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Giving Peace on Memorial Day

5/27/2019

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 John 14:23-29 
Michael McCastle, a veteran, endurance athlete, philanthropist, once pulled a 2.2 ton truck for 22 miles across Death Valley in the Mojave Desert–the hottest recorded desert in the world. It took 19 hours, but he pulled the truck with a body harness -- one mile for every veteran life lost to suicide each day. To McCastle, Death Valley represents the mind of the afflicted; desolate, lonely and hopeless. So the feat symbolizes hope for life. No matter what the environment around us is or what darkness the day brings, we are surrounded by the Peace Jesus gives.  McCastle is a peace giver, in Jesus’ footsteps.
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Memorial Day, a day to remember our fallen dead has its American roots in the Civil War, many believe it began in the action of African American former slaves who gathered in 1865 to remember the Union dead. There is no doubt that we participate in an ancient ritual going back thousands of years. In ancient Athens, public funerals for fallen soldiers were held after each battle, with the remains of the dead, on display for public mourning before a funeral procession took them to their internment in one of the city’s most prestigious cemeteries.

War and conflict have been close companions to human society.   It is said recorded human history has known perhaps 280 years of peace.  The rest is war and conflict. Upwards to one billion people have died as a result of war and its aftermath -- not to mention the refugee and economic crises prompted by war.  No wonder there is so much grief.  No wonder we desperately need to be peace seekers, after the peace Jesus gives.

For us as Christians we find ourselves in a quandary. Every religion has some form of the ‘golden rule’ ‘Do unto others no harm’ But for Christians war goes completely against our deepest understanding of the Gospel Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God… on earth as in heaven… is a vision of peace where there is no war, as the prophet Isaiah declared, “nor again will we ever be trained for war” (Isaiah 2:4b).  And yet war continues, and Christians participate, often initiate war for a variety of reasons.  In the face of war and conflict, how do more prophetic and challenging are Jesus words, said before his death:  “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.” John 14:27

It is said, where armies march, thorns grow for fifty years.   Because of the prevalence and devastation of war, Jesus recognized the pivotal role we have to bring healing, to walk in his peace be bridge builders in times of woundedness.   Peace seekers look for more than the cessation of war: they seek reconciliation, mutual understanding, well-being for all peoples.  

It is interesting to note that Jesus doesn’t say blessed are the peaceful or pacifists but blessed are the peacemakers – those who actively seek to create conditions of peace.  We are called to build peace into our everyday life.  We are invited to live so that the peace of God permeates all we do—from the interchanges we have in a shopping line, in a traffic jam, at work, on Facebook, and other interchanges we have with family, neighbors and friends.  Peacemakers are concerned about the conflicts in each human heart no matter how they manifest. The conflicts that tear us apart inside – that keep us from God and each other. However, it doesn’t stop there.

          We may not be called to fight battles thousands of miles away, but that doesn’t mean we don’t find ourselves in battles in our own backyard or in our Town Squares.  It is here where we are asked to employ the tools of peacemaking.   To listen actively, to be respectful, to speak our truth with humility, to seek mutual understanding wherever possible. 

Jesus is the original peacemaker, and in his care for others and teachings he models how we are to live out peace. By bringing peace, wholeness, forgiveness, God’s love, the gospel, to others.  Jesus sacrificed his life to reveal the extent of the Father’s love for us and free us from sin.   That’s what peacemakers do.  They go the distance for the wounded and hurting.  

So modern peacemakers, peace seekers: are concerned about the wounded living.  They are not just focused on the conflicts our homes, not just out there in the world but the conflicts in our society that divide rich from poor, divide races and ethnic groups and people of faith.  Peace is interconnected and comprehensive.   These are our marching orders. Are we ready for the boot camp of peace?  Will we drill in the tools that dismantle conflict and war? Are we ready to invest as much time, money and talent in the things that make for peace as we do those things that support war?  
Soon after the Civil War, it is said that a group of women asked the War Department for permission to put flowers on the graves of soldiers buried at Arlington Cemetery. Permission was finally granted to do so, with a caveat: No flowers were to be placed on the graves of the Confederate soldiers.  The confederates were buried in a segregated section of the cemetery. 

         The ladies carried out their task and carefully followed their instructions. A crowd gathered for the commemoration at which General Grant gave a speech. 
But shortly after the ceremony concluded, they say a strong gust of wind blew through the cemetery… and the wind blew almost all the flowers into the Confederate section.   After that the separation was never repeated. Many believed that the wind had sent by the hand of God. There it was:  God – divine peacemaker, reconciling in both death and life.
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May the same hand of God work through peacemakers to scatter the prejudices of the living this Memorial Day.  May the fallen, dead and living, be honored with the peace of Christ, which passes all understanding.  May we, the living, honor them as we claim the call to peace in all walks of life.  Amen.   






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I Chose You

5/15/2019

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         The very first Mother’s Day I celebrated as a newly initiated mother was also the first Mother’s Day I spent without my own mother.  You see, she had died of a heart attack the Sunday before.
         I spent my first Mother’s Day with my infant son and my brothers closing out Mom’s apartment: sorting and tagging, going through drawers of old linen, newspaper clippings of recipes going back thirty years,  I discovered she kept every letter I had sent her from college thirteen years earlier.   It brought back memories: my mom earned the nickname “Baracuda,’ in her workplace.  Back in the 1960s and 1970s, male coworkers would think nothing of insulting female coworkers, among other harassments.  Mom would just return the favor and let them have it in front of the entire office. 

I remember that she faithfully gave food and money to a homeless woman who lived under a bridge, and never forgot to bring something for her dog as well. Mom co-founded Cleveland “9-5” an organization that advocated for equal treatment of women and equal pay for equal work, in the workplace.  Once she was interviewed why she fought so hard for women’s rights in the workplace.  She replied, “so my daughter won’t have to go through what I went through.”  My mother was never a huggy type, but I knew then and there that was her way of saying I love you. That this activism was her way of laying down her life for me, and my generation.  Her fight to make the workplace a better place was an act of justice-love.  It was a fight she was engaged in all her life, and as we see today, continues in our generation.  We fight for justice on so many fronts because justice is the manifestation of love in community.  It is what Jesus says” this is my commandment, 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.” 

Mother’s Day, in it’s ideal, is about the expression of Love.  It is a day that not only do we give thanks to God for the women who are mothers in our lives, but mothers thank God for the gift of mothering – the gift to obey Jesus’ command to love.  Mothers and those who take on the gift of mothering learn the commandment to remain in love, to love in both happy and difficult times. If we are fortunate, faithfulness to this gift of loving brings us joy, joy complete.   Not everyone is fortunate to have had a loving and caring mother or have the experience of motherhood. Some mothers experience sorrow and heartache instead of reciprocal love. But God did design us, so in the ideal world, mother love would be prominent and experienced by all. The Prophet reminds us:. Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”Is.49:15 God is there, even if a mom isn’t  and will place someone in our lives.
 
      Love is what Jesus wanted his church to look like.  He started by choosing people. Mothers are one example of people lifted up as the epitome of selfless love, We need to be sensitive to the fact that some of us never had this loving relationship with a mother, or it’s just complicated.  Today isn’t a day to celebrate for them. However, most of us are fortunate to have had or have mothers that come close enough. Most Perhaps Mother’s Day, observances are accompanied by dinners, cards, flowers, clothing perfume and other gifts, symbolizing the gratitude for the gift of mother love, might be different if some of that $25 billion dollars were spent on nurturing and promoted social well being of our most neediest mothers, desperately seeking to feed, clothe, house their children?  

I ponder this, because  I will never forget the people who helped my family, six of us raised by a single mother who worked two jobs, including all my brothers morning and evening paper routes, and we still became homeless. We still went hungry.  But then there was the bag of groceries at the door, saying don’t give up. So, Mother’s Day is not just a day to give thanks for mom, but for those mom-like activities of sacrificial love in the world to help all the children of the world.  Bear fruit, Jesus says. Love one another.
  
       Today, when I think of my mother overlooked for promotions numerous times because of her gender, I remember the genesis of Mother’s Day, Anna Reeves Jarvis, who promoted mothers’ workdays to improve sanitation among the poorest of the Appalachian mountains. Anna Reeves Jarvis provided medical services to civilians and soldiers on both sides of the conflict during the Civil War.  Later she would world for reconciliation.
  
       In the same vein, we recall once more the words of poet and philanthropist Julia Ward Howe in 1872, as she proposed a Mother’s Day of Peace “Arise then women of this day!...we women of one country will be too tender o those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.”    When was the last time you say that quote on a Hallmark card?
   
      What we don’t hear is the commercial take-over of Mother’s Day instead on the focus on true love: Anna Reeves fought congress have the whole thing revoked.  It all felt blasphemous to her. Reeves would be absolutely appalled to know that Approximately $25 dollars will be spent on this weekend alone.  It is a dilemma. We want to show our love for our mothers, we want to help mothers in need.  Can we do it both, in honor of mother love? To follow Jesus’ Command to love one another – not just those closest to us?
   
    I think Howe and Anna Reeves Jarvis would stand beside countless other mothers who have lost children to violence, who have taken a stance – we will not allow our children to be trained to kill others. Like Kendrick Castillo, the brave student who charged a shooter at his school in Colorado, dying to protect fellow students this past week in Colorado. That’s what it really means to lay down our lives for others – the kind of love Jesus wants us all to develop.
      
   It is important to celebrate those we love.  It is also important to celebrate those whom God loves—and that we catch that same spirit that spoke to the Gentile Cornelius who reached out to Peter, then be open to the loving vision, to hearing the same divine voice that spoke to Peter.   Together they took the church in a new, scandalous, boundary bursting love-focused – direction. 

Celebrate love today.  Remember, though what Jesus said -  I chose you.  So burst some boundaries. Love someone whom it might be hard for you. Help someone who might not have a happy mothers’ day because of a lack of resources.
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God chose you. You. Jesus is talking you in the plural here. Together we have something to offer the world that is precious, unique, irreplaceable.  Our gifts combined create a wonderful, compelling story of grace that reveals the love of Christ then let us act and bear fruit – an overflowing abundance of God’s amazing love.  So we can leave this world a better place, for God’s children who are looking up to us now. Happy Mother’s Day – and those without mothers will have the joy of mother love through us  Amen.  

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Gone Fishin'!

5/7/2019

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Acts 9:1-6,; John 21:1-19
        For the last several weeks, we have been caught up in the gripping, intense drama - that began with Jesus’ triumphal entry in Jerusalem, followed by his last supper with his disciples, betrayal at the hands of Judas, his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, then Peter’s denial, desertion by most of the disciples, brutal interrogation and torture, suffering and crucifixion, burial and the his resurrection on the third day.  The disciples reacted with unbelief and joy to learn that Jesus had been raised.  Yet joy was mingled with fear, of the Jews, and just to be safe, sequestered behind locked doors.  Still Jesus appeared – twice -- doubt turned to faith with Thomas’ words, “my lord and my God!”  
        What a roller coaster of emotion these disciples were on.  Leave it to Peter that his first recorded, post-resurrection remark is “I’m going fishing!” It provides us with a moment of levity in this story that has been so heart-wrenching yet so central to our faith.
        It’s a very human and sane response. When there’s just too much going on to take in all at once, when your life has been turned upside down in a matter of days; when you have committed a grievous mistake for which you‘d give anything in the world to take back --- it is a sign of health to get away, clear your head, and think.
        It was good for Peter to get away.  He went to the Sea, which was his second home. Peter was a fisherman until he had met Jesus three years earlier. Under the right circumstances, an activity like fishing frees the mind to reflect.   And Peter had plenty to reflect upon.
        In a way, it seemed to be ending where it all began. On the sea, working the nets with James and John, Thomas and Nathaniel, just like the old times. Or was it? Could he really turn the clock back, before he knew Jesus?
        Peter had many memories to sort out that night as they toiled to catch fish, and none came.  Like that day with his brother Andrew when Jesus first saw them and said, “Follow me, I’ll make you fish for people.”  Why were they back looking for fish, not people?  Was the weight of his guilt finally getting to him?
        Once back at the sea, Peter discovered it wouldn’t be as calming as he thought – these waves carried so many memories. At the shore of the sea great crowds would bring the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, the leper, so many hurting people, and Jesus cured them.  Near the shore of the sea Jesus gave thanks over the loaves and fishes and fed a crowd of four thousand, including women and children.  Peter, no doubt, remembered the time a storm hit their boat, threatening their lives, but Jesus awoke, rebuked the winds and all became peaceful. What an amazing moment that was. Or of that other storm, when they were sinking, and Jesus came to them, walking on the sea, and Peter tested Jesus, “If it is you Lord, command me to come.” Jesus beckoned him. Peter stepped out of the boat, took a few steps.  He grew frightened by the winds and began to sink.  Jesus immediately caught him, and spoke “you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  Peter thought grimly, why did he doubt?  Or, what about that time Jesus was preaching from the boat and told him, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."  A memory that felt hauntingly similar, they worked hard all night, with nothing to show for it. But because Jesus said so, they let down the nets. Their catch was so great that their nets began to break and they had to get help. The boat was sinking.  What did he say? He fell on his knees.  From his heart he cried out -- “Leave me Lord, I am a sinful man!”  But Jesus didn’t leave. Jesus saw something in Peter that Peter didn’t see.
        Peter had been given so much.  Peter and Andrew were the first disciples to be called. Peter is almost always the first disciple to be named when the disciples are mentioned. Jesus always included Peter in the smaller select group of disciples to go with Jesus at special times. Peter was there.  When Jesus was transfigured on the mountaintop.  Peter was there. At the garden, before his arrest, Peter was there. Whose name did Jesus change?  His – from Simon to Peter, rock. What did Jesus see in you, Peter? 
        Peter was the first to confess Jesus the Messiah, the son of the living God. Peter was the bold one, not afraid to ask questions or make comments.  “Lord explain this parable to us.” “Lord, how often should I forgive?  …Seven times?” Lord where can we go? You have the words of eternal life. You are the holy one of God.”  How did Jesus respond? That Satan particularly wanted to sift Peter.
        This was the weight that Peter carried with him that night.  He had been given so much.  Yet he denied and failed the Teacher he loved. Peter felt his failure – all the lost potential --acutely in the dark of the early morning hours. After a long night’s work, all he had to show was an empty net. The symbol of his life.
        It must have haunted him.  “Why did you doubt, Peter?” That last time before Jesus died. Peter swore he would never forsake Jesus. He pledged to die with him.  Jesus prophesized that Peter would deny him three times.
        Jesus knew this. That is why he appeared the third time at this fishing rendez-vous.  He had to perform another healing at the sea. This time it was for Peter.
        And so, came that familiar voice from the shore.  Children, you have no fish, have you.  No.  Cast the net to the right side of the boat.
        And they did and weren’t able to haul the nets in because of the load.  When and this happened before?  When they had a catch so big their nets began to break?  That day they met the Lord for the first time.
        It is the Lord!  And so, Peter, true to form, puts his clothes on, then jumps in the water, and swims to shore.
        How could he face Jesus?  He does what Jesus says, they count the fish, 153, in biblical thought was exactly the number of different fish in the world, representing a full harvest.  God still needs you to fish, Peter.
        But Jesus knew more was needed to feel Peter.so he took him aside after breakfast.  He addresses him formally, not as Peter but Simon:
        Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? The first time Jesus asks a disciple if they love him. Jesus doesn’t ask Peter the - who do you say I am? Question, of prior days.  Or What do you make of all this Peter.  It’s a new question.  It’s Peter, do you love me.  Yes Lord, you know I love you.  Feed my lambs. I trust you, Peter.
        Simon son of John, do you love me. Yes, Lord you know I love you. Tend my sheep.  You have what it takes Peter.
Then the third time: Simon Son of John, do you love me” The dam broke, and all the grief and despair pours out. Lord you know everything.  You know I love you. This time, Peter, you will be faithful, until the end.
There’s no mistake or coincidence here.  For every instance that Peter denied Jesus, Jesus helped Peter to face his failure, let him know he was forgiven and trusted to continue the work of love – tending to a harvest of souls.
Jesus gives us a powerful lesson – the connection between the empty tomb and the empty net.  The easiest way for us to grasp the experience of resurrection is through loving forgiveness. It was the power of God’s loving forgiveness that raised Jesus from the grave.  It was the power of loving forgiveness that brought Peter back to life.  In loving forgiveness there is power to resurrect the broken heart. A lost dream. An aimless life. An empty net.  Whether it’s the third time, or the 100th time. You and I are loved. We are forgiven.  You and I are still fishers of people, people who need to know God loves them – lost people - and they can make a difference.  We can still find the love in our hearts to tend God’s sheep.
Some of us today maybe at the point of giving up.  We may feel like a failure.  This God thing is just too hard. This relationship thing is just too hard. This loving thing is too difficult. Maybe it’s time to get away, go to the sea, the beach or whatever works for you. Go and face those memories, confront those empty nets. Because at the break of dawn, Jesus is there, encouraging you to try again. You have love in your hearts that you haven’t tapped. Your nets are waiting to be filled. Try again Jesus says. There’s ministry to be done that only your nets can reach. There are lost souls waiting for your care: lambs of God’s flock that are seeking guidance that you can give – because you’ve been there – and  with the Risen Lord at your side, you know the way back.
Amen.
 

 
                       

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    Moirajo is a minister, social worker, wife, mother, writer and animal lover. That's just for starters. Join the story, there's so much we can share together! 

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