Music is a deeply personal experience, and what resonates with me might not work for you. Still, I try to keep an open mind and appreciate the thought behind their recommendations because I know it’s not just about the music; it’s also a way of showing they care and just want to stay connected with me.
Beyond our personal tastes, music has this amazing ability to bring us together on a deeper level. It’s a universal language that can bridge cultural, political, and religious divides. There’s a group of musicians from Israel and Palestine who meet weekly to jam together. For years, they’ve used their music to foster peace and understanding between their communities, demonstrating that music can unite even amidst wars and conflict. On July 4, 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono sang, “All I am saying is give peace a chance.” It was a protest psalm of sorts. Although it had no religious overtones, it’s hard not to hear Jesus singing, “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they will be called children of God.” That’s the power of music. It can evoke deep and communicate profound emotions (often without words). It’s no wonder we use it for worship and celebration. So, the next time a friend shares a song with you, take a moment to appreciate their gesture and enjoy the chance to connect through their passion for music. A nd take the opportunity to lift up your heart to God and be grateful for the great soundtrack (and friends) that help us get through life’s ups and downs, one beat at a time.
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Let's face it, we have too many choices to make from what to wear, what to eat, which way to go to work to avoid traffic. Who to vote for is just another and what to vote for are just a few more things we have to add to the already long list. (Thank you, however, for making the choice to read beyond this sentence.)
As if choosing all this stuff wasn’t difficult enough, knowing each one of our choices we make will inevitably produce either a positive or negative result which, as you might already know, can overwhelm our wellbeing. Katie Hines-Shah reminds us, “Before we make such choices, we would do well to hear the call of the gospel.” This is sage advice, considering Jesus always says some pretty good shit to guide us down the right path. (Read all ofJohn 15:1-11 here)
Before we go any further, I am curious if you have ever heard of The Unyielding Oak?
It is a massive, ancient oak tree in the English countryside that has weathered centuries of storms, droughts, and temperature changes. From thundering tempest to battles and bombs, whatever this tree has faced, it still continues to bear acorns year after year. I think if Jesus saw that tree, he would marvel at its strength and admire its endurance saying, “Your faith needs to be like this oak whose unyielding strength doesn’t come from avoiding storms but because its roots are deeply embedded in the earth. Just as this tree abides in the soil, drawing nutrients from deep below the surface, so too must you abide in me. And when you abide in me and I in you, then you will be able to stand strong no matter what storms come your way.” This is the gist of what Jesus is talking about when he walks past a vineyard and says, "I am the vine; you are the branches." He wants his disciples to know that they’re all part of the same living organism whose roots are deeply embedded in God’s heart. Which tells me whether you’re a leaf, branch or tendril, everything attached to this vine is nourished by God’s love to produce the fruit of God’s kingdom. So, Jesus tells his followers, “Abide in me.” Which, in both the Hebrew and Greek, is defined as a dwelling or setting, a physical place one sets up permanent residency. It’s like Jesus is saying, “Make your home in me. And together we can share God’s heart.” As I have been saying throughout this series, Jesus is all about transforming the way we see ourselves in relationship with God and one another. This relationship begins in the heart where part of the transformation process includes letting go of the stuff that doesn’t grow or strengthen the relationship. In this lesson, Jesus gives us an image of God as an attentive gardener, carefully snipping away the parts of us that aren’t producing anything good. While this pruning process can be painful, the sharp pinch of the shears and the heat of the fire are necessary for growth. We all have to go through the pruning process. Not even Jesus got out of it (John 15:2). Like I have learned with our apple and avocado trees, a branch that is properly pruned will go on to bear more fruit. Moreover, God transforms the compost that is pruned, turning worthless branches into lights that guide and heat that keeps us warm. Even its ash is used to enrich the soil and contributes to new growth! Nothing is wasted in God's kingdom. In the same way God transformed the wood of the cross into the instrument of salvation, God also transforms the worst of us into something good. That’s what being in a relationship with God is all about…being made new again. Now, you may have noticed Jesus doesn’t just say, “Abide in me…” He says, “Abide in me as I abide in you.” Through him, God has already made the first move to be with us, to redeem and transform us. Now Jesus is inviting you and me to make a choice to reciprocate, to attach our lives to his life and draw from God’s abundance. At the last advertising agency I worked for, we had a wine client who taught me all sorts of interesting facts about grapes. For example, not only is the quality of grape influenced by the soil, climate, and the amount of stress the vine endures, but the best-tasting fruit are the ones produced closest to the central vine where the nutrients are most concentrated. Just as the life of a branch is sustained by its connection to the vine, our lives are sustained by remaining in a close relationship with Christ. When we abide in Jesus, we begin to mimic his way of life, and draw from his spiritual riches. When we abide in his heart, we begin to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit which Paul lists as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Of course, Jesus boils it all down to this, “Just as God has loved me, so I have loved you…Go and abide in my love.” And you know the kind of shit Jesus says about love, right? He tells us to not only love God but love your neighbor like you love yourself. (Notice he says love yourself, too.) He says love those who despise you. Love anyone who want to hurt you. Love each other, unconditionally and liberally, like God first loved you. (I think he would also say, "Love cats, dogs, poetry, music, surfing and all the millions of other things that make life wonderful) Jesus even shows us what love looks like put into practice and how used as a way bridge divides and unite people together. And how to make it our go to thing in meeting and treating others. With his roots deeply embedded in God’s heart, Jesus’ love feeds us, heals us, and empowers us to go out into Anamesa to make love blossom and grow in every space we enter. While conventional wisdom says look out for yourself, take what you can get Jesus says, “Love one another,” and “you will get in return the measure you give.” As they walk through the vineyard towards the garden where he will be arrested Jesus tells his friends, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love.” When we choose to love God, love others and serve both with a loving heart, Jesus tells us, “Your joy will be complete.” This is ultimately what God wants to give us, a life of love and joy. The kind of joy that gives us strength and hope in the face of adversity. Knowing what the Apostles will face when he’s gone, Jesus appoints his followers to go bear the fruit of God’s kingdom in all the ways “that you love one another.” The consequences of choosing love, will result in “fruit that will last.” Same is true for us. Our choice to abide in God’s love has everlasting consequences. While we have spent a good deal of time looking at many different things Jesus says there’s one more thing I wish to point out. A few verses later in John’s gospel Jesus says, “Everything I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you” (John 15:15). Jesus has kept nothing from us. Not only has he revealed the kingdom of heaven to us but has also invited us to participate in it. His good news needs to be shared. Like he states in another parable about a vineyard, Jesus says, “the harvest is plentiful but there workers are few”(Matthew 9:37). Abiding in Jesus isn't just about hanging out with him on the couch and binge watching Ozark together. We got to show up for him too, living out his love and making a difference in the world. Every choice we make matters. We can choose to be kind and compassionate, or selfish and angry. We can create fear and division or bring people together. We can add to the darkness, or shine Christ's light to chase it away. We can live like Jesus, showing kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. Or we can do nothing and miss out on all the good stuff Jesus has to offer. As we contemplate our choice, let us remember God will make a choice too. One that depends on whether or not we chose to abide in the one who says, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…for what you did to the least of these, you did also to me” (Matthew 25:34, 40) May we all choose wisely. Work Cited: Bartlett, David L. and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word, Year B Vol. 2. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008. Montes, Luz Cabrera. How to Love. (accessed May 1, 2021). Hines-Shah, Katie. Choosing to Abide. christiancentury.org August 19, 2024 (accessed on August 23, 2024).
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same, and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them,“ Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and even after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him. Matthew 21:28-32
Every parable of Jesus reveals a sobering truth regarding God’s kingdom. This one highlights God’s radical inclusion that challenge our preconceived notions of worthiness.
This story takes place while some religious folks are questioning Jesus’ authority. They are priests and elders, the supposed exemplars of faith and righteousness. But Jesus sees through them. He knows their hearts. And he pushes back, calling them out in not so subtle of ways. It must have been shocking for them to hear Jesus contrast their piety to tax collectors and prostitutes - the kind of folks we despised and ostracized today. Imagine the look on their faces when he declares these so-called sinners will enter the kingdom of God ahead of them. Why? Because “those people” believed what John the Baptist proclaimed. And they repented, changed their thinking and doing. More than just a snub at the overly zealous religious folks, this parable reminds us that God’s kingdom is not about status, appearance, or outward piety. It’s about the heart’s response to God’s invitation that Jesus delivers to us. Nadia Bolz-Weber reminds us that, “God’s grace is not defined by our worthiness; it’s defined by God’s willingness” to extend grace that knows no bounds. God's is a radical kind of grace that runs after the drug addict. Embraces the queer kid. And reaches out to those who society has prejudiced and many good Christians have stigmatized. If we are not careful, we can become religious hypocrites whom Jesus describe as “whitewashed tombs” (Matthew 23:27-28). We can look good on the outside but be unclean and full of dead bones on the inside. The truth is, it’s easy to get stuck in our own opinions and religious routines, forgetting that Jesus ate with tax collectors, embraced lepers, and conversed with women of ill repute. His love wasn't exclusive but a banquet open to all; especially those who are most aware of their brokenness. Jesus even declares, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). If we truly follow Jesus, we'll see others through God's eyes. We will recognize everyone’s inherent worth and dignity. And offer the same mercy, love and grace God gives to us. But like Barbara Brown Taylor recognizes that, "The hardest spiritual work in the world is to love the neighbor as the self - to encounter another human being not as someone you can use, change, fix, help, save, enroll, convince or control, but simply as someone who springs you from the prison of yourself." Like I’ve been saying, Jesus transforms us from the inside out. He tells stories like this to get us to see beyond ourselves, especially through our relationships with God and others. Our true spiritual growth occurs when we, like Mother Teresa, recognize Christ in the most vulnerable and move with compassion to help him. Jesus doesn’t shy from the messy realities of life. He enters it, bringing healing and hope to the entire world. To follow him, is to see everyone as valuable, whether we think they’re worthy or not I know I have talked about the amazing work of Father Greg Boyle, whose must-read book Tattoos on the Heart reveals the transformative power of loving people this way. Boyle shows us how to welcome those who were dealt a bad hand at life and to offer them a second chance to at the table. Fr. G, as he is lovingly called, founded Homeboy Industries as a means to redeem some of the most violent gang-members in Los Angeles. He created a safe place to get away from the violence of their family and neighborhoods and provides positive opportunities of growth to those who’ve been written off as worthless. Over the years, Homeboy has become a beacon of hope that has helped countless people unlock their potential and discover their true worth in God’s family. Luis was one such person whose life was transformed from a notorious gangbanger to an award-winning graphic designer. Or Sharkey, who through the power of God’s radical acceptance and love, was able to move from a thug life of hatred and violence to a Christlike life filled with love and mercy. Instead of fearing these people, Boyle meets them where they are. He shows them compassion, listens to their stories, suffers alongside them, and offers the unconditional love of God that ignites that small, flickering light of Christ within us all. If you ask me, this is what the Kingdom of God looks like. A kingdom alive in the gritty reality of life; where everyone is worthy of love and belonging, no matter their past. Like Jesus says, this kingdom is a place where those who jump to the front of line, are the ones who believe Jesus when he says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17) Through Christ, we have all been given a second chance. And a shot at true redemption and transformation in the many ways we love God, love others, and serve both with unwavering support and compassion; especially to those Jesus calls, “the least of these my brothers and sisters.” And “When you love them,” he says, “you are loving me.” But he also warns, “When you reject them, or despise and ostracize them, you do the same to me” (Matthew 25:31-46). To follow Jesus, is to be like the One who recognizes inherent worth of everyone. We need to look past labels and see people as God sees them - as beloved children. Lest we forget Jesus says, “Let the children come to me, for the kingdom of God is theirs”(Mark 10:14). We have been called to love our neighbors, not label them. For when we love others where they are and as they are, we reveal our true love for God whose kingdom come is alive within us and all around us. Henri Nouwen wrote, "We are called to be a community of those who are broken and forgiven, who need one another, who live in the tension between the already and the not yet." If we care to be such a community that honors God through Christ, we must first examine our own hearts. We must ask ourselves, if there are people or groups we’ve deemed unworthy? Or view as less than us because of our social status or good deeds? If we take Jesus at his word, then we must take the time and try to truly repent - to ask God to change us to be more like Jesus who offers himself to the world, “So they may have life, and have it abundantly."(John 10:10). With a new heart of Christ alive in us… we can faithfully leave our comfort zones to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the abused, and advocate for equality and justice for the oppressed and forgotten. Like Jesus states, "I have come down from heaven, not to do my will but to do the will of the One who sent me." (John 6:38) As we go out into the world, we must remember that Anamesa is more than just a space between us and them. It’s also, you and me. We are the beloved children of God, whose radical love and grace is offered, regardless of who we are or what we’ve done. Jesus calls us to go and give that same love to one another. If we take Jesus at his word, like the tax-collectors and prostitutes did, then we too will see that God's kingdom is a place where “the first will be last and the last will be first" (Matthew 19:30). Like Jesus says, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:12). Work Cited: Bolz-Weber, Nadia. Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner and Saint. (New York: Jericho Books, 2013). Brown Taylor, Barbara. An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith. (New York: Harper Collins, 2009). Nouwen, Henri. The Wounded Healer. (New York: Doubleday, 1972). This year my wife and I celebrate 25 years of marriage. To celebrate this big event, we wanted to go Iceland and see the Northern Lights on display. But time and budget didn’t allow us to get there. Instead, we settled to go out on twenty-five dates, roughly two per month. When we set this goal we had no idea the Northern Lights would be on full display throughout the top half of North America, including parts of California. We could see them, if, and it’s a pretty big if, we knew when they would appear. It’s hard to plan for something when you don’t know it’s going to happen. Which means, you’ve always got to be ready. Similarly, to see God in the space between you have to be fully present. When our heart is heavy from some past pain or when our eyes are so focused on something that will happen in the future, we miss out on the here and now where God meets us. The night before I left Canada, I walked out into the field at my cousin’s farm to just be alone for a moment to take it all in. It seemed like all the stars of the universe came out to welcome me. Between their celestial flashes, something faint danced in the sky trying to get my attention. It was a pale blue, and a vibrant pinkish-purple. Before I could piece it together, the Northern sky lit up to say hello. I quickly captured a few pictures. And then it was gone. Looking towards heaven, the International Space Station floated by as I stood in awe knowing God was with me, whispering a special secret between the two of us. How grateful was I to be present enough to receive it. Just as Anamesa is a space we share fellowship together, it’s also the space around us that we share with God. And so Jesus tells us to “Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42). Holy update 1: Trying not to be discouraged by the weather that was keeping my plane home from taking off, I noticed between the thunder and lightning, a beautiful rainbow...and a parked airplane that had SPIRIT scrolled on its tail.
Holy update 2: Today, as a friend from our church and I were sharing our souls, I as telling her this story when all of a sudden three butterflies swirled and danced overheads. It was the divine dance of the Trinity awakening us in the most unexpected of places.
For some, old wounds can get picked at. For others, unresolved issues pop up or boil over. Tempers easily flair as blame gets tossed around like confetti.
Family is hard, but they are who God gives us if for no other reason than to draw us closer together. When we find ourselves stuck in the same old arguments and challenges, it’s good for us to remember that Jesus has this to say. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24
It’s a pretty simple concept. If you got beef with someone, go sort it out before you even think about coming to church.
If we take Jesus’ advice seriously, I’m afraid no one would be here. Of course, Jesus isn’t only talking about the big blow-ups and fist-fights that can happen, we also have to be mindful of those little grudges we hold onto. The unspoken tensions and unresolved hurts that linger like long, dark shadows in our hearts. Jesus knows all this stuff matters to God. Because we matter to God. If we don’t take the time to take inventory of our actions, our unresolved issues will stick around and fester into something toxic. So, Jesus calls us to step out of our comfort zones and make an effort to seek peace with those we've wronged or who have wronged us. This should be a no brainer. But it’s not. Healing old wounds can take time. And pride often gets in the way. Most of us hold onto anger like a hot coal hoping the other person gets burned. If you have trouble living up to this ideal Jesus places before us, you’re not alone. The Bible is full of people who mess up big time yet find a way to reconcile. Jacob and Esau overcame their sibling rivalry. Joseph made peace with his brothers who sold him into slavery. Even Jonah, the reluctant prophet, found resolve with God. Their stories teach us how to own up to our wrongs and mend what is broken. In fact, that’s what the Jewish celebration of Yom Kippur is all about! It’s in the letting go of past wrongs and making things right in the present that we secure peace and unity in the future. And more importantly, it also reveals God’s truth to a hurting world in need of mercy and grace. Jesus knew this. He’s one of us. He sees people coming to worship God with anger and bitterness on their hearts; approaching the altar more focused on revenge for a brother than on reverence for God. This saying of Jesus forces us to ask ourselves, what good is my gift if I’m only giving it out of some obligatory religious expectation? Jesus knows the greatest gift we can give God is our heart. He expects us to go beyond temple requirements to a place that transforms the way we see ourselves in relation to God and others. For Jesus, reconciliation is a sacred rite, a divine act that emphasizes the heart over some outward performance. He says things like, “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). He tells us, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart” (Luke 6:45). God knows our heart, and meets us there with grace and love. It is the epicenter of all that is Divine. And reveals who we truly are. Jesus tells a group of Pharisees who are questioning him about cleanliness rituals, “It’s not what goes into one’s mouth that defiles them, but what comes out; for what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart.” Thus Jesus commands us “to love God with our whole heart.” Then he adds, “And love your neighbor as yourself.” If your heart isn’t good with others, then it’s probably not good with God either. Which is why Jesus is adamant about reconciling our anger and hurts. So here’s the thing, if we’re going to truly make amends we must speak from the heart, and to the hearts we’ve wounded. Years ago, I did something out of exhaustion and frustration that I later regretted. Embarrassed by what I said and did, I quickly apologized. But I knew that apology was meaningless because I was merely trying to save face to stop people from being angry with me. Over the course of the few weeks, there was a lingering darkness over me, my soul was heavy and oppressive. This great weight was affecting me mentally and spiritually. I knew the only way to get through it would be to swallow my pride and make amends. Like Jesus says, “If you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you” (Mark 11:25). In AA there’s a saying, “Clean up your side of the street” which encapsulates the essence of taking responsibility for your actions and seeking to repair the harm you’ve caused. I am so grateful that the person I hurt was willing to receive my amends and do the hard work with me to reconcile and repair our relationship, which is now stronger than ever before. Anyone who has done the 12-step knows how crucial this is to recovering their life. More than just saying “sorry,” it’s about being accountable and changing your behavior in a way that transforms the heart from the inside out. That’s what Jesus’ mission was all about - confronting our conventional wisdom and getting us to repent, change the way we do things…not out of anger or jealousy but out of peace and love. Jesus knows there’s great healing in forgiveness, whether you are the one asking for it or receiving it. Science backs this up. Studies have shown that chronic stress from unresolved conflicts can lead to various health issues, including cardiovascular disease and weakened immune function. In nearly every healing miracle Jesus performs, forgiveness is present. Again, it’s in our willingness to forgive and seek reconciliation…that we reveal and reflect our understanding of God’s forgiveness towards us. The Apostle Paul writes, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col 3:13). The way I see it, forgiveness starts with God but doesn’t end there. Instead, it extends through us into all our relationships. The way to do that is to follow in the footsteps of Jesus who teaches, "Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Or to say the same thing but different, “The measure we give others is the measure that will be given to us.” If you believe what Jesus says, then why would you embrace anger over love? Or hold a grudge when you could let God’s grace shine through you? As I always say, to call yourself a Christian means, being like Christ - who made sharing God’s love, mercy and grace his greatest priority. In attempting to do just that, Paul writes, "As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18). Yes, easier said than done.Inevitably you will come in contact with someone you don’t agree with, or like, or maybe someone who has harmed you in the past. It’s in those moments you must ask yourself, will I let go of my ego and anger, or my peace and wellbeing? Do I really trust and believe it when Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Seeking peace with those who we’ve harmed, or who have harmed us, is the most powerful way we can love God, love others, and serve both. By living out our life with a forgiving heart and loving awareness, we reveal to the world what God’s love and reconciliation looks like in real time. Jesus says this is more important than any other form of worship. So, let's commit to making reconciliation a priority in our lives. Let's be intentional about mending fences, bridging divides, and fostering unity as a true holy act of worship. Let's remember that every relationship is an opportunity for spiritual growth and healing, deepening our connection to God, and to our brothers and sisters. Just as God reconciles the world through Christ Jesus, God invites us to participate in this redemptive work. Reconciliation is a sacred calling and a divine testament to our capacity for love, empathy, and compassion. Let us embrace this challenge with courage and determination, knowing that in doing so, we contribute to a more harmonious and just world. |
Ian MacdonaldAn ex-copywriter turned punk rock pastor and peacemaker who dedicates his life to making the world a better place for all humanity. "that they all might be one" ~John 17:21“Prius vita quam doctrina.”
~ St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) * “Life is more important than doctrine.”
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