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Clinging unto Jesus - April 30, 2017

4/29/2017

"Loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to Abraham and Sarah, to Isaac and Rebekah, and to Jacob and Leah and Rachel; to give them.” cf. Deut. 30:20"

LISTEN: Crowder, "I Am," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH_LLGiE0f0

One of the things I love most about the "50 Days of Easter" is that we get to take time and delve deeply into the powerful post-resurrection stories in the gospels. One favorite of mine is from John 20: 14-17 - the story of Mary Magdalene's encounter with the risen Lord. Initially she doesn't recognize him. Jesus asks, "Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" Mary thinks Jesus is the gardener! Jesus calls her by name,"Mary!" and suddenly it clicks for Mary -- and she addresses Jesus as "Rabboni" the Aramaic word for teacher.

Then Jesus says a curious thing. He tells Mary, "Don't touch me," or "don't cling to me," "don't hold on to me," because "I have not yet ascended to the Father."
Jesus touched people; Jesus especially touched people who were sinners or unclean. Even with Thomas (John 20:27), Jesus told him to touch his wounded hands and side. Matt. 28:29 records that the women who witnessed the Risen Lord held him by his feet and worshiped him. People also touched Jesus, sometimes hoping just to touch the fringe of his cloak in order to be healed (Luke 8:44-45). So why would Jesus deny Mary this opportunity to embrace Jesus? She was upset and she was faithful.
There are lots of theories. Was Jesus in pain? Was Mary too clingy? What was John trying to say?

Perhaps Jesus was teaching Mary and preparing her for the next step in her spiritual journey. He did not push her away. Jesus wanted to show Mary a new connection - an eternal connection that would transcend time, creation and space. Because of Jesus, the cross and empty tomb, we can touch Jesus -- not physically -- but through our mind and our emotions. The stories in the bible come alive because the Spirit works through them and touches our hearts.

Each of us is on a journey with Jesus. Sometimes we are "babes in the Lord," and our understanding is limited. Other times, through our trials and efforts and through the grace of God we mature and our wisdom goes deeper. We develop humility, tolerance, kindness and patience - qualities that enable us to be in touch with God, and to touch the hearts of others - even others very different from ourselves. Just as a parent trains a child to be responsible, develop insight and to share, so Jesus does with us -- as he did with Mary. In three verses she went from weeping and confusion to becoming an apostle to the apostles. That is the task of the spiritual life. To stop clinging to what no longer applies and hold fast to what is deepening our capacity to love and serve.

What are you clinging to that no longer works?
How is Jesus touching your life right now? How are you touching others and making a difference?

PRAY: "Lord, touch my heart so that I may let go. Lord, touch my heart so that I may hold fast to where you are leading me. Lord, touch others through me."

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Overcoming Doubt - April 23, 2017

4/23/2017

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Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" John 20: 28

Listen:   Mikeschair, "Someone Worth Dying For"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akdAuWG1QuQ

Poor Thomas, the Apostle. He’s gotten such a bad rap over the centuries. We call people a “doubting Thomas” (named after the apostle) if they refuse to believe without proof in hand. Thomas was the holdout – he wasn't there when Jesus first appeared to the disciples.  Thomas refused to take them on their word that Jesus was raised, insisting: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20: 24-29). Jesus obliges Thomas: he appears later that week, goes Thomas and encourages him to touch his scarred hands and side – “stop doubting and believe!” Jesus says.

Some think doubt is the opposite of faith. I disagree. Think of Thomas when he was with Jesus on his way to Bethany to raise Lazarus.   Knowing Jesus would be entering hostile territory, near those who wanted to kill him, Thomas replies, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:16).   Later in Jesus’ Great Discourse at the Last Supper where Jesus describes the heavenly home that he was going to prepare for them, Thomas interrupts with the question on everyone’s heart:  "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" (John 14:5). This doesn’t sound like someone who is uncommitted. Thomas’ doubt came from a place of someone who did believe in Jesus and did not hesitate to follow him, even when the going was dangerous, or he didn't understand. In fact legend tells us that Thomas traveled the furthest of the apostles, bringing the gospel to Southern India.

I agree with those who say the opposite of faith is not doubt but fear. When we are fearful, we see danger everywhere. We feel threatened by challenges and worries. We become stuck in our anxiety, unable to move forward or through what lies ahead of us. Doubt may leave us paralyzed to a degree, but true doubt asks questions, ponders, explores. Fear on the other hand puts us in “fight or flight” mode. Unchallenged fear leaves us stuck in our darkest thoughts, blind to the light. That’s one of the reasons the angels and the Risen Lord tell the disciples: Do not fear! Or greets them with “Peace be with you.” But Thomas wasn't afraid. His faith was shaken, which happens to all of us when we face situations beyond our control and we can figure out through reason alone.

Perhaps the Easter season finds you with doubts or fears. I have never met any faithful person who doesn’t have their story of doubt, fear, or a scarring experience. The Risen Jesus breaths peace, and shows us how to find faith and peace in the scarred places of our lives. When we let doubt or fear paralyze us – Jesus says, “I’ve been scarred too. Let me show you how to rise up through it.”

It took a lot of courage for Thomas to hold his ground with his fellow disciples. Note that Jesus did not belittle or criticize Thomas. Jesus went right to Thomas, sharing his wounds. So this Easter season, let Jesus transform your faith, answer your doubts, give your strength through your fears. Touch the wounds of Jesus – and let him touch yours. Remember Jesus has faith in you and will lead you to the ways to address any doubt, and more important, give you strength to face any fear.

What fears are plaguing my life, hampering my faith?
What doubts do I have? How can my doubts be a catalyst for my faith instead of a hindrance? What do my wounds, and the wounds of Christ, teach my about the life of faith?

Pray:  "Risen Jesus, my Lord and my God, work through my doubts, my fears, my wounds, and lead me to a Resurrected faith that brings life to the world."

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Holy Week - Easter 2017

4/16/2017

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“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29"

Listen during Holy Week:

Worthy Is the Lamb, sung by Hillsong feat. Miriam Webster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gKsPMR00_Y

Also: Agnus Dei, Michael W. Smith, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYnWp2ueQDI

"Lamb of God" from the Messiah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mNR8FJOhZ4

Sacrifice is a part of love. This is because love teaches us to put our focus outside ourselves. We care for our partners, our families, friends, our community, our nation and world -- all of creation, including animals and the beauty of the earth. Our love finds a home in all these places. As we learn to interact well with others, we learn to sacrifice -- to give of our time, our energy, our resources on behalf of others -- with no thought of return. This is mature love.

There is another element of sacrifice that is hard for us to practice. That is forgiveness. To let go of past resentments or hurts, and move beyond retribution. To practice true justice, which is love in action in community . Human societies have long sought to find ways to enact justice when one side was wronged. We all have heard "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot" (Ex. 21:24). To some this sounds harsh, but this ancient law given to the people of Israel was actually intended to limit retribution and keep it fair. By the same token as we mature in love we become aware that "all have sinned and fallen short" (Romans 3:23). Or as Jesus pointed out when the crowd clamored to stone an adulterous woman, "Let the one without sin be the first to cast a stone at her" (cf. John 8:7).

This love, that sacrifices for others, forgives, takes the burden of retribution for sin and wrongdoing, is merciful; we see it enacted fully by Jesus this week. Jesus models for us in the most exalted -- yet most humbling of ways of how Love acts. From washing his disciples' feet, to enduring the brutality of five trials along with the beatings, mocking and flogging, to crucifixion. Although in extreme pain, Jesus' last words from the cross offer forgiveness ("then said Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ (Luke 23:34), compassion to a common criminal, crucified alongside him (‘I say unto thee, Today thou shalt be with me in paradise’” (Luke 23:43); to caring for the well being of his mother in putting her in the care of his disciple ( ‘Woman, behold thy son!’” (John 19:26); to joining with all of humanity in those places where we feel separate, broken, alone, full of despair (“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is, being interpreted, ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’” (Mark 15:34).

This is Love. A love that sacrifices for us and endures the consequence of sin for us. By our witness to Jesus, and loving as Jesus laid out through his actions and teachings, we can bring restoration and sanity to our lives.

Questions for Holy Week:
Where can we improve in how we love?
Who do we need to forgive?
What resentments do we need to surrender?
For what do we need to ask forgiveness?

Pray: "Jesus, remove in me all the stones that block my ability to love, forgive and to let go of all resentments."

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Let Go (April 9, 2017)

4/9/2017

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"Let go [of your concerns -- or be still]! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth.
(Psalm 46:10 GW)"

Listen: Bishop Paul S. Morton & PJ "Let Go, Let God"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YugivPgi2Fc

This past week I've had several consultations. A young member of the church asked about how she could decrease her anxiety at school, which plagued her every day. A parent, planning for her empty nest, found her learned that her daughter lost her job, and needed to move back home. An older parishioner, caring for an elderly parent, came to the realization she could no longer provide that care at home, and was facing a mixture of feelings, from grief, numbness feeling like she was letting her father down. Another family faced unexpected bills stemming from a car accident. What bill will be paid? What can be put off? Wow, what a week it was.

This week, I'm sure gets repeated in churches, neighborhoods everywhere. We have a plan about the the way our life should go. Sometimes our plans seem to be working. Sometimes our plans just need adjusting. For a lot of people, though, our best made plans fall apart. We often respond with grief and anger.

We all know people who have had to let go of something. Each of us has had to let go of something along the way. The scriptures give us plenty of examples of people who faced the change of plans. From the great ancestors in faith: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob/Israel and Rachel/Leah, Joseph --- to Moses, Aaron and Miriam. The people of Israel would not have emerged and endured if these individuals and families didn't learn to change course -- let go of their plans and let God's plan work through them. Even Jesus chose a path that brought him repeated failure in the moment -- as he followed the journey that took him to the cross.

What do we learn from all this? One of the most important spiritual lessons we must learn is letting go of the illusion that we are in control of our lives. We are responsible for our actions, but the bottom line is that our lives belong to God. No matter what happens to us, we are called to surrender our lives to God, and let God reveal his glory through us, in us, as we learn to respond with faith and trust. The more we hang on to what no longer works or what no longer is possible we bring sorrow upon ourselves. Let it go. and let God.

Do you remember this story?

A zookeeper set a trap to catch a monkey. He used a narrow necked jar with the monkey’s favorite fruit inside. It didn't take long at all for the curious little monkey to come upon the jar that was strangely tied to a tree. The little primate stuck his hand in the jar in order to grab the fruit. His little monkey fist wrapped around the fruit he then went to pull his hand free and found he could not. With the fruit in hand his fist was simply too large to get past the narrow opening of the jar. Pull and pull the monkey did, but he simply couldn't get free.
Unwilling to let go of the fruit, his little monkey first remained stuck in the jar that was attached to a rope that was tied to a tree. The zookeeper simply untied the rope from the tree and led the little monkey to the zoo with his little monkey fist still tightly wrapped around what he simply wouldn't let go. So the monkey was caught because he wouldn't let go.

As we approach Holy Week, let us meditate on what we refuse to let go of.
What patterns of thinking or living no longer serve us?
What old habits keep us trapped?
Remember the words of the psalmist "Let go/Be still." Our God is sovereign of the universe. Surely God will guide our lives to shalom -- peace, wholeness, abundance of spirit. Let go.

Pray: "God you are in charge. Help me let go of my burdens, for you promised to carry them, and to help me. Teach me how to place my trust in you."

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Anointing Jesus (April 2, 2017)

4/2/2017

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"Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. Mark 14:3-9. Matthew 26:6-13. John 12:1-7 "

Listen: Phil Wickman, "You're Beautiful" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JP_HLFdfok

As we draw nearer to Holy Week, we can imagine Jesus anticipating what awaits him. He has foretold his suffering and death on several occasions to his disciples -- always met with denial and misunderstanding. The plots are thickening, the leaders are conspiring on how to bring Jesus down.

Our bible study this week finds Jesus in Bethany. The most surprising thing happens. An unnamed woman (although in John's gospel she is Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus) enters, carrying costly perfume. It was worth at least a year's worth of wages for the average man. Without saying a work she anoints Jesus' head -- a sign of consecration -- kings and priests and sacred objects are anointed in similar fashion. The title "Christ," which we use for Jesus, means in Greek the "anointed one."

This passage is stunning and has a lot to tell on several levels.

An unnamed woman anoints Jesus. Who has, thus far in the gospels, acted so boldly? Especially a female acting with such spiritual authority?

When has Jesus, to the date, proclaimed that someone has done something beautiful for him?
When did anyone ever do something beautiful for Jesus?

Jesus, defending her against the criticisms of the disciples, sees this as an anointing in preparation for his burial, which would happen in a few, short days. If we recall, Jesus received the gift of myrrh from the Wise Ones (the magi, "Three Kings"), an anointment used with the death, foreshadowed the prominence of his death.

There are people all around us who are facing difficult times. They are enduring uphill battles that show no signs of abating. Some are alone in their struggle, and sense the darkness closing in. Who will help them along the way?

This woman with the costly ointment couldn't stop Jesus from being killed. She did what was in her power to do. She went to Jesus, without a word and gave him what she had. She emptied out her savings and anointed him. Jesus, you are the Holy One. Jesus, you are God's Chosen. Jesus, you are not alone.

We are called to anoint those around us who are hurting, suffering, struggling. What does it cost us to take the time to be kind or to reassure someone of their worth? This act was one of the few beautiful gestures recorded in the gospels. No doubt it stayed in Jesus' heart during his trial and gave him strength as he was led to the cross.

Remember Psalm 23:5 "You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows." Being affirmed and loved adds meaning and comfort to our journey, especially when it turns rocky. It is a beautiful thing

Each of us has the power to anoint using, words, deeds or prayer. Let this unnamed female disciple inspire us in our own faith journey. Be lavish with someone today who is hurting. Do something beautiful -- affirm someone in doubt, make a difference and give strength, hope and love where it is needed.

Who will I reach out to this day?
How will I bring beauty to their life?

Pray: " Jesus, you have us the costly gift of your life, and the promise of eternity with you. Guide us to do beautiful things for your people in need."

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Clinging unto Jesus - April 30, 2017

Overcoming Doubt - April 23, 2017

Holy Week - Easter 2017

Let Go (April 9, 2017)

Anointing Jesus (April 2, 2017)

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