MOB - Pent 5C

I am being stalked!

Seriously all week the Gospel reading has been chasing me, jumping out from behind bushes, and peeking through half drawn curtains.  It seems everywhere I go   - the situation or conversation relates to the story of Jesus casting demons from the mad-man in the Trans-Jordanian wilderness.

On Tues night, I attended the Gambler’s Anonymous group, that meets in the church hall.  The community was celebrating a 24^th birthday – 24 years gambling free; a milestone that was honoured by many telling the birthday celebrant how much they had helped their own journey to living life.  Other stories shared were current struggles, wrapped up in demons from the past, and hard circumstances needing to be faced in the days to come. One attendee was quiet, until near the end. Getting up the courage they shared that it was their first meeting --- having been brought by a friend --- and cried out, that there was nothing but darkness (an abyss), and that the celebration of the birthday and the stories of others were enough to give them the possibility of perhaps believing there might be a hope that there is hope. 

In a long time, this is the darkest place I have witnessed someone being in.  I recalled the demons speaking to Jesus, They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.  The demons, however, had pretty much taken the mad-man to beyond the edge, and this person from the meeting was well into the abyss; which I describe as a place where one has no hope; they are no longer themselves.

The translation from which we read the story of the man whom Jesus heals, the demons refer to themselves as Legion.  A Legion, is not the Legion we know today as a place for veterans to gather – to share each others pain, hidden inexplicable memories- demons. Rather a legion describes a large army, 5000 strong, designed to attack in waves – if you have watched any recent epic film you know what I mean:  a wave of cavalry, a wave of archers, a wave of foot soldiers, then giants, or catapults… 

I prefer the language used in the Message translation – which for some reason was the translation Lutheran clergy read the text from when we gathered on Thurs.  The text reads, Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Mob. My name is Mob,” he said because many demons afflicted him.

Mob, m-o-b.  This word resonates. Flash mobs; mobs rampaging after sporting events; protests turned into violent mobs; a school yard fight turning into dozens egging on the fight and joining in; a mob --- an unruly group of people who act in destructive ways with a mentality that has a life of its own, often producing actions that individuals would not commit of their own accord. 

I had coffee with a friend this week. This friend spoke with me about this great Bible translation that seemed to bring the Word into real life like none other – the Message – so I gave an example I had heard the day before:  Legion to Mob.  The friend shared a disturbing story, when he lived in another part of the world and had a life as a bus driver --- he found himself stuck on the bus, alone, on an empty street and coming over a hill, came to a police barricade, with no choice but to turn left, he turned tucking in just past the police line and was halted.  There was an approaching mob that was being corralled away from the main street of the city and being pushed down the road where my friend’s bus sat.  The police had my friend take cover in the bus  - the mob chose to hit the bus; 1000s of people, wave after wave, took their angst out on the bus; my friend did a lot of praying and was sure he was going to die. The riot squad eventually moved the mob enough with protective shields to get my friend off before the bus was flipped or set on fire. It was the longest 5 mins of my friend’s life.  Mob.

We might not have such a fantastic mob story, but, we understand mob. 

We’ve been in crowds, at concerts, and sporting events and have felt the pushing at the end of the night when everyone is trying to leave quickly; we’ve been at dances were the dance floor gets over full and people push in on each other; we’ve been in circumstances where a crowd gets excited or agitated, but, we more often experience Mob in a more personal way.

Mob gets to us: waves of guilt pile up and we feel undeserving of coming back to the church community; waves of not feeling well to a diagnosis of inoperable cancer; waves of anxiety or depression to an end of self-harming; waves of life circumstances numbed by substance and led to addiction; waves of memory lapse and cognitive distress on the way to Alzheimer’s; waves of doubt and fear as one is in the last stretch before death ---- this week these were the places where Mob burst into my world.

Throughout our lives we have moments of getting pretty close to being on the edge of the abyss:

overwhelmed, at the end of one’s rope, and sometimes the bottom falls out.  The Gospel does not leave the mad-man in the abyss, or us, close to the edge.   The Gospel story ends with:

The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him [Jesus]; but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went a

way, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

As the Gospel continued to stalk me, I figured it out ----

The conclusion to the story is important!  For the man-made-whole the conclusion has become his vocation and purpose in life.  It is also the direction for those of us who have been under the control of Mob.  We are to return home and declare how much God has done for us.

When there are those who have recognized and experienced Jesus in the moment of utter darkness -- when on the edge of the abyss – and in that moment where Jesus casts out the demons; these people have been given a gift of hope and life. And the people having experienced Jesus go and share their story of what God has done, spread hope and peace to others. In doing so they become the Word that pushes the demons back and puts an end to Mob having a debilitating hold on a person.

That’s what happened at the Gambler’s Anonymous meeting, those who lived through darkness, had faced Mob, shared their stories.  In the honesty of the story, the admission of continued struggle, and the resource of the community, Mob lost its power over the person, for at least this moment, this wave.  Hope was given as a gift.  This hope grew in community.

That’s also what happened over the years in our Legions, those who had witnessed the darkness of war, had faced Mob, had a place to go and share their stories, a common horror that didn’t even need to be articulated.  Mob lost its power over individuals, for at least a moment, in the awareness that no one was alone – a community held hope as a whole that allowed for life to continue on.

My experiences this week had me sharing stories with those facing Mob, stories of others whom I had journeyed through similar circumstances with.  I shared stories that told of hope and healing in all the circumstances of life – although perhaps not in the way the hearer might have anticipated.  One person kept asking me, well how do you know? I know that all will be well, that God holds us because I have journeyed with people through some very dangerous and scary places.  And in the end I have been with those who pass from here to the next world – with a joy glowing on their face, an indescribable peace in the room, a gentle slipping between this world and the next obvious that someone they knew had come to take them on the next part of their journey.

Although in this Gospel we do not get an insight into the disciple’s experience of the event, we are told later in the Gospel, when after Jesus’ death they are on the edge of the abyss – when everything in their lives comes crashing down around them- when Mob is at the door; the disciples hole themselves up in a house; together.  For 50 days they wait in Jerusalem until the day of Pentecost, and when the Holy Spirit comes they go off preaching and teaching – not alone but in pairs, forming communities and sharing all that Jesus had done for them and for those whom Jesus met.

Because of community I had stories to share, my own and those of others, with those facing Mob.  The Word, Jesus was present in the presentation of Good News and hope was made possible.

What you hear here, see here, and experience in life --- the struggles you struggle through and make it through --- are a gift of hope for those currently stuck in the abyss.  Please share your stories, as insignificant as you may think they are.  Simply to know someone else has struggled in the same way is reassuring that one is not alone.

Save a life, cast out a demon, simply by enacting Jesus’ words:

Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.

The Best Gift Ever ------ PENT 4C-2016

I have here a delightful gift box, in a creative design, with a stylish silver bow.

The gift inside is wrapped in golden tissue. The gift in this box is precious.  The gift in this box is the best gift ever. The best to receive, the best to give.

If you were to receive this gift – what would you wish it to be? ……

Looking at the texts for today, if the characters were offered this box, “the best gift in the world,” what would they wish was inside the box?

We start with the text from Samuel. We enter towards the end of the story of King David.  King David has seen Bathsheba bathing and has called her to his house; she became pregnant; so David called her husband Uriah back from the war front – but Uriah would not go to his house and stayed in the barracks with the other soldiers; so David set about sending Uriah back out to the field in the midst of the worst fighting so that he would die; of course readers know that Bathsheba is pregnant with David’s child. In the text from today the news arrives that Uriah is dead.  Nathan the prophet is with David and prophecies the death of the baby yet to be born, that David’s house will continue to live by the sword, that what he now owns will be taken away --- David has sinned. 

Addressing this messy situation – what is the best gift ever- ?

In the Letter to the Galatians, we are introduced to a debate in the early church. The situation is whether or not Gentiles (named here as sinners and thus unclean) needed to convert to Judaism, to be adherents of the Law, in order to be followers of Jesus and members in the community.  Gentiles and Jews did not mingle, each having their own practices and way of living. Paul, to the chagrin of many, proclaimed that Gentiles need only to adhere to Christ.

Addressing this messy situation – what is the best gift ever-?

Luke recounts a story comparing the invitation given Jesus by Simon the Pharisee to his home for dinner and the hospitality as shown by a woman – who brings ointment and anoints Jesus’ feet with it and her tears. Simon tries to shoo the woman – whom he’s judged as a sinner- away. She is unclean.  People are eating. Those at the table are judging Jesus’ choice to allow the woman to continue her loving action.

Addressing this messy, uncomfortable, situation – what is the best gift ever-?

Each text has words that tell us what gift is in the box.

David hears the Word: “The Lord has put away your sins; you shall not die.” Putting away sins is an act of forgiveness; a forgiveness that brings life.

The church of Galatia hears the Word: “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Out of love God’s Son dies for all --- forgiveness that brings life.

The woman hears, as do all at Simon’s table, the Word: “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you, go in peace.”  -  Forgiveness that brings life.

Inside this box – the best gift ever- whether receiving or giving- is forgiveness.

Earlier when you called out your wishes for the gift in the box, you called out important and valid gifts.  Love, hope, healing, peace, joy, abundance, faith, community, friendship, family- all gifts that could change and revolutionize our life situations and the world around us. Today I suggest that forgiveness tops them all.

Of course forgiveness does not stand alone, and in fact is intertwined with love – but, forgiveness is unique and far rarer than love.

Pause and reflect on the times you say, “I love you.” ………How often do you say, “I forgive you?” …or “I need forgiveness.”

We can love places, things, animals, people – with no need of forgiveness; we just love – whether through liking, caring, compassion, mercy, grace – a feeling.  Forgiveness is difficult; it is hard work; it is time consuming; it is heart rendering; it changes the core of who we are and our relationships with others. It is impossible to achieve without an underpinning of love.

John Monbourgquette – psychotherapist and priest says: Forgiveness is such a perfect act that it surpasses the mere psychological capacity of a person. This is why one must rely heavily on one’s religious and spiritual resources to accomplish authentic forgiveness. This does not mean that the forgiver has to accept the particular creeds of institutionalized religion, but he or she must at least delve into the spiritual and the sacred realm of the soul.  The therapeutic effectiveness of forgiving is conditioned by the forgiver’s feeling that he or she is loved and forgiven by a higher spiritual Power of Love.”

We hear this in the parable Jesus tells of the debtors who are forgiven their debts, and we see it illustrated in the actions of the woman who wipes Jesus’ feet with her hair.  Something has happened that has affected her heart at an intimate level – such that a gift of love, a gift of asking for forgiveness and an expression of the forgiveness already experienced is articulated through action. Forgiveness has brought life – abundant life.

Peter VanKatwyk, one of my seminary professors of pastoral care, quotes the following definition of forgiveness:  forgiveness is “a willingness to abandon one’s right to resentment, negative judgment and indifferent behaviour toward one who unjustly hurt us, while fostering the undeserved qualities of compassion, generosity, and even love toward him or her.”

---the willingness to abandon one’s right to resentment---Forgiveness is a choice. It is a choice that believes that relationship is more than one’s ego.  It is being less to be more, or more to be less, depending on how you choose to describe the interaction with oneself.

A little girl was once asked what forgiveness is...She gave a beautiful answer...
"It is the fragrance that flowers give when they are crushed..."

Eighteen years of ministry has taught me that of all the virtues the least grasped, the least used, and the most damaging when not practiced is forgiveness.  Forgiveness isn’t practiced as it requires a willingness to let go – and people seem attached to their baggage and want to keep it. Face it, it gives us something to talk about, to complain about, to make us look like the martyr. It allows us to have an excuse for forgetting, for misadventure, for being too busy and overwhelmed to participate in life giving ministry; it allows us an “out” for being occasionally unkind or mean – not ourselves. Forgiveness isn’t practiced as it requires an investment of self, time, and perhaps compromise, giving-in, a change of heart, a change of lifestyle, a letting go of having to be right even if it is a time when we are right. Forgiveness could be applied to all the messy situations in which human beings find themselves- in my experience forgiveness is the answer or the balm -the ointment- to the breaking down of relationships; spouses, parent-child, siblings, friends, church communities; forgiveness is the ointment that allows a loved one to die well, with no regrets, guilt, or transferred baggage; Forgiveness is the healing property for those fighting addiction, or those who self-harm; forgiveness gives the ability to cope with life and move forward.  Forgiveness is the difference of someone who lives to survive and someone who abundantly and thankfully lives.

“You are forgiven.” “Through Christ you are forgiven.” We all need to hear this Word.  Most weeks we hear that word, “as a called an ordained minister of the church of Christ and by his authority, I declare unto you the entire forgiveness of all your sin.”  When I say that, I mean it. It’s not me, but, the power that works through me that forgives your sin.  You are forgiven. ---- and when you have a willingness to abandon your ego, you are changed because of that very Word; that fact!

Today there are many who are not present in church pews to hear this very important Word.  To be Good News in the world, to share Christ, it has fallen on us to be the spokes people --- yes, each of us.  It is our responsibility to articulate to the people we meet: You are forgiven.  Through Christ you are forgiven.  I forgive you. In these words the outside Power of Love is given as a gift -forgiveness is given as a gift- and it is a blessing set it on individuals and communities. These words could be the very Word that changes the trajectory of the receiver’s life.  It will change the gift giver – it will change you.

Perhaps the most perplexing -or annoying- thing about forgiveness is that simply saying, “please forgive me” or “I forgive you” is only the beginning of the journey.

Clarissa Pinkola Estés – poet and Jungian psychoanalyst writes: “How does one know if she has forgiven? You tend to feel sorrow over the circumstance instead of rage, you tend to feel sorry for the person rather than angry with him. You tend to have nothing left to say about it at all.”

This is my prayer for you this week, that you have a willingness to abandon your right to resentment, negative judgement, and indifferent behaviour. That rage turns to sorrow, and anger with to feeling sorry for. That in the end you have nothing left to say about it at all. And by giving and receiving the gift of forgiveness you experience abundant life.