will, through the pain, through the suffering, and even into death.  Truth is embedded in every fiber of this story.  But to understand the truth, we must first understand the difference between a free-will offering and a miscarriage of justice.  Did Jesus have to die?  By human standards the answer is "no".  Did Jesus deserve to die?  Again by human standards the answer is "no".  Jesus could have stopped Judas, but instead Jesus told him, "What you must do, do quickly."  Jesus didn't have to be arrested in the garden, but he told his disciples, "Put away your swords."  Jesus went freely and willing to trial and death.

Was this a miscarriage of justice?  Again the answer is "no".  Justice was carried out that day, but it was not the justice earned or deserved by Jesus.  It was the justice that rightfully belongs to every person who ever lived or ever will live.  In our sinful nature, we are not worthy to enter God's presence.   The sacrifices offered by the people to atone for sin were not enough.  Therefore, Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb.   Jesus took upon himself, every sin ever committed by humankind:  every murder, every theft, every hatred, every greed, every pride, every lie, every envy, every covetness, every unkind word, every uncharitable act, every neglect.  He took all this and more, and he carried it to Golgotha.  When he fell on the path, it wasn't from the weight of the cross, but from the weight of our sins.  He allowed himself to be spit upon and ridiculed for our sake.  He freely accepted the punishment for our sins, yours and mine, and for all the sins of the whole world.  He allowed those sins to be nailed to the hard wood of the cross with him.  The scourging and death that we deserve, Jesus received unto himself.

What is truth?  That unless a man, a man without sin or blemish, freely and lovingly went to his own death, the world would remain in the same state of sin as it had been since the fall in the garden.  To heal the wounds of the world, perfect man must take the sins of the whole world on himself and present it as a free offering before God.  But there was no perfect man.  So, God sent down his Word, as a Son, to become that perfect man.  Jesus is God incarnate, the Word made flesh.  His perfect birth, perfect life, and perfect sacrifice gives us the right to be called sons and daughters of God.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  He paid the ransom for our sins, and he laid down his life for us.  It is only by his action, that we now are made worthy to stand before God and enter into his eternal joy.  

This is truth.

By The Rev. Nan L. Doerr

A son who strayed

From today's reading:  But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.  Read Luke 15:11b-32

In today's gospel, Jesus tells the last of three stories about being lost and found again.  The first story is about a lost sheep.  The second is about a lost coin, and the last one is about a lost son.

There are actually three levels of being lost here.  Jesus starts off with a simple lamb who strays away - the kind of straying away that, I’ll have to admit, a lot of us do.  It’s not unusual for young people to stray away from church and from God during their late teen years.  I’m one of those.  It’s not so much that we are being rebellious – in my case it was that I just had other things to do and – sleeping in seemed good on a Sunday morning.

Out of these three parables, the one that really makes sense and is easy to identify with is the second one about the lost coin:  The woman who sweeps the whole house until she finds the lost coin.  Turn that into your billfold or purse or car keys and we can easily relate to searching frantically and rejoicing and being totally relieved when we find it.

But in the third parable, the son is another matter.  In this parable, the son's leaving is a willful act.  In this parable, the younger son doesn’t just stray away, but he asks for his inheritance – an act tantamount to saying, “my father is dead – I have no family.”   This was the ultimate rejection. 

 Notice that the father doesn’t go running after the son.  The son should know better – he has the ability to reason.  The father lets him go.  I don’t care how convinced you are that something is Biblically, fundamentally, or socially wrong – telling someone, hounding a person about it, is not going to convince them that they are wrong.  

One of my students in Huntsville complained that this young man is not remorseful and doesn’t deserve to be taken back.  But the father takes him back anyway, and this is the message to the scribes and Pharisees – the father cares for all people - even the ultimate sinner who has rejected him.   The father doesn’t lecture him, he doesn’t scold him, he doesn’t punish him in any way.  He simply wraps his arms around him and takes him back.  

And then we come to the elder son.  In our second lesson we are told that God is reconciling thge world to himself.  The elder son represents those of us who never stray, who want to see justice and revenge in the world.  The father goes to the elder son and loves him just as he loved the younger.  He lets him know that he is loved also and invites him to come in.

And whether we are the younger son who has strayed away with a frivolous mind, or the older brother who has stayed at home with a hard heart - We are all invited to come into God’s kingdom - to be a new creation in Christ – and eventually the old will pass away and the new will flower and bloom.   And in the meantime, God will cover our sin with the righteousness of Christ until we are brought home to stay.

In Imitation of Paul and Christ

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.  Phil. 3:17

The children were outside playing and the proud mother noticed that they were playing ‘church.’ A little while later they came in soaking wet and all scratched up.  She asked, “I thought you were playing church.  What happened to you?”  Little Jill answered, “We were, and it was great until Jack decided to baptize the cat.”

 
We’ve often heard it said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. There are all kinds of imitation products on the market and there are people who live imitation lives – sometimes movie stars or popular musicians.  Their life might seem exciting and glamorous, but in reality it is more often a road to destruction. 
 
Children pretended – they play act – they emulated the adults around them, or made up stories based on their favorite heroes.  I used to pretend I was Jane (of Tarzan and Jane).  There were three trees in my back yard than made a perfect tree home and I would gather “food” – the berries from the Chinese tallow tree and the seed stems from the grass to make dinner for Tarzan when he came home.  Sometimes I would line my dolls up in my room and play school – I always wanted to be a teacher.  I usually didn’t have anyone else to play with so I could just make it up and do what I wanted to do, imitating heros and adults I knew. 
 
So when Paul invites the people of Philippi to imitate him, he means that they should try to pattern their lives after what they see him doing.  When some of the Thessalonians quit working and just hung around waiting for Christ to come back, Paul reminds them that when he came among them, he earned his own way by working as a tent maker.  He encourages them to imitate that.
 
I think maybe where we miss out is in not imitating Paul, but imitating what we think he should be like.  In his first letter to the Corinthians – Paul says:   “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law . . . so as to win those under the law.  To those not having the law I became like one not having the law . . . so as to win those not having the law.  To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings.” 1Cor 9:19-23
 
Paul didn’t set himself apart from others – he didn’t hold himself above others.  He put himself in the middle of whatever situation he found himself in – so that he could talk to people without them taking offense - so that he could talk to people, and have them listen and to open up and talk back freely.
 
When you sit above others, and never put yourself on their level, how are they going to relate to you?  I read a scenario of people in a bar once – one there trying to drown his sorrows of a broken relationship, one walked through handing out Christian pamphlets, one of a woman looking for her lost sister, one looking for a drug connection, one was a young enthusiastic missionary telling people of the evils of alcohol and trying to get them to leave. 
 
To tell you the truth, I envisioned another person at the bar, one who would sit with the man with the broken relationship, and listen to him without condemnation, and become his friend, and gain his confidence, and then lead him out of there.  “I become all things to all people, so that by all possible means, I might save some.”  You can preach to hordes of people, but I believe that lives are transformed one at a time in particular circumstances. 
 
When God is ready to begin the process of transformation in a person, God will send the right person to the right place to light that spark and get the fire going.  It is a personal relationship on a level that can be heard, whether it's in a bar, on a basketball court, at the park or in your office. 
 
Paul invites us to not simply behave, but to look at the meaning of all we do in relationship to a much larger power and reality.  Transformation is the faith life in process.  No, we are not there yet – but we are invited to continue in the process.  We are invited to be real people, in real life situations, so that we might be able to win some for Christ. 
 
I think we also have to remember that it is Christ – through the Holy Spirit – who does the transformation.  We are at best a conduit – but more often simply the vehicle that brings the person into the presence of Christ. To Him be all glory, now and forever.  Amen.

 

 

What does God require?

From today's reading:  So now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? Only to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD your God . . . for your own well-being.  Deuteronomy 10:12-13

This passage from Deuteronomy is one that I have repeated several times during the past week.  It starts off sounding so much like Micah 6:8 and it says much the same thing.  And then I remember that Micah is simply reminding the people of what God has already said.  It is essentially the same message that Jesus Christ brings; it is our relationship with God and with his people that counts.  I was listening to the Renovare conference last night and they talked about making disciples by teaching people to live their life for today, not for when they die. 

The ten commandments are not to keep us out of hell, but to help us live our life here on earth to the fullest.  The first four commandments teach us how to live with God: love God, don't worship idols, don't take his name in vain and spend time with God.   The last six commandments teach us how to live with the people around us: honor your parents, don't murder, steal or be unfaithful, don't get others in trouble by lying about them and don't desire what others have.  It's even easier than that - treat others the way you want to be treated and honor God is all things.  That is what God requires of you; today and always.

Not to condemn, but to save

From today's reading: 'Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  John 3:17

So - I skipped right over the most famous verse in the Bible in order to look at the next verse.  He did not come to condemn the world, but to save it.  Even the name of Jesus says it, "Ye'shua" - "God saves."  Those things that condemn us come from the "prince of lies."  When we step out of God's will and way, the Holy Spirit will convict and correct, but never condemn.  It is always God's purpose to save.

Lord, thank you for your love and your grace and your mercy and your Son, Jesus Christ. 

Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!

Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’  Mark 9:23-24

How often do we need to pray this prayer - Lord I believe; help my unbelief?  It's not that I don't have faith in God, it's that I often don't have faith in myself - I sometimes don't trust that I will listen to God and do what he wants me to do.  And I know, when I do that, I am making the same mistake that most non-believers and marginal believers make.  Placing myself above God's ability to work.  So I ask the Lord, when I doubt myself, please remind me that You are in charge, and you will bring about your will.  Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!

He lay in the tomb

From today's reading: So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. Matthew 27:59-61

I remember the day we buried my mother. As we drove from the church to the cemetery, the sky clouded up and as we arrived at the cemetary, the clouds opened up and poured down on us. One of my great nieces said, "It's like God is crying for Aunt Jimmie Lea." It was one of those summer showers that builds up fast and goes away quickly. The sky was already clearing as we left the cemetary.

My mind's eye sees the darkness that lays over the earth two thousand years ago. The body of Jesus lay in the tomb. The earth stood in silence because the light had gone out of the world. This was the darkest hour - when it seemed that even God turned away as He mourned for his son - for the earthly life he had lived and the death he had suffered.

And we sit and wait and watch.

Trial and Crucifixion

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him. Mark 14:55-56

Lord, if I ever feel someone is in my way, hindering my progress, let me remember what happened on the day of your death. Never allow me to place my good over the good of another. Never allow me to persecute another unjustly in order to advance my own position.

Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept. Mark 14:72

Lord, forgive me for all the times I have denied you: by not speaking out when I should have; by not proclaiming your name when I should have; by not turning to you when I am troubled.

He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15:15

Lamb of God, when I hurt, let me remember the pain you suffered. Unite my pain with your very real physical pain and touch my broken body with your healing hand.

They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. Mark 15:17-19

King of kings, cover my fears by your strength and unite my feelings with yours. When I feel foolish, let me remember the undeserved mocking you suffered.

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. Mark 15:21

When asked to shoulder a burden for you, Lord, let me approach the task with gladness and joy, remembering always the burden you took on yourself for me.

And they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. Those who passed by hurled insults at him. Mark 15:25-26, 29

Suffering Servant, let me always remember the insult you endured. Like a lamb led to the slaughter, you submitted your will to the will of God. When faced with a task that I find unpleasant, let me bind myself to your obedience at the cross. When faced with insult, give me your strength to endure and to face it with the love you showed.

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-- which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 15:34

Lord of Sorrows, in the hour of my pain and suffering, let me remember who saves. Let me call out to my God and my Savior and not curse the circumstances of my life.

Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid. Mark 15:40-41

Lord of Love, give me the faithfulness of these women, to follow you regardless of where the path leads. Help me to remember that in caring for the needs of the people I meet, I am doing your will and caring for your needs; that I am your hands on this earth.

Last Supper and Gethsemane

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me-- one who is eating with me." Mark 14:18

Lord Christ, in all my dealings with my brothers and sisters of the world, never let envy, greed, or disappointment so rule in my heart and head that I betray anyone whom you have place in my presence.

Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many." Mark 14:22-24

Precious Bread of Life, fill my heart and mind with the sustenance of your love; with the sure knowledge that bread alone is not enough for my life, but let me partake of the very Word of God.

"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' Mark 14:27

Faithful One, unite my abandonment, both real and imagined, with that suffered by you. When I feel the pain well up inside me, be there by my side to comfort me and assure me that you will never abandon me. Allow me always to stay by your side, never abandoning you.

He fell to the ground and prayed, "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Mark 14:35-36

Word of God, your prayer is always a perfect prayer. Teach me to pray for my needs, my hopes, my desires, but always ready to bend to the will of my Father in Heaven, just as you bent your will to His perfect will. You followed in obedience to allow His glory to shine through. Help me to remember your prayer, to follow in obedience just as you did. Help me to approach our Father with the same simplicity and child-like love and trust that you always demonstrated.

"Simon," he said to Peter, "could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Mark 14:37-38

Redeemer of the World, let me not be found sleeping in the day of your return. Help me to keep watch with those in pain, those whose lives are troubled, the dying, the lonely, those in prison, and the friendless.

Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Mark 14:45-46

Teacher, when my friends betray me, unite that betrayal with yours. Unite my disappointment, my heartache with that of my Lord. Let me never be found guilty of betraying the trust and confidence you place in me.

Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Mark 14:47

Savior, when I am hurt, when I am scared, let me not lash out in fear. Give me grace to respond in love, just as you responded in love.

Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. Mark 14:54

Lord Jesus, plant in me the boldness to follow you, not at a distance afraid of the wolves, but walking along side of you, as a friend and a fellow sojourner in the way of truth and love. Let fear not turn me aside or make me hide.

Mark 14:3-11 - Anointing Jesus for burial

A woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on Jesus' head. Mark 14:3

Not much is known about Wednesday in Holy Week. In the gospels of Mark and Matthew, after the statement that it was two days before the Passover, we get this odd little story of the anointing at Bethany. This took place in the home of Simon the leper which was odd, since lepers were usually outcasts living on the edges of society. But here were Jesus and his disciples dining in the home of an untouchable. An un-named woman came in with an alabaster jar, which was probably very expensive itself, filled with nard, a perfume made from the spikenard plant. She poured the ointment over his head anointing him, and some people at the table became upset at the apparent waste.

Jesus made that statement she had anointed his body for burial. There will be no time when the next morning dawns. The events will begin to unfold and there will be no stopping - no holding back - no rest.

Lord Jesus, grant that I might have the insight and discernment to see the needs of others n the same way this woman saw your need. Grant that in seeing the need, I might respond in love and compassion just as she did.

Mark 11:27-33 - Two days before the Passover

As Tuesday dawns Jesus and the disciples head back to Jerusalem for a full day of teaching. As they pass the fig tree the disciples note that it has withered and Jesus tells them if they have faith, even mountains will move when they pray. Yes, we can read that as metaphorical mountains - those things that seem to stand in the way of our progress.

If you read through chapter 12 of Mark's gospel, you will find a mountain of teaching that took place in the temple that day. Many of the stories concern confrontations with the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the scribes. His teaching is questioned, and plans begin to take shape to arrest him and to kill him. The attempts by the authorities to trick him into some major blunder are all countered with the kind of finesse typical of Jesus.

In chapter 13, Jesus leaves the temple and goes to the Mount of Olives where he continues his teaching to the disciples. There are numerous olive groves on the Mount of Olives and in this modern day they are segmented and walled off. There are peaceful little gardens where you can sit and ponder the trees and the actions and words of Jesus. From many places there you can look across the valley and see the temple mount. All this took place 2 days before the Passover.

Mark 11:12-25 - Monday in Holy Week

As we walk through Holy Week I am going to try to parallel Jesus' walk through the last week of his life. Yesterday we experienced the triumphal entry into Jerusalem when the crowds welcomed him with songs of praise and by lining the street with rushes they had cut in the fields. Since it was late in the day, he went out to Bethany to spend the night - probably at the home of Lazarus.

The next morning, as he and the disciples are headed into Jerusalem, he sees a fig tree with leaves and since he is hungry he looks for ripe figs. Not finding any because it was too early in the season, Jesus shows the very human trait of impatience and he curses the tree. They head on into town to the temple where he turns over the tables of the money changers and merchants who are doing business in the outer courts.

This action upset everyone, and the officials there started looking for ways to arrest him. They wanted to kill him because they were afraid of him, but the crowds were mesmerized by his teaching and the officials were even more afraid of the people. The big deal here is that the temple officials were allowed freedom as long as they kept the Israelites "in line." They are really afraid that the crowds will get so riled up by Jesus that they will start a revolution. A general revolt would mean that the temple worship would be shut down and the temple itself destroyed. (That's exactly what happened 40 years later.)

After teaching all day in the temple, Jesus and his disciples headed back to Bethany for the night. It was not until the next day that the disciples noticed that the fig tree had withered and died.

To sit at your right

From today’s reading: James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." Mark 10:35-37

I commented in a recent sermon that the disciples really weren’t hearing what Jesus was saying. The passage above takes place as Jesus has just told them again that he is going to be arrested and tortured and crucified. And then James and John come up and ask to be at his right hand and his left hand. Something tells me that either they weren’t listening, or else they didn’t understand what he was saying. They were envisioning a military victory and an earthly throne. The other disciples are not uch further along in their understanding because they get mad at James and John for wanting to be the most important. These are human feelings and worldly actions being displayed by the disciples. So Jesus goes on to tell them:

". . . and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10:44-45

What Jesus is saying is instead of wanting to sit at his right hand or his left hand, that he wants us to serve him by serving those in need. Because it is in serving them that we find ourselves at the right or left hand of Jesus who is also serving them.

Love of Money

From today's reading: A man ran up and knelt before Jesus, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?". . . . When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. . . . It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.". . . . Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible." Mark 10:17, 22, 25, 27

We all know this reading - the young man with many possessions couldn't part with them and so turned back from the opportunity to follow Jesus. We don't quite understand the metaphor about the camel and the eye of the needle, but we know that means it must be really hard. Are all people who are rich automatically condemned because they have been successful in this life? Not really. One scripture is often misquoted - people will tell you that "money is the root of all evil." Not so - but the "love of money is the root of all evil." When we understand that money is simply a tool - tool to be used to further God's work on this earth - then that is a blessing - to us, to those around us and especially to those in need.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

We are letters of Christ

From today's reading: You are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:3.

What a concept! We are letters of Christ - written by the Holy Spirit onto our very hearts. That makes us very special indeed. Our heart, when we are born, is imprinted with the image of God. Each time we experience the presence of God, through music, or scripture or the spoken word, or in reaching out to someone in need - each time our heart swells with knowledge of the presence of God, we add on to that letter, that image in our heart. God reaches out to us through sight, we see the created world around us; through hearing, we hear the beautiful sounds of God in creation; through through touch, feel a baby's face or a rose petal, or any of the wonderful things God has created; through smell, or taste, through feeling that are undefinable. Where is God reaching out to touch you today? How is He writing on your heart today? Each time we share what God has done for us, we in turn are helping God to write on the hearts of others. When we pass on what God has done for us we become active members of God's writing team.

You have found favor with God.

From today's reading: ‘What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them? You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honor, subjecting all things under their feet.’ Hebrews 2:6b-8a

Today we remember the annunciation - the day when the angel of the Lord came to Mary, and chose her to be the bearer of the Son of God. From the beginning, God has interacted with human beings. He walked with Adam and Eve in the garden. He spoke to Noah in the desert - establishing a covenant with the human race. He came to Abraham and established a covenant with Him and his family. It was through Abraham's lineage that Jesus was finally born many generations later.

One tradition says that every Jewish girl was asked to be the mother of the Son of God but Mary was the first to say "yes;" the first to be willing to take the risk of opening herself to God in such a way. Mary was a very special woman, strong and brave - maybe young and foolish - but willing to move ahead, to follow God - to be open and available to Him..

From the beginning, God chose humans - to interact with, to love and to care for. We are simply the extension of that interaction. We have each found favor with God. We are each crowned with glory. It is in being open as Mary was open that we begin to realize our potential as humans, as Christians, as children of God. It is in being open to God that he is able to use us and to work through us to further His Kingdom on Earth.

I will be with you.

From today's reading: So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" He said, "I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain." Exodus 3:10-12

There is so much in today's readings, and although I love the idea of the burning bush and the name of God, it is this little portion of the interchange between God and Moses always catches my eye. Moses says. "Who am I to go..." and God's answer is "I will be with you." God will be his companion as he reaches out and does God's work in the world. God is always our companion when we are doing his work. It doesn't matter if you are preaching a sermon, ministering to someone in need, making a meal for someone who is hungry, visiting someone in a hospital or prison, teaching Sunday School, or comforting a neighbor in grief. Regardless of where God calls us, he promises to be with us - in pain and sorrow as well as in joy and gladness. God's presence is abiding - eternal. All we have to do is to be willing to accept it and his presence will make everything we walk through easier. It doesn't mean that we won't have trouble, or pain, but it does mean that God will be with us throughout our experience. He is our support and guide, our comforter and strengthener, he is always the one who cares, even if everyone else walks away - God is there.

Understanding what we read/hear

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Mark 8:31-32

These verses are usually used to demonstrate Peter's penchant for opening mouth, inserting foot, but as I read this today, I had a different view. Here are the disciples walking along, listening to Jesus prattle on about this that and the other and maybe not paying that much attention. We know from other places in scripture that they quite often have to ask Jesus "What did you mean by that?" So here is something new that Jesus is saying to them and Peter seems to be the only one who understands what he is saying. I think if the other disciples were really listening, they would have protested also.

I had a parishioner tell me last night that she often didn't understand what the Bible was saying and had a hard time reading it. She's not the first person to tell me that. Sometimes the things of God don't necessarily make sense to us. That's why in the book of Acts the official from Ethiopia told Philip "How can I understand unless someone explains it?" We don't always understand, and so we just sort of brush over it and pretend. But Peter didn't. He understood what he heard and reacted like most humans would react, by protesting. It's in the understanding, and yes, even in the protesting, that we are able to receive clarification and move forward in our understanding.

Today may you understand and receive clarification in what you read and not be afraid to ask when you don't understand.

St. Joseph

From today's reading: Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. . . When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife. Matthew 1:19,24

When I was in seminary, I preached my senior sermon on this day; the subject, of course, was St. Joseph. I can't think of Joseph without thinking of my own father. I was 18 when he died of a heart attack out on the job. He was a drilling supervisor for the Texas Company - the parent company of Texaco. He floated in and out because he worked all over the southeastern part of Texas. When he couldn't come home for a month or more, Mom and I would go to wherever he was working to spend the weekend with him.

My dad was a very special man - much like Joseph he adopted a child that was not his, but raised me as his own. Dad was the strong silent type - a rather large man, but very gentle. He was also a righteous man demanding justice for those who worked for him. In high school, when he came home, I would go to church with him on Sunday morning. He'd pick me up at the Episcopal Church at the end of the service (10-11) and I'd go to the Methodist Church with him (11-12).

I imagine Joseph being very much like my dad - a man of purpose, of determination. I imagine Joseph protecting this child, Jesus, even with his very life, and teaching him what it meant to be a righteous man.

Thank you, Lord, for people like Joseph and like my dad, who exemplify you in all they do, in the love they share, and the protection they provide for those who are growing in love and knowledge of you. Amen.