Were we afraid of initiating a zombie apocalypse? Or did we just assume God owns this power outright? It goes without saying that one of the main pillars of Christianity is the hope of resurrection. The fact that we believe God actually raised Jesus from the dead is what makes our religion different from the others.
Unlike many critics have suggested, this idea wasn’t something his disciples made up after Easter. The roots of Resurrection go deep into Jewish scripture. Even science suggest it goes all the way back to the beginning of time, at the Big Bang, when something that had died was reborn into something new. Though many fundamentalist Christians would disagree with me on that statement, they can’t deny that God, the giver of life, possesses the power to bring life out of death. Which takes us to another question, one that God asks a young prophet in our reading today from Ezekiel 37:1-14 The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.... read the rest here Let’s take a moment to let this settle into your imagination. Picture yourself being led by God into a vast, desert wasteland where dried-up tibias and fibulas are piled upon ribs and vertebras and skulls. I imagine the place as some strange land inhabited by giants who feast on humans like hot wings; tossing their bones to the ground. Now ask yourself what you would do if God told you to preach to a pile of dead bones? Could you command them to rise up and receive the breath of the life? If you’ve seen “The Walking Dead” then you know this isn’t really a good idea. But Ezekiel does what God asks him because that’s what prophets do. As he preaches, the bones began to rattle and lock together. Their muscle and flesh and skin returned to what they once were. But still, they're just a bunch of dead bodies. So, God instructs Ezekiel to speak to the breath and tell the breath to breathe upon the dead. This might seem a bit surreal if you didn’t know the Hebrew word used here is ‘ruach’ which means not only breath, but 'wind' and 'spirit.' And in the talmud, it also means 'mind.' We first see this word in Genesis 1:2, when the ruach, or Spirit of God, swept over the dark void in a whirlwind…breathing life into existence. Now, at a time when this life seems to have withered and died, the word is brought out again. Ezekiel commands the ruach to breathe life back into these dead bodies. And the Holy Spirit responds by regenerating and resuscitating an entire valley of naked people. The author lets us know this is a metaphorical tale, one designed to bring hope to the prophet and the people of Israel who’ve been forced from their homeland to live in Babylon. The hope, we’re told, is that God will breathe life back into the Israelites who are withering away in captivity. They are spiritually dried up, parched like a desert wasteland, and as lifeless as dead bones. We are reminded of something important here. The people cry out to God and God responds. Their bones will rise again. Not only that, but the life-giving breath of God will resurrect Jerusalem. And the Holy Spirit will fill the Temple once more. Although it’s a metaphor for hope, this story also reveals a characteristic of God. All who cry out to the Lord will be heard. And all who turn to God will be resurrected from whatever death they are facing - be it physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. As we progress through Lent, we might consider what these dry bones mean to us as a church and as people on a spiritual journey. Is there a time in your life when doubt, hopelessness, depression, fear, and anxiety has withered your spirit? Has something happened to you that has caused you to fall apart like dried bones in the wilderness? Sadly, there are still too many Israelites being held captive by Hamas. Because of this, there are millions of Palestinians being forced out of their homeland by Israel. Most of us probably have no idea of the suffering both sides are experiencing. But if you’ve ever had to move away from your friends because your parents split up, or a job demanded it of you, you know how easy it is to feel as disconnected and brittle as these bones. Likewise, if you’ve ever been trapped in a dysfunctional relationship, or in an addiction where it seems there’s no way out but death, then you know how helpless God’s people felt in captivity. If you’ve ever been wounded by the church, or pushed out of a community you trusted in, you know how easy it is to lose faith, or believe God has abandoned you. It’s in these times we must ask ourselves the question God asks Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?” And Ezekiel’s answer is revealing: “Only you can answer that question, God.” In those times when you say you can’t, do you believe God can? When your faith is too weak to get you through the tough times, do you believe God’s faith is strong enough to carry you through it? When your life is stuck in a dark place, do you believe God’s light is bright enough to help you find your way out? When you feel depleted and broken, do you believe God has what you need to make you whole again? Lent is a spiritual journey that will take us through dry times. But the season always ends at the same place - a blood-stained cross and an empty tomb. Easter is the ultimate proof of what God can do. That God hears our cries and comes to save us, even if it means God has to become one of us and suffer like we do. You might be in a place where your faith is in doubt, or where you question your beliefs. You might be feeling lost, parched, or separated from where you know you are supposed to be. But do you truly believe God is capable of reviving, restoring, and resurrecting your life? As Easter rapidly approaches, we have to be ready to ask ourselves can the bones of a crucified man live? For me, the answer is a resounding yes! Even though I can’t prove if resurrection is real, I can point to endless ways Jesus lives in and through and all around us. No matter where you are, or what you are going through, God’s divine breath brings new life wherever it blows. The sacred breath that first set creation into motion, is the same that fills your lungs today. The same Spirit that moved through Jesus’ tomb, is the same that moves through Anamesa…breathing life into all of creation. As Jesus reminded his critics, God is a God of the living, not the dead. While we live amid the painful and death-dealing realities that plague our world today, we are called out of our graves to live a life of abundance. And so let us go out into the space between, inhaling and exhaling the goodness of the Holy Spirit, in all the ways we love God, love others, and serve both As resurrected people we are called to live a resurrected life in imitation of Christ Jesus. Through him we have been given the assurance that death no longer has the final word (c.f. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Only God does. In the challenges of life when you say you can’t, do you truly believe God can? Ezekiel stood among the dry bones. The disciples stood looking in an empty tomb. Today, as we stand in our spiritual wilderness, God is asking, “Do you believe these bones will live again?” May your answer always be a resounding "Yes." Work Cited Adapted from Human Reality, March 15, 2015 (www.jesusnotjesus.org) Bartlett, David L., Barbara Brown Taylor, Kimberly Bracken Long, ed. Feasting on the Word Lenten Companion. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2014). There might be more people who deserve to be cited here but my original notes are missing and my original sermon didn't make note of any cites. If I used something you wrote please accept my sincere apology for not giving you credit.
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But over the next forty days I would discover how this spiritual exercise actually killed me in a good way. By focusing on this one area of my life, I began to listen to other people’s opinions and welcomed their ideas. Instead of shooting them down I began to lift them up.
In the end of Lent, not killing taught me how to live. It opened my heart and transformed my behavior for the better. By looking seriously at those four words, “you shall not murder” I began to understand them not as law but as a way to live faithfully with God and others. I mention this story again because today we’re given a reading to shape the way we live out our faith in the world. And I believe if we use these words as a guide to teach us how to live right with God they will also redefine and reshape all our relationships. Read Exodus 20:1-17 here Then God spoke all these words, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me...You shall not make for yourself an idol,...You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God,...Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Honor your father and your mother,..You shall not murder...You shall not commit adultery...You shall not steal...You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor...You shall not covet your neighbor’s house;... Ex. 20:1-17
I think it’s safe to say that laws are a good way to ensure order and to protect public safety. When obeyed, they help our communities thrive and keep her citizens moving in the right direction.
Thanks to them, we know what side of the street to drive on, or how fast we can go down them. But driving is more than simply obeying the speed limit. You must also be mindful of those around you. Being a considerate driver is an act of kindness. Although the law doesn’t force you to let someone into your lane, you know that when see a car’s blinker on you have to make a moral decision to either let them in or not. Like the lines on a basketball court, we need laws to guide us in this game of life. And I believe that’s what these ten sayings are doing for us. They are ethical guides, sacred teachings, a holy blueprint for living a good life in right relation with God. But they are more than “kindly suggestions,” as Barbara Brown Taylor warns. These particular practices, “express the purposeful will of God for God’s people.” We can ignore them but do so at our own peril. Not because God is looming over us with a giant gavel, “but because these teachings describe a way of life.” And not just any life, but an abundant, everlasting life with the One who created it. Unfortunately, most of us have been taught to see these words as commandments - laws that can’t be broken or bent without some form of retribution. I have seen how they have been used as a litmus test to find the perfect Christian. Or as parameters to keep control over people. And in many ways, that makes sense. That’s how they seem to be set up in Exodus…as ways to keep God’s people in line. But when that’s the only way we see these words, we might forget that God gave them to us as a gift - one that was forged by a covenant and fashioned by grace. And this gift defines the essence of faith which helps us understand who we are and where God wants us to be. While that might sound simplistic in nature, trust me when I say they’re not that easy to put into practice. That’s because they’re not hard, immovable laws. Instead, they’re more like living, evolving spiritual standards that lead every individual, in their own unique way, towards a right relationship with God and one another. Now, theologically speaking, these words are separated into two parts, or two tablets. One that teaches us how to live before God. And the other on how to live with one another. They would become the building blocks of the communal and corporate life of God’s people. The way they worshiped and attended to God was defined in the way they lived and attended to their neighbor. These were the guidelines handed down throughout the generations. And where teachings that shaped the ethic of Jesus who used them as the moral compass throughout his ministry. And thus, they are the essence of Christianity. Jesus taught us how our righteousness is not defined by simple blind obedience to the law but in all the ways we integrate these teachings into everything we do. This tells me that these sacred words aren’t some binary checklist of do’s and don’ts. They are the human standard for divine being. If we are to follow Jesus’ lead, we will learn that the most sacred and holiest form of worship is simply loving God, loving others, and serving both. Because if we say we love God, then it should be a no brainer to love everyone made in God’s image. If we honestly make God’s love our highest priority, we won’t be tempted to worship a politician, a celebrity, or a bank account, or any other false idol. If we make God’s love the center of our being…then we won’t covet what others have. Or steal that which isn’t yours. If we refuse to use God’s love in vain, then we won’t cheat on our spouses or business partners; we won’t lie or bear false witness to cover up our wrongdoings. We will care for all people, especially our parents, even if we disagree with their politics or principles. If we remember to truly take a day of sabbath rest, we might discover what a life in God’s love is all about. And that is, to enjoy the splendor of God’s glory in a community that welcomes everyone, no matter who they are. When we embrace these sacred words and make them the human standard for divine being, then we begin to see why Joslyn Schaefer describes them as, “an umbilical cord, tethering us to what nourishes us, energizing us so that we can discern and accomplish God’s good purposes for our lives.” Jesus showed us how loving God and one another is the way to live a faithful life in the fullness of God’s righteousness and grace. When we come together in love, the hope and promise of God’s covenant comes alive. I like to think if we truly apply these teaching to every aspect of our lives, like Jesus did, then maybe laws might become a thing of the past, if only because the way we look out and care for one another would make them obsolete. So let us embrace these sacred words from God’s mouth and use them to become human beings instead of just humans doing. Lent is a time to embrace the essence of our faith. It’s a time shape and mold our hearts in the image of Christ so that we can bear witness to God’s unconditional love and grace. And make the kingdom of heaven come alive in real time. As I have learned in my Lenten fasts from years back, when we apply these teachings, making them the blueprint that shapes our lives in the image of Christ, things change. We see and worship God differently. And meet and treat others differently without judgment, exclusion, or harm. This is the essence of what it means to be a Christian, and what it means to to be holy as God is holy. And so it is that Jesus sends us out into the world to be the visible presence of God’s glory, not with laws but with love. Work Cited Adapted from Lenten Message Three from March 7, 2021 at jesusnotjesus.org Bartlett, David L. and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word, Year B Vol 2. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008). Schaefer, Joslyn Ogden. The Law. March 7, 2021.
Despite our hesitation, Lent is a good time for wandering in the wilderness– a place that naturally causes us to be slow and cautious. If we move too quickly, we might get tripped up, or miss something. Or worse, we might get lost. Then again, maybe Mark moves at such a speed to remind us that sometimes we have get lost in order to be found. Perhaps the Holy Spirit draws us out to the wilderness, not so much to lose our whereabouts, but to help us lose the stuff that’s been holding us back from becoming who God desires of us; to be a people who do the will of God - which if boiled down to one word would be “love.” I like to think this is why Jesus was driven out there by the Holy Spirit – to shed his human armor, things that included his ego and self-importance in order to truly find his divine self. And to be able to faithfully submit to what God is asking of him. Still, the wilderness is strange place to be sent in order to find who we are or what we can be. Now, there are all sorts of wildernesses out there. The one Mark describes here is a literal one. A wide-open space with no Marriott’s or Airbnb’s to rent. It’s a wild, unruly, rugged place where many people don’t dare to go, at least not without packing the basic essentials like a tent or food. I understand why people try to avoid such places. To borrow from the comedian Jim Gaffigan, “I’m not the “outdoor” type. I’m more “Indoorsy.” I prefer hotel beds and bathrooms over rocks and leaves. I like waking up refreshed and not with a rash. I do get why other’s find it peaceful and grounding - nature can be restorative and good for one’s soul. I just prefer those things without bears and chiggers eating me. There’s another kind of wilderness – one that’s more internal. We might call this space a spiritual wilderness. The kind of place we all have been to whenever we’re searching for something, or left feeling alone and abandoned. We wind up there when we’re lost or confused; angry, scared, depleted, or any number of emotions. It doesn’t take much to find ourselves in this space. An illness or death of a loved one. A personal or financial crisis. A bad vocation. A broken relationship. Or just a general sense of dread from all that’s going on in the news. These are not places we like to go, but have to. And rarely do we go there by choice. While the other gospels say Jesus was led by the Spirit to the wilderness, Mark uses a much more forceful verb. He states the Holy Spirit drove Jesus there. Not in a car, as Rev. Dawn likes to say. Mark uses the same Greek word that the other writers use to describe Jesus driving out demons. Is he suggesting Jesus went unwillingly? Or at least resisted? It’s not too far-fetched to think so. It’s a natural reaction we have when we do the hard work of letting go of our ego, our human self to find our divine nature. I think God forces us to spend time in this emotional, spiritual wilderness if for no other reason than it requires us to rely on God’s providence and provision. And that’s the thing about Lent. It forces us into spaces we dare not go, to face the things that make us uncomfortable. And to lean on God for help. In essence, it drives us into a closer relationship with the One who created the wilderness itself. We might be tempted to skirt the wilderness, or turn away from encountering the wild places in our lives. Choosing instead to give over to temptation or to run off with the wild beasts. But if we seek to truly follow Jesus to truly live in our world as God calls us, then we must face the wild; even if it’s with some cautious hesitation. The thing I’ve learned about the wilderness is that it’s really nothing more than what my friend Barry Szymanski calls “a placeless place.” It exists. The ground itself is real. But there aren’t any walls or ceilings. No barriers of any kind to contain us or box us in physically, mentally, or spiritually. Like Szymanski notes, “Everywhere we look is open to us. We are grounded only where we are.” Perhaps that’s why we need to go there. Walls give us a false sense of security. We put them up thinking they’ll keep us safe by keeping the wild beasts out. But really all they did is keep us confined in a space were we spend our days and nights looking at the same walls, walking into the same rooms, thinking the same thoughts. Inside our isolated little boxes, nothing really changes. We don’t evolve or move closer to God. Our faith becomes stagnant. Our prayers become rote. Our connection to God is limited at best. Like a plant in a pot that’s too small, there’s only so much space to grow. God drives out to this placeless place where we are truly free to spread our wings, to allow our faith to blossom by liberating us from the many boxes we find ourselves in. This can be a serious challenge to many of us. One, because our ego will resist the change. It doesn’t like to give up control. It’s been our safety net for so long…we’ve relied on it addictively. Moreover, to do the hard work of letting go of our ego, means we have to it by ourselves. Just as Jesus was driven out there by himself, we too are cajoled and prodded by the Holy Spirit to leave our comforts behind to join him. But here’s the thing about Mark’s version of this story, he reminds us that we are never really alone. Unlike the other gospel accounts, Mark tells us there are angels looking after Jesus the whole time. This tells me that no matter where we are, or what we’re facing, God’s Spirit is with us “to help us in our weakness” like Paul wrote (Rom. 8:26). And so we must never forget that when we spend time in the wilderness, we are spending time with God. You see, Lent is not only a time of transformation. “It’s an opportunity to spend 40 days alone with the one who has been there before.” (Emily Heath) Whenever we go somewhere with Jesus, God goes with us too. Because in Christ Jesus God has chosen to be with us, as one of us. So, let’s go with God out into our wilderness – to find our footing and the strength we need to move closer to our true selves as both disciples of Christ, and children of a loving and giving God. Let’s go with God – to develop our spiritual muscles that will help us stand up to the darkness that plagues our communities, and threatens harm upon God’s children. Let’s go with God – to be one with Christ Jesus who showed us how to stand in the fray of hatred and bigotry to love God, love others, and serve both. For Lent isn’t just some ritualistic observance. It’s a time to let go of the things that keep us from moving closer to Go. It’s about going to those difficult places and finding our place in God’s heart. I hope that you will take the time this season to see what the wilderness offers you – a new life, a new ministry, or new ways of living into your Christlikeness. As you face the tough decisions and tougher realities, know that God is with you, caring for you with nothing but compassion and love. Just as God watched over Jesus as he journeyed towards the cross and beyond, God watches over you and me as we shed our armor and let go of our ego so that we may love and serve God freely and faithfully. “Even if it means going further in the wilderness, even if you feel more lost than ever, I invite you to follow the one who has been there before us. He might not lead you down easy paths, but he will also not lead you astray.” (Heath) Work Cited Brown Taylor, Barbara. Feasting on the Word, Year B, Vol. 2. [Westminster John Knox: 2008]. p.45. Heath, Emily C. Reflections on the Lectionary. Christian Century, January 31, 2018. p.20. Johnson, Deon. Wilderness. episcopaldigitalnetwork.com. February18, 2018. Tew, Ana. Temptation, Wild Beasts, and Angels. February 12, 2024 (accessed on February 16, 2024)
A man with a skin disease came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I am willing. Be made clean!” Immediately the skin disease left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded as a testimony to them.” But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly but stayed out in the country, and people came to him from every quarter. Mark 1:40-45
As we move through Mark’s gospel, we discover that word is spreading rapidly about this radical young Rabbi who fulfills the law perfectly in accordance to the will of God. But today Jesus does something no good Rabbi would dare to do. He goes to place where the impure people have been quarantined.
Out of great compassion, Jesus breaks a purity law that God handed down to Moses in order to help this man suffering from leprosy. And in return, the healed man disregards what Jesus asks of him. This is fascinating to me. After all, disobeying God and disregarding Jesus are not the kind of spiritual advice we often give at church. I know what kind of trouble either of those would get me into at home. But then again, I’m not the Son of God. Although we don’t live by ancient Jewish purity laws, that doesn’t mean they should be disobeyed or disregarded. As we learned through the pandemic, such laws - like casting out lepers from the tribe - can be a good thing considering they actually help to keep a virus from spreading. However, unlike when I had COVID, lepers in Jesus’ day weren’t sent to their bedroom to binge watch Ozark on Netflix. Instead, they were sent far away; forced to fend for themselves in the wilderness. No family, no work, no community. Stripped of everything, lepers were condemned to die alone in isolation. Moreover, according to Jewish purity laws, anyone who touched a leper was also considered unclean. They too would be cast out and marginalized. So then why would Jesus disobey God’s law to heal this man? And disregard his own safety to do so? Was he just worn out and needed some time to go away and catch up on rest? After all, he’s been going non-stop healing and teaching, and the like. Or perhaps Jesus was unhappy with how society shamed and demonized people like him. Although this translation said Jesus was moved with compassion (or pity), other ancient versions translate the Greek word σπλαγχνισθεὶς as "anger." Either way, Jesus had compassion for the man and acted accordingly. This should not surprise any of us. God is all about compassion. Which is why Jesus also makes it his number one goal. He places love above any other law or dogma. Which is the lesson I think every Christian should embrace. In taking the risk to heal the leper Jesus showed his disciples how far they must go to follow him. The same is true for us. We must be willing to see everyone with the eyes of a compassionate heart like God does. Sometimes this will require disobeying certain ordinances and disregarding societal norms. As a church and as individuals, we must be willing to make compassion our greatest priority if we are going to proclaim God’s glory. This passage teaches us exactly how to do that. Mark tells us that the leper said to Jesus, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” And Jesus’ response was, “I do choose.” It’s that simple but not. We have to be willing to choose to help, to show compassion and mercy. To give grace and forgiveness when no one else will. Again, following Christ isn’t about obeying a set of rules. It’s about being the visible presence of God’s redeeming love to all people – especially those who have been cast aside. Years ago, Kathleen and I belonged to a church that during the peak of the AIDS epidemic opened their doors to those who were afflicted by this deadly virus. This was at a time when such people were being rejected by their families and thrown out of their churches out of fear that the disease would spread to them. Because the priest at St. Thomas chose love over fear and rejection, hundreds of souls received last rites and did not die alone. Because they chose compassion over condemnation, countless people, like me, who found themselves at the end of their rope, would come to find Christ in the welcoming and loving embrace of others. Because of their willingness to disobey the rules and disregard the norms, this small, dying parish became a bright beacon of hope to those who had none. And they continue to thrive today. Jesus shows us that sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zones and meet people where they are. He teaches us that it’s right to disobey and disregard the rules if those things do more harm than good. As Mark will go on to reveal, Jesus’ mission was to tell the world that the kingdom of God is for everyone – including the sick, the marginalized, and the social lepers of our day. Upon learning that, this man, now healed, couldn’t help but tell everyone the good news…even when Jesus tells him specifically not to. He disregards this command, and as a result sets the foundation for what will become the church. That’s the power of God’s redeeming and restorative love. It’s just too powerful to contain. It has to be shared. The question therefore to us is, will we choose love and compassion over everything else? This was a question Patrolman Matt Lima of the Somerset Massachusetts Police department had to ask of himself when he responded to a shoplifting call. The grocery store wanted to press charges against a mother of four who did noot ring up all the groceries in her cart at the self-checkout line. Officer Lima had all the right to arrest her for this crime. But upon learning that she had lost her job and savings due to her ongoing issues with COVID, he decided to do something different. Instead of putting her in the squad car, he took out his wallet and bought her $250 worth of groceries so her family could eat that week. Choosing to love doesn’t have to be a grand gesture like this one. It could be as simple as visiting a lonely neighbor, or volunteering at a food pantry. Any and every little bit of goodness goes a long way at curing the world of its pain and suffering. Each act of kindness brings heaven a little closer to earth. Henri Nouwen wrote, “Whenever we love our enemy, we exhibit something of the perfect love of God, whose will is to bring all human beings together as children of one Father.” Whenever we forgive someone instead of getting angry at them, whenever we offer hope instead of adding more despair, or welcome someone instead of cold-shouldering them we fill this sacred space we call Anamesa with the visible presence of God’s great glory. Which is exactly what being the church is all about. On Wednesday, we kick off Lent. While it may not be as popular as the Super Bowl or Valentine’s Day, it is the perfect time to practice our call by going out into our communities to shine God’s light to the world. I would invite you to spend the coming days thinking about how you can be the compassionate heart someone might need today. Ask yourself, how can I be the light of Christ, the beacon of hope that shines brightly so others can see God? How can I be the hands that touch a wounded soul? Or offer gentle words that soothe a troubled spirit? How can I be the friend who sits and listens and loves someone simply because I know they too are a beloved child of God? Lent isn’t so much about what you have to sacrifice but what you give as a sacrifice to God’s glory. We know what Jesus was willing to give up. The question to us is simply, “Am I willing to do the same? Am I willing to cross the line to love God, love others, and serve both?” Jesus said, “I do choose.” May his response be ours. Not just on February 14th or the mere forty days of Lent. But every day of every year. And every year after that. Work Cited Bartlett, David L and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word, Year B Vol. 1 (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008). Logue, Frank. How Far Are You Willing To Go? on February 12 20212 (accessed on February 12, 2021). Metz, Susanna E. His Fame Began To Spread. on February 13, 2000 (accessed on February 10, 2021). Nouwen, Henri. Letters to Marc About Jesus. (New York: HarperOne, 2009)
This is not open for debate, but Kobe Bryant was and remains the greatest basketball player of all time; astonishing players and fans alike. More than just pure talent, Kobe was disciplined and focused on mastering his craft. He worked through pain and overcame his challenges, because that’s what you do when you do what you love.
In the same way, Jesus dominated his field with authority. He too amazed and astonished people. And like Kobe, Jesus approached his opponents seriously and respectfully. But more importantly, he did what he did because of love. We see this today, in our reading from Mark 1:21-28. ...They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, .... Mark 1:21-28
Here's the thing. Jesus commands attention everywhere he goes. Not with the way he handled a basketball, but by the way Jesus taught with great authority. The way he interpreted scripture apparently was nothing these people had ever heard before.
Like Kobe on the hardwood, when Jesus spoke all eyes were on him. Including this man with an unclean spirit. Mark doesn’t tell us exactly what Jesus said, but whatever it was caused this evil spirit came forward, and reveal who Jesus truly is - “The Holy One of God.” In hindsight, and especially during epiphany, this isn’t surprising. But it was a shocking thing to call someone, especially in that particular place. So too was the way Jesus responded. He confronted this man’s demons with power and authority. He tells the evil spirit to “Be silent,” and then commands it to “come out of him!” And it obeyed. Whatever it was that possessed this man submitted immediately. And again, the people were floored by what they witnessed. These days one doesn’t have to go far to see someone do something amazing. Just YouTube “Kobe highlights” to see what I mean. But outside of a horror movie, I have never witnessed anyone do anything like Jesus did here. While we often perceive demon possession as nothing more than the colorful imagination of Hollywood, it should not surprise to learn that in every church, on any given Sunday, sits a person hiding a secret demon that one day will come out. When we lived in Michigan, I went into a local restaurant to pick up my lunch. A group of men I knew saw me and joked how they would have invited me to sit with them, but “unfortunately there wasn’t room at the table” even though there clearly was. Half jokingly, I invited them to church on Sunday, reminding them there is always room at God’s table. While this garnered some laughter from a few bystanders, it also caught the attention of a young man in his early 20’s, who was watching me with an inquisitive look on his face. Embracing the spirit of hospitality, I extended the invitation to him as well, which was received with a head nod, and half-hearted smile. While walking to my car I heard a voice call out to me. Thinking it was the young man, I stopped and turned around only to discover it was someone much bigger and a lot less friendlier. This guy was a great big ape of a man with scars and tattoos all over his body. He had no problem exercising his physical presence to intimidate me. Now, back then, I’d wear a clerical collar to let people know that I am a non-threatening kind of guy. But in this case it did just the opposite. It only seemed to fuel this man’s rage. Given the look in his eyes and the rage in his fists, one might say this guy was possessed with an evil spirit. One that clearly didn’t like me. From the depth of this guy’s soul came a dark, menacing voice that shouted, “Who do you think you are, holy man? Who the ‘f’ said you could invite my kid to church?” Trying to hold my composure I told him, “I was just doing what God called me to do - to love everyone just as God has always loved me.” This clearly was not the answer the angry man wanted because after a few more colorful words he blurted, “You’re a liar because I’m unlovable.” In that moment I realized this victimizer was a victim to his own demons. I don’t know what possessed him to confess this to me, or what possessed me to put myself in danger of a beating, but I quickly assured him that God actually did loved him, no matter what. I told him there was nothing he could do to stop God from pursuing him and loving him. Not even hurting me. Taking a cue from Jesus, I stood up to this man’s demon holding on to the power and authority of God’s love, and watched all the pain that had built up inside this man just melt away. I would come discover his demon was the church. Something horrible had happened that caused him to hate God and everyone associated with religion. That bitter demon had grown and festered in other places in his life. It had ruined every relationship he’d been in, and his reputation as well. Here’s the thing I’ve come to discover. We all have our demons. For some it’s addiction to alcohol or drugs. For other’s it’s anger, jealousy, or insecurity. Some might seem harmless, but we know what one person’s zealous pride is capable of doing. These are real powers that take real possession over our lives. They blind us and keep us from being who God desires us to be. These demons will continue to run and ruin your life, to attack and cripple you, until you let them go. As it’s often said in 12-step groups, “Change only happens when the pain of holding on is greater than the fear of letting go.” What makes this difficult, as I have found in my own struggles, is that our demons will do anything to hold on to the power we give them. But this story reminds us that Jesus holds all power and all authority over all things. Your deepest fears, your darkest secrets, don’t even come close to the power of God’s redemptive love given to us through Christ. Thus Jesus invites us to let them go. Let God to take care of them for us. Like a wise meme once said, “Give God your weakness and God will give you his strength.” What is that strength? The unconditional and steadfast Love of God. You see, That is the foundation of Jesus’ power and authority. When Jesus removed the unclean spirit, the people in the pews saw more than raw physical power; they witnessed the healing and restorative strength of God’s love. Jesus always stood on a foundation of love; showing compassion to all who came to him. It was the way he loved, especially the unlovable, that still amazes people today. With all power, and all authority, Jesus embraced the fullness of God’s love. And nothing, not even death, could stop it from winning out in the end. Thus, love is the foundation of Anamesa. And why every week we make love the centerpiece of every message and every conversation. Jesus enters every space loving God. Because of that love, he’s able to see and heal this man with a compassionate heart. In the same way, when we cry out to the Holy One of God, we too are met with love. Through Jesus, God hears our cries; meets our demons; and with all power and authority delivers us from our anguish. The sooner we give ourselves and our demons over to God’s love, the sooner our true selves can begin to thrive. Which is why I invite you to take an honest look at the things in your life that are controlling you. Take inventory of all the junk that’s stopping you from truly loving God, loving others and serving both. Name them. Write them down. And give them over to the merciful grace of God’s redeeming love. Then be prepare to be amazed at how it will transform you. Works Cited Adapted from All Power. All Authority. January 28, 2018. Special thanks to Ismael Ruizz-Millan. Christian Century. Dec. 28, 2017. (accessed 01 25, 2018).
We all grew up hearing some outlandish story about the boogie man or Bigfoot. These stories have been around for so long that they’ve become part of our own stories in one way or another.
I’ll probably get in trouble for saying this, but I think the bible has a few tall tales woven into the larger story of God. Tales that sound too far-fetched to be real. The Tower of Babel; Noah and the great flood; Elisha convincing God to send a bear to bring vengeance upon a group of wonton boys who mocked him for being bald (2 Kings 2:23-24). Whether or not these things actually happened, they’ve become a part of the Bible because they reveal or point to a characteristic of God. Today’s reading comes in the middle of one such controversial tale. The story of Jonah. Scholars have wasted countless hours debating whether or not this story is serious history or salacious satire. While it seems like your run-of-the-mill fish story one tells at the bait shop, it does tell us something about God’s own nature and how it relates to us. So, instead of arguing how a person can live inside a fish for three days – without oxygen, fresh water, or food – we might do better asking what does this story want us to know about God? If you are not familiar with Jonah, here’s a quick summary of this ancient, little book. God calls a fearful young man to deliver a threatening message to everyone living in the Assyrian city of Nineveh (today: Mosul in Northern Iraq). This is the last thing this guy wants to do, and for good reason. There’s plenty of bad blood between the Israelites and the Assyrians. (Which we still see today) As the story goes, Jonah runs away from what God is asking of him. In fact, he boards a boat going in the exact opposite direction from where he’s called to go. While at sea, a giant storm gathers, and Jonah knows the only way to save the crew is to be tossed overboard. That he’s willing to sacrifice his life for some sailors but not risk it for God is another story? When Jonah hits the water, God sends a giant sea monster to rescue him by swallowing him whole. Inside this strange aquatic beast, the young prophet sits and stews. After three days, Jonah finally comes to his senses, and prays for God’s deliverance. God, being faithful and kind, causes the fish to spit out the prophet. And then this happens. READ Jonah 3:1-10 here. The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord....And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth....and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands....When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them, and he did not do it. - Jonah 3:1-10 -
If you ask me, I think the second half of this story is just as far-fetched as the first half. Not that Jonah learned his lesson and decides to do what God asks of him, but that the people actually listen to what this foreigner, who smells like fish guts has to say.
Benjamin J. Dueholm writes, “To be a prophet is a heavy, strange, miraculous calling. To be a prophet who is listened to is something stranger still.” As we’ve learned before, prophets are sent to be the voice of God. They typically say things no one wants to hear, especially those in positions of power. They say things like “Repent,” “Promote justice,” “Lift up the poor” so you can see why they’re often ignored, ridiculed, and persecuted. (Martin Luther King was probably our best modern example of this and we know what happened to him.) Although it’s the last thing Jonah wants to do, he relents and warns the Ninevites to “repent” or else. In almost comical fashion, they listen. And act! From the king to the cows, they repent. And God spares them. Whether or not this story literally happened as written, it’s placement in scripture tells us some things about God’s nature. First, it shows us that God is persistent. God does not give up on Jonah any more than God gives up on the Ninevites, or on you or me. Jonah can run all he wants, but God will not be circumvented or thwarted. As Rob Bell profoundly states in his book Love Wins, “God gets what God wants.” For some strange reason God wants us. According to scripture, the cross of Christ is proof to how far God is willing to go to make sure that happens. Secondly, Jonah’s story reminds us that God is responsive. When the sailors cry out for mercy from the storm, God responds. When Jonah cries out from the belly of the fish, God responds. And when the Ninevites hear the warning and repent, God responds. This is good news for us all, because there are still Ninevites crying out every day from hospital beds, jail cells, rehab centers, bedrooms, classrooms, streets and sidewalks. And to all of them…God responds. Just the same, there are still Jonah’s out there running away from God. Unwilling to do what God is asking of them. Despite all that, this God is persistent. And this God responds not with anger or vengeance, but with love, mercy, and grace. God never gives up on us. Because God gets what God wants. And God wants whoever you are and wherever you are. Another thing this story tells us is that God is universal. And wants a relationship everyone. God shows mercy to Jonah, the personification of Israel. But God also shows mercy to the Ninevites, who represent everyone else. This suggests God’s redeeming love is for anyone who wants it. That’s the story, give or take a few temper tantrums by Jonah. There’s no alter call. Or need for a profession of faith, a sinner’s prayer, or a church creed. It seems the only thing God wants is our repentant heart. One that realigns itself with the way of God, the way of love. God welcomes everyone because that’s what love does – it invites, it includes, it forgives, it’s merciful and kind to all. Be it an allegory or actuality, we get this reading in the middle of epiphany because it reveals the true nature of God to the world. Like John writes in his epistle - God is love. And anyone who loves knows God (1 John 4:7-8). Because of love, this God gives Jonah a second chance. Because of love, this God gives the Ninevites a second chance. Heck, this God even gives the cows and chickens a second chance. So why wouldn’t this God do the same for us? This God knows our short comings, and still pursues us. This God knows we can be stubborn, unreliable, fearful, and insecure and still wants a relationship with us. This God knows we can be greedy, violent, and vane; that we tend to only look out for ourselves, and often at the expense of someone else's suffering; yet does not give up on us. Instead, God loves us enough to pursue us over and over again. So, you see, this story isn’t about how a man could live inside a fish, but how God’s love lives inside us. And how this love, which is freely given to anyone who wants it, has no limits. It knows no boundaries. It does not discriminate, because of where we’re from or who we are. Because of love, God sees beyond our mistakes, and embraces us so graciously and faithfully that we have no need to make those mistakes again. We don’t need to be perfect, by whatever standard that is. We just have to be willing to respond to God’s love in all the ways we love God, love others, and serve both. Like I said last week, love is the key that unlocks the space between heaven and earth. The more we love, the closer that reality becomes. This is the message of Jesus, who made love his highest priority. Those of us who choose to follow his way, must make that our highest priority too. Love is more than some Christian virtue or value we are encouraged to possess. It’s the driving force behind everything we are called to do. Jonah learns the hard way that all God really wants from any of us is our heart. Just in I case you haven’t been listening, this God always gets what God wants. And when God gets what God wants, we get more than our hearts could ever imagine. So let us take this story to heart, be it real or otherwise, because we’re all a little bit like Jonah. But instead of running away from God, let us run to God who welcome us just as we are, because that’s what love does. Work Cited Bartlett, David L. and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word, Year B. Vol. 1. Louisville Westminster John Knox. 2008. Bell, Robb. Love Wins. (New York: HarperOne, 2011)
The first time I tried that greeting on someone, I was quickly reminded that not everyone celebrates Christmas. And of the ones that do, many don't celebrate it as the birthday of Jesus.
So, to save face, I quickly adapted Dale's idea to simply say, “Happy Birthday!” After all, birthdays are something everyone celebrates (albeit some more quietly than others). One of my favorite quotes states, “We are all meant to be mothers of God for God is always needing to be born.” Having said this, Meister Eckhart went on to argued what good is Christ’s birth if it doesn’t take place within me? The same is true about grace, mercy, or love. In the age of chaos in which we find ourselves in today, it’s easy to forget that each day we awake is a new day to celebrate life. And that we'd do better to do so with great purpose. And what greater purpose do we have in life than to love one another. It doesn’t matter your age, whether real or made up, each day is a chance to celebrate anew the life God has given us. Each day is an opportunity to welcome one another, care of each other, to embrace and celebrate every life as if we are embracing and celebrating God. Years ago, I met a man from the Lakota tribe who began every morning with this prayer: "Great Spirit, thank you for my first breath today, and for entrusting me that each breath I take after is mine to do good in the world." Today might not come with cake and candles, but it does offer something just as delicious and bright – a chance to participate in the love and glory of the Divine. And we do that in the many ways we love one another. You may or may not share my faith or belief in my God, the One Creator of all life, but you can't deny that you have been given life - a chance to create something amazing. And so I hope that you will go and celebrate your birthday today in a way that makes love grow by doing good in the world.
How many times a day do you make a decision based on a recommendation?
Your mom recommends you take a sweater in case it gets cold. A friend recommends a movie to watch or a show to binge. Your spouse recommends you cook your own supper if you don’t like what’s on the plate in front of you. It doesn’t have to be someone you know either. What made Amazon so great were the reviews posted by strangers who were able to talk about the product in real ways that advertising couldn’t. My kids make fun of me because I’m always writing reviews on Yelp. I love recommending restaurants and dishes I think others will enjoy. No matter how beautiful I craft a review, word of mouth is still the best way to get a person to try something. Combine that with an invitation to come and experience it firsthand…well then…you get today’s gospel reading. (Read all of John 1:43-51 here) The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” - John 1:43-51 -
Fresh from the baptismal waters, Jesus begins to gather his disciples. Unlike other rabbis, Jesus doesn’t pick from the best and brightest from the rabbinical schools, nor does he choose those who come highly recommended. Instead, he goes after ordinary people with unexceptional talents.
First comes Andrew, who was a student of John the Baptist. But when he learns who Jesus is, he tells his brother Simon, and the two decide to follow Jesus. After them is Philip, who, without witnessing any miracles or hearing any holy proclamations, runs and tells his buddy Nathaniel, “We’ve found the one Moses and the Prophets talked about.” This gets his friend’s attention. When Philip reveals the Messiah is from Nazareth, Nathaniel scoffs, “Are you kidding me? Nothing good has come from that place.” No matter how good the recommendation is, or who it comes from, we all come with our own biases and prejudices. I can write a stellar review about the teriyaki steak at the local Japanese restaurant, but it’s probably not going to convince a vegan to try it. We all have our preconceived notions that make us push back. This is true about individuals, communities, and even institutions like the church. But don’t take my word for it. Just start a conversation about religion or politics and see how people respond. I don’t think of myself as a bias person, but I’ve been guilty of dismissing someone’s opinion based on who they voted for? Today Nathaniel might say, “Can anything good come from Mississippi?” And Philip pointing to Elvis Presley responds, “Come and see.” The problem with having preconceived notions, outside of the fact that they show our ignorance, is that they cut us off from the gospel. Nathaniel’s first instinct is to reject Jesus because of some bias he held. Then again, most of Israel will reject who Jesus for the very same reason. They couldn’t fathom their Messiah and his apostles would come from some backwoods place like Galilee. Many in his own hometown will reject Jesus because he was the son of carpenter not the prince of a king. Nathaniel struggles to understand what Philip is revealing to him because he has some preconceived idea about people from Nazareth, just as many of us have about people who live in Red States or Blue States. Ironically, Nathaniel is from Cana, an equally unimpressive village. Nazareth was probably more popular because it was at the crossroad between Jerusalem and Lebanon. People had to pass through it to get to the Mediterranean Sea. No one ever passed through Cana. It was a side trip at best. (MacArthur) So perhaps Nazareth, being a more popular town, got the brunt of everyone’s prejudice whether deserving or not. There’s a good chance Nathaniel was just echoing the general contempt like people from Fresno often have about us in L.A. This passage makes me wonder how our own prejudices stop us from seeing Christ in our midst. How do they keep us from actually living out the gospel? Or serving the will of God? Tomorrow we will honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. who served the Lord, by exposing our bigotry and prejudices. He said, “One day we will learn that the heart can never be totally right when the head is totally wrong.” Fortunately, the prejudices Nathaniel had in his head, weren’t strong enough to stop him from following his heart. He takes Philip’s recommendation and goes and sees for himself. When Jesus sees the pair walking toward him (knowing what was said about his hometown) he welcomes the soon to be disciple by saying, “Now here’s a real Israelite, not a false bone in his body.” Notice it was Jesus who first saw Nathaniel, and it was Jesus who first recognized who he was, a beloved child of God. Our Lord looked at Nathaniel’s heart and put his belovedness above any preconceived notions that had been passed down through generations. What if we saw and welcomed people that way? What would it be like, if we removed the biases and opinions that blind us and keep us from seeing people the way Jesus sees us? Jesus’ action of making love the bar by which we welcome people not only change Nathaniel’s opinion of Jesus, but it also transforms his life from that day forward. That is the power of the gospel. That is the power of love. Jesus who looked at Nathaniel’s heart for who he truly is, a beloved child of God. By this simple action, Nathaniel, like his companions with him, instantly saw Jesus as the Christ, God’s unbiased, unprejudiced heart who comes from the most unlikely of places to surprise us with unconditional love. Dr. King understood the power of Divine love. He knew when we have Christ in our heart, we can love everyone without an obstinate belief that puts up a wall or pushes others away. We can welcome those who are different than us, without clinging to some the notion we’re better than they are because of our wealth, social status, or military strength. With Christ in our heart, we can help others without prejudice or obstacles and hoops to jump through. We can truly and faithfully love God, love others, and serve both without causing harm to anyone. Dr. King knew like Jesus did that, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” When he spoke these words, there was intense racial tension tearing apart the very soul of America. Much of like what is happening today. Friends and family were fighting each other…and innocent people were being harmed and killed because of bigotry and prejudice. King knew the only way forward, the only way to our country’s healing and salvation would be though love. And not just any love, but the self-giving, unbiased love of God. Jesus gave us this command, “That you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends” (John 15:12-13). Jesus reminds us that love is the key to unlocking the space between human behavior and the will of God. Love is the way of peace; the way of justice and equality. In love, there is no room for biases, bigotry, or prejudices. “Love is the greatest force in the universe," said Dr. King. "It is the heartbeat of the moral cosmos. He who loves is a participant in the being of God." Therefore, love is not a recommendation, it’s an integration. It’s about making Divine love a part of your life so that people can come and meet you and me, they see Jesus in the flesh. It doesn’t matter where you are from, how you were raised, what color your skin is God looks at the heart and blesses it, so we can go and be a blessing of love for all. But don’t take my recommendation, come and see for yourself - in scripture and prayer - that you are a beloved child of God. From love you were made, and for love you are sent into the heart of Anamesa - to illuminate the light of Christ. To quote Martin Luther King one more times, “Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.” Work Cited Bartlett, David L., Barbara Brown Taylor. Feasting on the Word, Year B vol. 1. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008). MacArthur, John. Twelve Ordinary Men. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2002). Marsh, Michael. interruptingthesilence.com. Jan 16, 2012. (accessed Jan 13, 2018).
While this is both a baptismal and epiphany story, Susan Butterworth believes it’s also a Christmas story of sorts.
She argues “this moment by the Jordan River, when Jesus is called to ministry, his divinity affirmed by the Holy Spirit and God the Father, is Mark’s birth narrative. For Mark, Jesus’ baptism by the Holy Spirit, this proof of his divine nature, is the moment of birth.” Sure it’s not the nativity we honor at Christmas, but it is a birth story nonetheless when we consider what Jesus stated rather matter of factly to Nicodemus in John’s gospel. He said, “No one can see the kingdom of God without being “born of water and spirit” (cf. John 3:1-10). This is where the church got the idea that baptism has an eternal culmination in heaven, which of course, raises all sorts of questions. Most notably, “Why would the beloved Son of God need to be baptized?” Doesn’t his divine nature already come with eternal privileges? If we take the more traditional stance that baptism is for the repentance of sin, then what does that assume about Jesus? Did he need to repent for something? And if we take the more universal approach that states we are all loved by God, and if salvation is freely given to both the washed and unwashed, then why get baptized? Is it really a golden ticket that takes you to the front of the line into heaven? According to my faith tradition, “Baptism is an outward sign of an inward promise.” It’s kind of like getting yourself notarized - only the signature and stamp is our promise we make to God with our hearts. Does God need us to be baptized? I don’t know if God needs it. But we do. We need baptism because some of us are carrying the heavy burden of guilt and shame, and need to hear that the stain of sin has been washed away. Some of us live with so much fear and need to have that assurance that at the end we’ll see God in heaven. Some of us need to be anointed with water and oil, to have that physical mark on our life as a reminder to our commitment to faithfully follow Jesus. I don’t know if the baptismal font is some magical realm. But I know it has transformative power. I believe we all need baptism, if only because we all need to hear God call us beloved. If you’re going to move forward in life in God’s good pleasure, then it might be a good idea to have your heart sealed by the same divine Spirit that Jesus had. Baptism identifies us. It seals us. But more importantly, it sends us out into the world to live a new life one which mirrors the divine life of Jesus Christ. Soaked with living water, Jesus learns his true identity and his true purpose. And so does the world. He is God’s beloved Son, in whom God is well pleased. By definition, the word ‘beloved’ means dearly loved or dear to someone’s heart. So the way I see it, Jesus is the joy of God’s heart! If you heard you are the joy of God’s heart, how might that change the way you approach the daily struggles of life? How might knowing you hold space in God’s unconditional love transform the way you love yourself? Or welcome a new co-worker at your office? Or deal with a difficult roommate? Henri Nouwen wrote, “Jesus truly heard that voice, and all of his thoughts, words, and actions came forth from his deep knowledge that he was infinitely loved by God.” Everything Jesus did from his baptism onward began “from that inner place of love.” Despite the rejection, jealousy, and hatred that he constantly he faced, Jesus “remained anchored in the love of God.” With his new identity, Jesus moved from the wilderness into the very heart of Anamesa. In this space he healed the sick, raised the dead, fed the hungry, forgave the unforgivable and loved the unlovable. His baptism not only changed who he was, but it would go on to forever change the world. If, by our own baptism, we become beloved children of God then we too are also called to be the joy of God heart - to live out our Christlikeness by living into our belovedness. If baptism reveals our true identity, then our job is to live baptismally in all the ways we love God, love others, and serve both. Jesus made it clear that his ministry didn’t end with him. He commissioned and sent his followers to go into Anamesa proclaiming the good news, making disciples and baptizing all (Matthew 20:19-20). Which tells me the task of all who have been baptized in his name is to let the world know that they too are beloved children of God, called to love one another as God first loved us. The way Jesus lived his baptismal life set the bar by which we are all called to live. Standing “from that inner place of love,” Jesus embraced God’s desire for the world. One that opposed violence with peace, bigotry with acceptance, and hatred with love. When we stand in “that inner place of love,” we can turn the other cheek and set aside our personal needs to put others first. We can live a different kind of life that is set apart from the world even while we are very much a part of it. To paraphrase Henri Nouwen, “Once we accept the truth that we are God’s beloved children, loved unconditionally, then we can go into the world to speak and to act as Jesus did.” In other words, we can be who God created us to be – God’s Beloved. We all must ask ourselves, if I am God’s beloved, then am I living in a way that pleases God? Am I walking as Jesus walked? Loving as he loved? Am I caring for the least of these my brothers and sisters to the best of my ability? Because here’s the thing, if you’ve been baptized, either as a baby or an adult, you can no longer simply live as ordinary people in the world. Instead, you are called to a new life, to live as Jesus lived, both human and divine, striving for justice and peace among all people; and serving the Christ in everyone you meet. I don’t know if baptism gets you into heaven, but I believe when we live out our baptismal promise we brings heaven to earth. It's here, in this sacred space, we find ourselves in a covenantal relationship with God and one another. And so I will you with this, a baptized life is not a live it once-a-week kind of life or a part-time job. Nor is it an insurance plan or a guarantee first class ticket to heaven. It is a vocation, a way of life, meant to be lived out with every fiber of our being. Jesus has called us to follow him into space of life to fill it with the glory of God’s steadfast love. If you don’t want to follow him, if you don’t want to do what he has called each one of us to do, then what good is your baptism? God doesn’t need you to be spotless and sin-free. God just needs you, as you are, to show up to be and bring the joy of God’s heart to a hurting world. And there is no better place to start then at the water’s edge, with the Spirit of God upon you blessing you with this divine truth, “You are my Beloved child in whom I am well pleased.” Work Cited Adapted from You Are My Beloved on January 10, 2021. Bartlett, David L and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word, Year B. Vol. 1 (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008). Bates, J. Barrington. Christ’s Own Forever. January 7, 2018 (accessed no January 3, 2024). Jolly, Marshall A. Beginnings. January 4, 2021 (accessed no January 3, 2024). Nouwen, Henri. You Are the Beloved. (New York: Convergent, 2017).
When I’m with my wife’s family I get a kick out of watching the pecking order at work. Whether you are from a healthy family or a broken family we all have our social position (or birth order) in the family that defines who we are.
For example, my wife is number 5 of 9 kids. She is often seen as the fulcrum that balances the family dynamic. If you are a middle child, then I image you have some things in common with her and our middle daughter. I cannot speak to that, because I am the last of 4, the baby of the family. If you are like me, or Rev. Dawn, your siblings probably see you as the spoiled one who gets away with everything. That might not be totally accurate portrait. But I do think the last-born are our parent’s favorite because we’re their last chance of getting it right. Hierarchical patterns are found throughout our society. They always have been. Most corporations, governments and religious communities are set up in a way where each person has their own particular place of power and prestige. Despite the fact our constitution states, “All men are created equal,” our country’s story would suggest otherwise. The good news is no matter where you are born, in whatever order, or to whom your birthright belongs,…we really are all created equal in the eyes of God. Through Christ, God has blessed each one of us the same, even if our lives are radically different. Read Galatians 4:4-7 below But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir through God. Galatians 4:4-7
On Christmas Eve, I asked how many nativity stories were in the gospels? If you were watching, you might recall I got many different answers. Rev. Dawn was correct to say there was only one birth story, which we read from Luke.
But I would argue there are two when we count the Magi visiting baby Jesus in Matthew’s gospel. John also gives us an esoteric account of Jesus’ birth. And if you want to know more about that you can read my Christmas Eve blog post, Between Light and Dark, from 2022. Given our reading today, you can see that Paul also includes his own, albeit brief, story of Jesus’ birth, in his letter to the churches in Galatia. It is part of a larger argument that he’s making, comparing people who follow Jesus with orphans who are under the care of a conservatorship until they reach a particular age to inherit their father’s property. Paul isn’t talking about material wealth, but spiritual wealth that comes with sharing faith with Jesus. He wrote, “God sent his Son, born of a woman, to redeem us and adopt us as his own children. As a child of God, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.” Some children inherit great financial wealth; others receive great debt. One might get their mother’s eyes, while the other inherits his grandfather’ high forehead. This is not the inheritance that Paul is talking about. He knows we’re all different and yet all the same. So, he points our attention towards our divine DNA. Scripture is pretty clear that we are all created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27). I take this to mean we are all born blessed by God. That blessing, which ties us all together is Christ, who didn’t just come to redeem the world, or to save us from something we did. Christ is not God’s clean-up plan, but God’s original plan for us. Christ is the way God created the world, including us. Paul says it like this, “In Christ all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:16-17). No matter who our earthly ties are, we all belong to God because we all have Christ within us. The same DNA that is in the baby born in Bethlehem, is the same that has been given to you and me. Through this little baby, wrapped in swaddling cloth, every person in the world receives an equal portion of the same gifts and grace; the same love and forgiveness; the same salvation and redemption. Through him we share not only a name, but a heart; one love, and one forgiveness of all we’ve done wrong. This DNA makes us part of a process much greater than our parents creating a biological exchange. No wonder the church calls this the Good News. It might be hard to believe that little old you could be that special or important to God, let alone be made in the image of God. But you are. To think that Jesus chose to leave all his heavenly glory, emptying himself and taking on human flesh just to return us to our original state, our Divine goodness. His entire mission was to awaken us to our truth and reconnect humanity back to God. As John the evangelist professed in the prologue of his birth story, “And the Word of God became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” Jesus took on our flesh and all the scars and awkwardness and pain that comes with it, to live among us so we would know the way. He showed us God’s glory so we could see who we are in God’s family. More than that, Jesus didn’t just become human for a minute or an hour or a day and then go right back to heaven. He lived among us for thirty-three years, enduring the messiness, the heartbreak, the inconvenience, the joy, and the pain of human life. Jesus entered our pain willingly because he needed to go to the darkest depths of human suffering to make sure everyone sees themselves in God’s incarnate glory, full of grace and truth. In that glory we experience God’s love for us whether we deserve it or not. Jesus continues to come to us into Anamesa, to meet us in those places we all find our self, some of us more than once. Rich or poor, black, brown, or white, male or female...the darkness of life does not discriminate. And neither does God’s Love that shines brightly through Christ, and through us. Because God made the choice to share God’s self with us in human form, we have not only seen God in Jesus Christ. Through him we have received new status and become a new family. A family built upon the foundation of God’s eternal love. As members of this family, we can claim the truth that we are loved unconditionally. “Nothing,” says Paul, “can separate us from the love that God gives through Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:38-39). Nothing - not death, divorce, or differences of opinions that cause us to turn on one another. God’s love is for anyone who wants it. So too is God’s family ready to welcome any and all who want to be adopted. As we linger in the Christmas spirit, and begin our journey unlocking the space between us, may we never lose sight of the truth that Jesus not only came to love on us but to teach us and send us out into Anamesa to love one another. DNA testing might tell you of some impending health issue, or help you better understand why you have brown eyes while everyone in your clan has blue eyes. But we don’t need to mail in our saliva to know who we belong to and from where we came. A true test, then, of our DNA is seen in the way we seek out God in the heart of every human being. As children in this divine family, we are all created equal, and we are all loved equally. We need not only to recognize this in our own life (with its faults and failures) but also in the follies and foibles of others. As Jesus showed us with his own life, the love God pours into us is the same love that must flow out of us into every wonderful or difficult space we find ourselves in. When we can see the Divine DNA in others, we can give freely and fearlessly of ourselves to others. When we recognize and realize that the blood of Christ is mixed with the blood of everyone around us, then we can share the gift by loving God, loving others, and serving both. As we move forward into a new year, let us not look back from which we came, but look ahead, to see the person right there in front of us for who they really are - brothers and sisters in God’s divine family tree. Work Cited: adapted fromOur Divine DNA from December 31, 2017. Rice, Whitney. In the Beginning. www.episcopaldigitalnetwork.com (12-30-17). |
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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