ADVENT 2023- WEEK 2 - The Greatest Gift

As Christmas Eve falls on the fourth Sunday of Advent, we mark a shortened Advent season, three weeks. This three-fold devotion focuses on the verbs: PAUSE, PREPARE, PONDER. The devotions include readings and focus verbs, as provided by Augsburg Fortress’ Sundays and Seasons, and contributions from congregation members on the theme of ‘gifts given and received.'

photo credit: Rev. Lidvald Haugen-Strand

WEEK 2: PREPARE – Luke 19: 28-40

 

You will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ – vs.30-31

 

‘Nurturing the Good’ meditation (mentioned in yesterday’s devotion) invites participants to ‘feel’ gratitude:

“Let yourself bring to mind other things you feel grateful for. How your body is still functioning right now, your heart still beating, your lungs expanding and retracting, your skin protecting your flesh.

Let yourself connect with gratitude for the presence of beloved people or pets in your life…

Now let yourself open to gratitude for the world around you, the Earth that is supporting you…”---- Carolyn

 

Have you considered that the Earth is supporting you? Or that an abundance of gifts have been (are) laid in your path? The donkey-colt in the story from the Gospel of Luke was a gift waiting for Jesus. The disciples go and retrieve the donkey for Jesus to ride for his final entry into Jerusalem. The palm branches used to worship Jesus were a gift waiting for the gathered crowd along the side of the road where the parade took place. Time and space is imbued with waiting gifts.

 

I received the gift of a caring high school teacher, who’s support and guidance changed my life.

His gift has put me in positions to pay it forward.

I am forever grateful, and, that without a doubt, God placed this person in my path. – Bill

 

I am both comforted and excited by the idea that there are gifts all around us. It changes my perception of the world I interact with. To consider that everything I perceive is a gift – means each item is special, has intention, is meant for someone or some creature. It gives me pause – is this gift for me or is this gift for someone else? Is this a shared gift?

 

I recently read, when money realizes that it is in good hands, it wants to stay and multiply in those hands. – Idowu Koyenikan (Wealth for All: Living a Life of Success at the Edge of Your Ability)

It reminded me of people whom I have met that articulate their life through stories of receiving gifts. Perhaps you know a person who constantly talks about being in the right place at the right time, the one for whom the stars align, the one who repeatedly speaks of being blessed, or prayer after prayer being answered.  The person isn’t necessarily more blessed – it is that the person experiences the good – is prepared (open) to accepting and using the gifts ready and waiting in time and space. These gifts from the universe, gifts from God, gifts from Mother Earth – are freely given.

 

The Bible verse from Luke about the donkey, reminds us that Advent is a time of waiting and hope. We wait for Christ to come again. We are reminded that the Christmas story is a story of God’s gift of incarnation, a story that has gift after gift to open, all the way to the tomb of Easter morning.  Walking with their teacher, Jesus, the disciples unwrap gifts of epiphanies into God’s character, new interpretations of scriptures, and renewed hope in the kindom of God. Each gift received expands their experience of God’s unconditional love. After Jesus’ death, the disciples, now Apostles, re-gift the world with the gift of the gospel. Preparing hearts to be open to the greatest gift.

 

Holy One, we give thanks for the abundance of gifts,

ready and waiting in time and space.

Encourage and strengthen us to tell our story from the perspective of gifts received.

 Prepare us to be used as your gift to others. Amen.

The Beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ

 

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.

 

This is how the Gospel of Mark begins.

And as the Gospel unfolds, it is an action-packed message where the characters presented are in your face – calling for repentance, a change of understanding and being, and a reordering of one’s life so that nothing gets in the way of God’s coming.

This good news of Jesus Christ, as delivered by Mark, is counter-cultural to our experience of church and understanding of what happens here, and what is expected of us. In Advent we focus on hope, peace, love, joy – we have taken the characters as presented by Luke, Matthew, and John  - and fallen in love with them; the shepherds, Mary, Elizabeth, the angels, the wise ones. We have fallen in love with the beauty of words: “in the beginning was the Word, the word was with God, the word was God.”

The characters from the Gospel of Mark, cry out, THIS is the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ –

Be forewarned, be prepared, this good news upsets the world as you know it; it upsets the very foundation of who you think you are. It most definitely upsets people and systems with power and authority – for their ears do not hear the voice as good news.

 

Mark in his opening paragraph introduces two characters – one with a description that is a character of characters.

John the Baptist is introduced as a voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord.

Dressed like a wild man, he is preaching and teaching, offering ritual outside of the Temple authority. People are flocking to him. Religious authorities are upset. So too is the Roman endorsed ruler, as John points fingers outing the ruler’s sin. Because of the good news, John the Baptizer is beheaded.

 

Jesus, the second character, is first introduced to us by John the Baptist as– one more powerful than I

Similar to John, Jesus teaches and preaches, performs miracles, and people, especially the poor, flock to him. Religious authorities get upset. So too the Roman authorities get upset. Because of the good news, Jesus is crucified.

 

The Gospel of Mark quickly tells the story of the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ. It is the shortest of Gospels, every word testifying to the nature of Jesus and the good news. The original ending of Mark ends at the empty tomb with an unfinished sentence, they (the disciples) where afraid for…

 The gospel doesn’t end; Mark doesn’t write, “Here ends the good news of Jesus Christ.” The good news continues through time with characters that bear witness – that cry in the wilderness- calling for repentance, a change of understanding and being, for people to reorder their lives so that nothing gets in the way of God’s coming.

 

There are a lot of characters who have filled this role through the centuries. In the first two weeks of December the Church commemorates a number of good news bearers; today I will mention 4 and a group. Such characters are commemorated on the day of their death – it is astounding that the following characters’ deaths fall in the season of Advent, a season of repentance, turning our hearts to reorder our lives so that nothing gets in the way of the Christ’s coming.  The characters are, like John the Baptist -crying in the wilderness- to the twentieth century church.

 

Four American women – Dorothy Kazel, Ita Ford, Maura Clarke, Jean Donovan-

These women were missionaries in El Salvador; Catholic activists who protested government oppression of the poor, provided humanitarian aid and in that role were accused of promoting political opposition to the regime. Because of the good news, Dorothy, Ita, Maura, and Jean were abducted, raped, and murdered Dec. 2, 1980

 

Francis Xavier –A missionary to Asia, the first to Japan, he was a Jesuit who had taken a vow of poverty and chastity. Francis faced opposition and in places practiced Christianity with new converts underground to avoid persecution. He spoke out against Spanish-Portuguese colonists when he discovered their oppression of the Indigenous people he was sent as missionary to.  Because of the good news, Francis died Dec. 3, 1552 -from an acute illness while waiting on a boat for permission to enter mainland China.

 

Nicholas or better known as St. Nicholas- Was Bishop of Myra which is in the territory of Turkey. Legends of his work describe devotion to God and love and advocacy for the poor; redistributing wealth, providing doweries, secretly giving. His voice in the wilderness included speaking out against heretical factions in the early church and refusing to comply with traditional religious practices of the Romans. Because of the good news, Nicholas was imprisoned for a time. He died Dec. 6, 342

 

Ambrose – Was governor of Northern Italy. He converted to Christianity, was baptized and became Bishop of Milan. He gave away his wealth and served the poor. He was a famous preacher who defended Christianity and spoke out against opponents of the faith. He took on the role of trying to mediate conflict between Emperors; his political views and actions related to his faith. Because of the good news, on one occasion, Ambrose and a group of believers were threatened by Gothic soldiers. He died Dec. 7, 397

           

Sancta Lucia- was a wealthy young woman who, on becoming Christian, devoted her life to God and gave her possessions to the poor. At the time Roman persecution of Christians was in full steam; she took food and aid to the Christians hiding in the catacombs. Because of the good news, Lucia is martyred Dec. 13, 304

 

The Sunday resource, Sundays and Seasons by Augsburg Fortress c2023, for this week wrote:

The beginning of a TV series is about world building: we are introduced to the characters, places, and events that are important to the unfolding story. We may encounter new people along the way and new truths may be revealed, but the beginning sets the parameters for the narrative. Final episodes of long-running show are much anticipated as we wonder how the story will end. Like an excellent pilot episode, the beginning of Mark’s gospel begins to build a foundation for the dramatic narrative that will follow. We are introduced to characters: Jesus the Son, God the Father, the Holy Spirit, John the Baptist, and the people in need of confession and forgiveness. A defining event – John baptizing in the wilderness – and foreshadowing the One who will bring about reconciliation and resurrection set the stage for the narratives that will follow.

 

When we investigate the characters presented, there are clear parameters – the voice calling in the wilderness – calling for repentance, a change of understanding and being, and a reordering of one’s life so that nothing gets in the way of God’s coming.; the good news changed the very essence of the characters. Receiving the good news, the characters devoted themselves to God and gave their possessions to the poor; they spoke out against oppression and held firm to the faith…even when – or particularly when- it was counter-cultural and meant persecution, imprisonment, death.

 

The end of the story – the end of the Gospel of Mark – the end of the good news of Jesus Christ has not been proclaimed… the good news of Jesus Christ is being written as I speak, as we live. The characters described this morning, are voices crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord. This moment in God’s time, it is on us to repent, to be changed in understanding and being, to reorder our life’s so that nothing gets in the way of God’s coming. It is time for us to live as voices in the wilderness, the living of our lives by completing the sentence, because of the good news of Jesus Christ…

ADVENT 2023 - The GREATEST GIFT

 

The GREATEST GIFT 

As Christmas Eve falls on the fourth Sunday of Advent, we mark a shortened Advent season, three weeks. This three-fold devotion focuses on the verbs: PAUSE, PREPARE, PONDER. The devotions include readings and focus verbs, as provided by Augsburg Fortress’ Sundays and Seasons, and contributions from congregation members on the theme of ‘gifts given and received.’

WEEK 1: PAUSE – Matthew 6: 25-34

 Strive first for the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. -vs. 33

 

In a meditation for ‘Nurturing the Good,’ Kaira Jewel Ling, begins by inviting people to pause in gratitude.

“We share a practice of embodied gratitude…

Begin by settling into the body. Feel the breath, notice the environment, be aware of sounds, and connect with sensations in the body. Open to what’s here in the body and mind, with acceptance and kindness… Now I invite you to appreciate yourself for your practice and the many ways that you are open to learn and grow. Something in you is energetic and motivated to grow and deepen.”                                                                                                                                                              ---Carolyn

 

The more mature I become, my understanding of the kindon of God changes, as does my idea of striving for the kindom. Pastors, from my experience, strive really hard to engage their congregations, to provide excellent worship, to teach and mentor faithful living, to serve other people, to be involved in their community, to cast a vision of God’s mission, to grow hope, and to work at building the kindom of God. Pastors can spend so much energy striving, that the point -the greatest gift- gets lost in busyness. I wonder if ‘striving’ is not a pushing forward, accomplishing, or progressing, but, rather, found in the practice of the three verbs: pause, prepare, and ponder.

Often, I hear from wizened and well journeyed congregation members a variation of

“We are gifted with another day!” The phrase is spoken with a reverence that is full of gratitude and contentment. There is a sense of peace given through the statement, that right now, at this moment, we have received a precious gift; all is right and good.

 

I gave my Mother a red leather pocketbook about 10 by 11 inches with a loose handle for Christmas. This was when I was going to early college. It was unusual in its expense. I was happy to give it to her.

Usually our family exchanges lists of what we would like to receive to eliminate unwanted gifts. I put on my list items I haven’t had time to go for on errands.                   ---Sandra H.

 

As I try to embrace this elder wisdom of giving thanks for the gift of another day, and practice embodying gratitude, I pause to consider what to do with this gift. Another day gives more time to express love through gifts, be responsible to creation when giving , give gifts that are needed. Surely the gift of a another day is not for me to keep for myself: so how will I live this day? Can my gratitude and love be given back so that the kindom of God is more present in the world?

As I paused, to think about this, the following quote popped into my media feed:

 

The bread which you hold back belongs to the hungry; the coat, which you guard in your locked storage-chests, belongs to the naked; the footwear moldering in your closet belongs to those without shoes. The silver that you keep hidden in a safe place belongs to the one in need. Thus, however many are those whom you could have provided for, so many are those whom you wrong --- St. Basil

 

As I practice embodying gratitude, I now turn to prepare and ponder:  

I have been given the gift of another day. I wish to not waste it and strive to re-gift it through extravagant love.

 

 

Holy One, we give thanks for the gift of another day.

Encourage and strengthen us with life.

Open to us moments to share this gift back into the world,

seeding the world with gratitude and life. Amen.

 

 

Kairo Jewel Ling, We Were Made for These Times: Ten Lessons on Moving through Change, Loss, and Disruption (Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press, 2021), 105-106, 107.

Advent Collage

 In Mark 13: 35 we read: Therefore, keep awake---for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: keep awake.

In the next chapter, Mark 14, we find:

Vs 17- When it was evening, Jesus came with twelve… and they had supper.

Vs 33- After supper Jesus took, Peter, James, and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. Jesus said, ‘I am deeply grieved even to death, remain here, and keep awake. … and Jesus went off in the garden to pray. We know this story – three times Jesus returns to the disciples and finds them, not keeping awake and praying, but rather sleeping.

In vs. 68 – Peter is in the courtyard of the high priest’s house, where he denies knowing Jesus. The time …Peter went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. And again, the servant-girl, on seeing Peter, began again to say to the bystanders, ‘this man is one of them.’ Again, Peter denied it.

And chapter 15 begins, as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation …they bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him to Pilate.

This story that leads to Jesus’ arrest and death marks time, exactly as predicted and forewarned, in Mark 13. It is an example to future generations of what it means to: Therefore, keep awake--- for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: keep awake!

 

I have always anticipated with joy walking through the Season of Advent. The mood of the season, the words of the hymns, the ritual of the Advent wreath, and the tension in the scriptures read – along with the shortening of daytime hours, resonates with my heart and sense of being in the world.

Advent, to me is like a collage – a few of my favourite things, juxtaposed with the suffering and troubles of our times.

As a child -and I will admit today too – I enjoy making collages. A collage is art created by collecting different scraps of material (sounds, paper, fabric, buttons and bobbles, photos, et cetera) and combining them together into one work; a work where pieces overlap, juxtapose, complement, change perspective. Pieces can: be indecipherable, alarmingly dissident, take on different meaning, and miraculously bring a union to disjointed scraps, form beauty out of chaos, and illustrate a hope that the broken and incomplete can be made whole in community.

 

The Season of Advent is a collage of scripture – in the next few weeks we hear scraps of Gospel, from Mark, John, and Luke. For those who follow the daily lectionary readings, Matthew texts get included too. Each has its own peculiarities and thrust. Each its own story of who this Jesus is, whom we are waiting for. At this time of year, pieces of the Gospels get all mixed up, the pieces we like and the ones we don’t care for so much.

Today’s reading -by itself- is an excellent example of an Advent collage. The author of Mark picks and chooses from scripture and tradition. In chapter 13 he has included thought and word from Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, and Zechariah, and Jesus. There are apocalyptic images, end time and present day, prophecy, a foretaste of the feast to come, the reading of signs, common knowledge… all these combine into one text; one piece of art.

A collage is a curated piece of this-that-and-the-other-thing that is a working out of thought and feeling. Each piece added gives a new perspective in relation to the scraps around it. A collage is a way to make sense out of the senseless; collect details, and form patterns to create order in chaos; and apply sensibility to bring different elements together to explore connection and form relationship.

 

Swedish musician Jens Lekman describes the relationship of bringing together dissonant pieces this way: The beauty of the collage technique is that you’re using sounds that have never met and were never supposed to meet. You introduce them to each other, at first they’re a bit shy, clumsy, staring at their shoes. But you can sense there’s something there. So you cut and paste a little bit and by the end of the song you can spot them in the corner, holding hands.

 

The notes in my Oxford study Bible, summarize Mark 13: 3-37 as one unit, with one theme, an: Exhortation not to be distracted from the movement by distressing events. One needs to read carefully so as not to get caught up in the apocalyptic images and words from the prophets that Jesus uses.  Jesus’ point is to caution against an apocalyptic interpretation of historical crises. This oppression by the Roman Empire is not the end of the world. Centuries before, centuries after, when times are difficult humans look to and expect the end to come; imminently.  

The proclamation of the Gospel is that the Jesus’ movement – God’s kindom- is present and working in the midst of historical crises. Jesus’ followers are called to remain disciplined in practice, vigilant in resistance, and endure hardship, and before all to hold hope that a resolution of ‘this’ historical crisis is near – the time however is unknown, so followers are told to ‘keep awake.’

 

As a child one of the things I enjoyed about making collages, was the collection of items because it included all of my senses. I had a collection of handpicked unusual rocks, snatches of ribbons, and unique buttons. I kept scraps of brightly coloured and neatly patterned papers, and interestingly textured fabrics. The items I collected gave me pause, gave me joy, a moment of wonder, imagination, intrigue,a chance to experience beauty.

Today my collage making is through words – sermons in particular. I have a journal where I write phrases, snippets of texts, interesting quotes, and new words I am introduced to. I spend my week collecting scraps of news, sifting through sections of scripture, conversing with people, practicing the disciple of faith, enduring historical crises, reading apocalyptic type signs of the times… what you receive on Sunday morning is a weekly collage where I bring together the scraps and pieces of the week in an attempt to make sense of it all, to interpret and wonder at the moments God’s kindom was present, to proclaim that the historical crises of our times do not hold us bound, that it is not the end of the world, and that with discipline, vigilance, and endurance we can be the kindom. We can be scraps of joy, hope, peace, and love.

Perhaps we are asked to ‘keep awake’ because each of us – when awake, living intentionally to resist that which is not lifegiving – are not individual pieces but a collage – unified, together, beautiful, and a created order amidst the fragmentation around us. Our Advent role – being scraps of Christ’s coming- creates a collage of grace in the chaos of our times; just like American sculptor Louise Nevelson said, I make collages. I join the shattered world creating a new harmony.

 

 The Gospel of Mark tells listeners not to waste God-time fretting about the end or deciphering when it will be, rather focus on the Movement – Jesus’ movement – life, death, and life; teaching, preaching, healing, being present with compassion, peace, hope, unity, love, grace.

 

Our journey through Advent, confronted with today’s scripture collage, Jesus is telling us like it is, like it could be, like it will be. Take a look around us – at a hurting and chaotic world. The scripture is not to scare us with apocalyptic images, but rather to have us pause and ponder our part in the Movement, and to reassure us to endure, to carry on regardless. Art critic and poet Donald Kuspit expresses it well: Collage is a demonstration of the many becoming the one, with the one never fully resolved because of the many that continue to impinge upon it.

 

Together we are a collage, pieces that come together to bring God near, there is always room for the addition of pieces to the collage – a continued Movement  -  a community that shares the task of ‘keeping awake.’

Keeping awake to share an evening meal. Keeping awake to pray in the garden. Keeping awake at cockcrow to proclaim ‘we know Jesus.’ Keeping awake at dawn to bear witness that in death there is life.

Christ's Reign Lifts Loneliness

 

This photo is from Walk With Me Wednesdays -                  in partnership with WalkNS, the church offers a 2.5 km leisurely walk in the neighbourhood every Wednesday 11am-noon. 

Everyone is welcome. We leave from the Allan St. ramp.

This is one of the programs you can participate in to 

LIFT LONELINESS!

If I was queen, I would be a fairy God-mother kind of queen, so I could have a magic wand.

If I was queen with a magic wand, I would wave it over my kindom, and gift each person with time in my cozy den of heavenly bliss.

My cozy den of heavenly bliss is a room in the heart of a tree, with a round window to let in sunshine and can open to hear the birds. On cold days the window is closed tightly, and the best seat is a comfy reading chaise tucked in a book nook, ready for one to curl up directly in a sunbeam, wrapped in a homemade quilt, with a book in hand from the intricate bookshelves lining the walls. There are rich coloured rugs on the wood floor, and a smell of pine and warm apple cider with cinnamon and a hint of orange peel, fills the air. A hot mug of whatever warm beverage tickles your fancy is on the side table. You are alone and comfortable in this heavenly den of bliss.

If I was queen with a magic wand, I would wave my wand so that all could live in this tranquil place.  From the tree house, the resident can see the outside world, can have someone over for tea; can go out to church, participate in community events, lend a hand; go into the neighbourhood for groceries, write notes, make calls, text with friends – The tree house dweller is connected and at the same time content to be by themself.

 

We celebrate this final Sunday of the church year as the Reign of Christ. For the past few weeks our readings have been escalating in intensity to focus on Christ in all Christ’s glory, and Christ as the centre of the God’s kindom. These, end of the church year Sundays, highlight our eschatology. Eschatology is theology concerned with death, judgement, righteousness, end times, final destiny, beliefs of heaven and hell, and the coming of God’s kindom.

I saw a meme this week that said:

Inaccurate eschatology causes the church – causes us- to:

Wait for a King who already reigns. Wait for a Kingdom we’re already in.

Wait to become what we already are. Wait for an age that has already come.

Wait for victory that’s already been won. Wait to do what we should already be doing.

 

We have spent a year together walking through the life of Jesus. We have heard Jesus’ teaching, witnessed the miracles, wrestled with parables; we have died with Jesus and risen with Christ. Today our eschatology should be clear: Christ reigns. God’s kindom is here. We are followers of Jesus and workers in the kindom. Death is no more. Love reigns. We are about sharing and proclaiming this Christ, this kindom, now.

In our heart-of-hearts we believe this to be true, or in the very least hope that is true – it is increasingly difficult to face the world and see that Christ reigns, experience that God’s kindom is here, that death is no more, and that love reigns.

 

Weekly we receive calls and emails – desperate calls from people looking for a room to rent – people who are nurses, working two jobs, teachers who can not find a place to live. This is not how the kindom of God is to be. It is like we are living in the kindom when suddenly the bridesmaids’ lamps run out of fuel. The persistence of these calls wears on my heart; and I succumb to worrying about tomorrow: what shall I wear, what shall I eat, where will I live. The Gospel hits me hard this morning and sits uncomfortably – I am overwhelmed by the hungry, the naked, the sick, the unhoused, those who are alone.

 

This time of year, I start to consider what my focus will be for the coming year. I like to do this when kindom stories and the Reign of Christ immediately influence my thoughts. Last year much time was spent working together discerning where we go as a church on the property front, and this is well in hand and work that continues in good hands. I also spent time engaging with the neighbourhood through neighbourhood sparkle events- this was the appetizer for this coming year. My heart is being drawn to lifting loneliness - as our contribution to feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, accompanying the lonely.

I heard a conversation this week on CBC Radio about loneliness. Loneliness is the largest silent crisis in our midst – 1 in 3 people are experiencing mental or emotional discomfort from being lonely. Loneliness is different from being alone. One can be alone and not be lonely. Loneliness though is coloured by a sense of disconnect between the person and community, being isolated, often mixed with feelings of depression. Loneliness stems from social needs not being met or an inability to get the social connection desired; such is often caused by major life change whether retirement, different employment, a move, an empty nest, sickness, death of someone close, divorce… Loneliness debilitates and has serious mental health and physical consequences.

 

All of the eschatological readings this morning, have something in common. Did you notice the images and language are community based? We hear an image of God searching out sheep like a shepherd; sheep are pastured together, travel together, the stray is brought back to be with the flock. Ephesians is a letter written to the church community in Ephesus. The letter gives thanks for the community and highlights love toward all saints and inheritance among the saints. Paul speaks of the church as Christ’s body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. The kindom parable from the Gospel speaks of the gathering of all nations, where sheep and goats get separated into two flocks. The readings are about groups, community, and relationship. Food, drink, clothing, shelter, connection – to lift loneliness. In God’s kindom, loneliness evaporates in community.

Feed and quench loneliness. Cloth loneliness. Visit loneliness. Heal loneliness. House loneliness. Accompany loneliness. As a community we can do this! My New Year’s resolution is to do this – lift loneliness. And I am going to do this with a little help from my friends.

 

I began by dreaming, if I was queen and had a magic wand …everyone would be given the gift to be in my cozy den of heavenly bliss. We are a community that can be a cozy den of heavenly bliss. Contributing a little time and being present once or twice a month in activities to lift loneliness we can change the visibility of God’s kindom, now – and fulfill Christ’s call to address the needs within us and around us.  

 

On this Reign of Christ Sunday, I boldly confess:

Christ reigns. God’s kindom is here. We are followers of Jesus and workers in the kindom. Death is no more. Love reigns. We are about sharing and proclaiming this Christ, this kindom, now.

I am excited to get started! Loneliness be gone! Alleluia!

How Do We Number Our Days?

 

 

How do we number our days?

These last few Sundays of the church year we hear story after story of end times. The Gospel of Matthew is on a roll: two people in a field- one taken, one left; bridesmaids with and without oil; management of talents. These end time parables fit Matthew’s character, where discussions centre around the Law and righteousness, with Jesus – as a teacher- being asked for his interpretation. Jesus’ interpretation fits into the discourse of the day, yet there is always something that stretches the listener, turns the argument upside down, and if one really pays attention there is shock and surprise. Of course we know that Jesus’ practice was to do this through parables.

 

For centuries the parables have been interpreted at a surface level, where the master – even if being less than kind or just in the tale- is God; and the other characters are judged by their actions or inactions. This is so human of us.

We get so tied up in judging the characters, and then judging others and ourselves, that we are distracted and do no step back to look at the whole picture. We miss the common thread: TIME- the shortness of our time, the eternity of time, the cyclical nature of God’s salvation at work through time recorded from Genesis on, and to the early church and now us the common thread -Christ will come again.

God’s salvation is at work, Christ will come again – the promise of the parables is that God will come again; return. God will surprise us at an unknown, unexpected time. In the meantime, hearers of the parables are to direct their attention to continually wrestling with what it means to live in faithfulness; reflective living where a person numbers their days. Accepting an end date allows us to live faithfully in the present.

 

I am reading a book called ‘the Worship Architect’ by Constance Cherry.  She begins by stressing that when we gather, we gather for Christ-centred worship: Christ is the foundation of worship and devotion. In fact, the service is bookended, to the focus: the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all and go in peace and serve the Lord. Worship orients us in time, a faithfulness of time, where we mark time following the life of Christ. This weekly Sunday pilgrimage draws us to focus on putting Christ at the centre of numbering our days. When Christ is at the centre we mark our time living gospel.

 

I don’t get all caught up in the end time parables, in the judging, in the fear of being left behind or without oil, instead I have accepted that my days are numbered and because of this will focus the time I have to the eternity of time. The eternity of time – the cyclical work of God’s salvation from generation to generation- to freely live my time as eternity I do a couple of things: I come and participate in Christ-centric worship, I live the seasons of the church year – Jesus’ life, death, and life; and I tithe, giving 10% to Christ focused community.

When my life contains these ways of living, my entire life -decisions, relationships, actions/inactions – spring from Christ.  It means I live free – without guilt, shame, fear, judgement. I live in faithfulness. Christ has set me free.

How do you number your days?

Wiping of Tears Ceremony

 

Once upon a time I had a wooden box that held women’s handkerchiefs from days gone by. The handkerchiefs were small linen squares with intricate embroidery and tatted lace edges. They were not the sort of handkerchiefs one would use for blowing their nose, rather, they were a female’s companion to daub eyes in a teary moment. You have likely seen old films or read historical novels where women carried such handkerchiefs. Stories from that time often had chivalrous men who would pull out their handkerchief to pass to a woman in their presence who were crying. Reading and watching displays of handkerchief use, one might say that the use of handkerchiefs was civilized; I suggest it was tradition and a ritual that brought comfort, even healing.

 

A moment ago, we heard a reading from the book of Revelation, where after death, God is said to ‘wipe away every tear from their eyes.” This group of faithfully departed were a group of early Jesus’ followers who had suffered much because of their faith and the way they chose to live their life. During the days of the Roman Empire, persecution - crucifixion, imprisonment, exile, death at the hand of gladiators or wild animal in coliseums – was common for Christ followers. Christ-followers were a group that were often scapegoats, after-all Christianity was forbidden by Roman Law; they were identified as opposing the Empire, not worshipping the Emperor as god, choosing not to participate in cultural rituals but instead having weird rituals of their own. Much to the chagrin of the Empire, Christ-followers shared their resources, continued to gather for prayer, cared for the poor and forgotten, and empowered the lowly with hope.  The Book of Revelation has Christian martyrs honoured before God’s throne after death; death is written about as a reward after the perils and tribulations of earthly life. Before God, and in the glory of God, those living through turmoil and persecution can rest their hope in the life to come. And their present tears– every tear will be wiped away.

 

I would love for present tears -every tear to be wiped away. What I mean by that, is that I relish a time when circumstances that make me want to ‘ugly cry’ would cease – the circumstances and events that break my heart, disturb my spirit, and weigh heavy. There are many tears in our world, much is lost daily. We grieve: the death of loved ones, the loss of jobs, lack of stability… We grieve: the lack of peace, safe places for the displaced and homeless, failing systems, increasing temperatures, and sweeping change. The world and its people carry much grief, many tears. To hear the words, the promise, God will wipe away all tears from their eyes, speaks to a change from what currently is. I imagine a place where everyone’s needs are met, where all are welcome, where fear melts away, where there is joy in living, where relationships are whole… where tears of joy, tears from laughing-so-hard are the norm.

 

The Bible appears in many translations; one of the newest is the First Nations Version of the New Testament. Curators of this version have this unique and beautiful way of translating the text from Revelation:

…like a shepherd watches over his sheep. He will guide them to springs of life-giving water, and there the Great Spirit will perform the wiping of tears ceremony for each of them.  Rev. 7: 17b (FNV)

 

Is this not a beautiful thought, the Great Spirit will perform the wiping of tears ceremony for each of them?

In my last parish there was a woman who on most Sundays, at some point between the sermon and communion, would have tears that freely streamed down her cheeks. The tears came once she had settled, attuned to the sacred space, opened her heart. It was the space she felt closest to God, at peace, at one with a son she had lost many years before; it was a safe place to grieve, to rejoice, to let it all out. I always appreciated this woman’s faith shown by the way she lived life – and how Sunday tears were an expression of an undying love – she was not embarrassed to shed tears in front of others. She was not hindered by what others might think. The tears were part of her weekly offering, a giving of herself, from the depths of her being. They were a prayer of love and healing. In her coming to sacred space each week and shedding tears of undying love, the Great Spirit reached out for the wiping of tears ceremony, touching and healing her so that she could back into the world sharing love and hope for another week.

 

Earlier we heard the words, Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. The First Nations Version of the text reads: Creator’s blessing rests on the ones who walk a trail of tears, for he will wipe the tears from their eyes and comfort them. Mt. 5: 4 (FNV)

 

Blessing rests on the ones who walk a trail of tears –

This morning I am going to own this text! And invite you to walk a trail of tears too.

Washington Irving wrote:

There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.

In this sacred space, where I feel safe, where I feel belonging, where I feel like I am being embraced, I am going to give myself permission to participate in the Great Spirit’s wiping of tears ceremony; meaning tears may very well stream down my face as I express my undying love – an undying love for those who have died, for those who are grieving, for those who sick, for those wrestling with mental illness, those living in tents, those fleeing war or separated from family, those in refuges camps, those whose futures are uncertain… for the multitude of people I carry in my heart…  for a hurting world, for all the things -people, systems, situations- that I can not fix. Today I cry from my heart undying love – tears that are prayers.

 

The box of handkerchiefs that I had, once belonged to grandmothers and great-grandmothers. One of my grandmothers had a ritual, where in intimate moments she would look me in the eye, and carefully stroke my face as she tucked the hair around my face behind my ears. She didn’t do it very often, but I remember how it felt. I sense the same feeling when I consider the Great Spirit and the wiping of tears ceremony. In that moment, all is well. All is quiet. All is pure love. All is healed. All is whole.

 

This morning I thank all of you for coming to honour your loved ones, for taking time from your busy lives to pause and remember; to open your hearts and shed a tear or two of undying love. My prayer -my tears of undying love- for you, are that you feel God’s presence and care for you, that you experience healing, and wholeness, that for this week the undying love you have felt will be lived through every moment of each day. This sacred space is here, today, tomorrow, and the next. This sacred space is offered to you with love, you are always welcome! As a community we welcome tears, tears that are our expression of undying love, a love that prays for the healing of the whole world.

 

May this be so . Amen.

Grace Is More!

 

NT Professor Richard Ascough from Queen’s University in Kingston, ON writes:

It is not clear whether Paul means that Christ’s death placates God’s wrath or whether his death removes the cause of the wrath from humanity. Here I would argue another option, but that is not where I am going in this sermon ...  Either way, Richard continues, Christ’s death is effective, but how the metaphor works remains a mystery, although clearly for Paul it is a gift – “grace” (verse 24)- that restores this relationship.

 

God’s grace is our focus this Reformation Sunday. For Lutherans, our heritage is an emphasis on grace. Since the 1500s we have heard and read Paul’s letters, particularly Romans, and interpreted the scripture and theologically reflected from a lens of the theology of the cross saturated in grace. Do we really get it?

God loved creation and humankind so much that God chose to die to show us to what length God will go to love us. There is nothing we do that earns this love – it is a free gift.

Do we really understand grace?

Think of a time when you felt most loved. Grace is more than that love.

Think of a person you care for deeply. Grace is more than this care.

Think of an intimate moment you have experienced. Grace is more than this.

Think of a time when you were welcomed, accepted, and belonged. Grace is more than this.

Think of a time when you were forgiven or when you forgave someone. Grace is more than this forgiveness.

Think of a time when you were filled with gratitude. That feeling you had, Grace is more.

Think of a time when you were awed by creation, a sunrise or a night sky. Grace is more.

Think of a time when you were astounded by the intricacy of nature or confounded by a mystery. Grace is more.

Think of a time when a relationship was reconciled or restored. Grace is more than this.

Think of a time when you were satisfied and full. Grace is more than this abundance.

Think of a time when you were healed, protected, comforted, at peace. Grace is more than these.

Think of a time when you were overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of others. Grace is more than this.

Grace is more than ALL of the love, intimacy, forgiveness, welcome, acceptance, belonging, forgiveness, gratitude, awe, mystery, reconciliation, restoration, satiation, fullness, abundance, healing, protection, comfort, peace, generosity, kindness – put together.  Grace is more!

 

Many years ago, I visited Wittenberg, Germany – the centre of the Reformation, with Luther’s home, the university, the church that received Luther’s 95 Thesis on its door… but of all places in that town with special significance, one that has always stood out for me was the working water fountain in the courtyard of Phillip Melancthon’s house. Phillip Melancthon was a compatriot of Luther, a theologian, an intellectual leader of the Reformation, and an influential designer of educational systems.

The earth-toned fountain in his courtyard is not super fancy. One can sit on the edge and easily reach the spigot to fill a bucket or water bottle. The face of the backwall has a spigot from which water flows into the trough below. What is fascinating is that this fountain has continually worked since the time of Melancthon.

The fountain – or water outlet- is part of the Old Maiden Water Piping System that was constructed in Wittenberg by a group of distinguished local residents in 1556. Other than the mayor and the apothecary, the distinguished cast were printers, publishers, bookbinders, and an artist – all contributing to the spread of the Reformation. Using hollowed tree trunks as pipes and connected with iron joints, water was transported from a spring 5km outside of town into eight courtyard fountains in the town, one being that of Phillip Melancthon. Three years later the system grew to 22 outlets suppling water to 60 houses. The system is still in operation today with 30 outlets providing spring water to the town’s citizens.

So, what does this have to do with grace?

I started with a quote, part of which read: Christ’s death is effective, but how the metaphor works remains a mystery, although clearly for Paul it is a gift – “grace” (verse 24)- that restores this relationship.

In the 1500s clean water was effective but the how remained a mystery. For the citizens of Wittenberg their fresh water source reduced mortality from waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery; clean water boosted immune systems, improved food production in town gardens, aided sanitation and hygiene. The benefits of fresh water were abundant even though the water looked like any other water. The water piping system provided water sources in courtyards where they were accessible by the community, every citizen. The source of the water, the spring, continually pumped water of its own accord, a free gift to the town. What else I love about the water system is that it was the vision of seven men, who had the means and the will, to build a gift to benefit the whole town. This water system works in my mind like God’s grace.

The water outlet in Phillip’s garden can be passed today with little notice unless you are paying attention.  Grace is like this too, an abundance that is visible right before our eyes, yet so often we do not see it, or attune ourselves to it.

 

In the world of trauma therapy, counsellors work with clients to identify triggers. Triggers are a result of trauma experienced. After trauma the nervous system can become hyper-focused, constantly scanning for potential threats and danger; this is the brains way to keep one safe. Identifying triggers can help people work with controlling and changing actions and reactions. Recently, press has been given to the idea of glitter, dubbed the opposite of triggers. A glitter is defined as small moments that sparks joy or peace, which can help cue the nervous system to feel safe or calm. The idea is that being attentive and focusing on glitter moments will aid in the healing of the whole body. It’s a matter of attention. Grace moments – grace- is a matter of attention and intention. In world full of trauma, that personally experienced, secondary or tertiary trauma, from supporting those with trauma or trauma gathered from news or media, or crisis in the present--- it takes consistent practice to attune our hyper-focused nervous systems from triggers to glitter. Trauma to grace.

 

Returning to our earlier reflection on the small glitters of grace we experience- where grace is more, much more than all of these put together; let us focus on these moments of grace and finding strength in them, living from them, such that we bring God’s life-giving water to a thirsty world.

It Is Indeed Right, Our Duty, and Our Joy to Pay Taxes

 

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise through paying taxes.

Likewise…

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God.

 

Taxes. The gospels are full of stories about taxes, both temple and government tax, along with stories of tax collectors. Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector when Jesus’ called him to be a disciple. There is the story of Zaccheus the tax collector who changes how he lives when he encounters Jesus. In Matthew 17 we hear that Jesus pays the temple tax. Many of the stories depict tax collectors as a group whom fellow Jews despise, demonizing them as traitors and being in-bed with Rome. And we have today’s story where Jesus is cornered and asked, Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?

 

I began with a phrase that we pray in the communion liturgy. It is indeed right, our duty and our joy that we should…  The prayer follows our giving of tithes and offerings and the offering prayer that blesses God for blessing us with these gifts: ourselves, our time, and our possessions. The prayers continue, asking that our hearts turn toward those who hunger in any way, that we might be for the world signs of God’s gracious presence, and that we might feed the world with God’s love. The repetition of offering prayers helps us remember why we are about the work and mission of the church. We are reminded that we are in relationship with God and that giving to the mission and to others is an action of being faithful. Over time we invest in God’s mission by giving of ourselves, our time, and our possessions – praying, praising, gathering, working. Some of our investment we see in returns, some waits collecting interest, and some is withdrawn and seemingly disappears. The offerings we give to God are in God’s hands.

 

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy that we should… It is right and our duty to pay taxes. I suspect that some of you may argue with ‘and our joy.’ Do you pay taxes? Or give taxes? Do you do so not solely from duty but with joy? Joy, in that one has the means to have something to be taxed. Joy, that taxes paid will benefit the common good.

Whether reflecting on prayer, taxes, taking a daily walk or what-have-you, humans often have difficulty connecting the benefits of such to the source of the benefits, and the benefits themselves. In taxes there is an abundance of mercy – mercy in the form of water, sewer, roads, schools, libraries, emergency services, health care, parks and trails – mercy and manna for everyone.

American historian Albert Bushnell Hart reflected that: Taxation is the price which civilized communities pay for the opportunity of remaining civilized. There is joy to be had in the giving of tax to the emperor.

 

With this in mind, we return to the Gospel to reflect on three things to be learned from Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees and Herodians. Surprisingly -or not so surprising because this is a Jesus’ story, the take-aways are not just about taxes, but a way of life and being; what it means to be in relationship and covenant with God, and how that gets played out in relationships with others and creation.

Lesson 1. With a common goal enemies can work together.

There is no love loss between the Pharisees and the Herodians. The Pharisees are critical of Rome while the Herodians align themselves with the Roman Empire. Both, however, share a common purpose to squash this Jesus’ movement before it gets out of hand, because the Jesus’ movement has the potential to ruin their plans and seats of power.

 

Lesson 2. The answer is not yes or no.

In the world there is a pervasive mindset of all-or-nothing.  Dualism and polarities thrive. To hold a perspective of middle ground, or a fluidity between opposites, is uncomfortable for many. Jesus teaches the crowd that more than one truth can be true, Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.

 

Lesson 3. Continue to wrestle with the question.

 As New Testament Professor Yung Suk Kim writes, “Jesus’ answer is evasive but penetrating.”

The question is to penetrate our hearts, minds, and beings. We are left wondering, left with the question because it is to be wrestled with. Is it lawful (joyful) to pay taxes? To wrestle with the question means that we continue to be engaged in the world, with all its politics, authorities, and systems of society; it means we participate in a critical interpretation of the world around us; continually applying the Gospel, living God’s mission, and working for the kindom.

 

Consider for a moment these three learnings – with a common goal enemies can work together, the answer is not yes or no, and continue to wrestle with the question- it struck me that the practicing of these three learnings has the potential to change perspectives and the relationship of people with each other, and have a result of an improved commonwealth. Enemies work together, there is more than one answer, and that continued engagement, reflection, and critique are critical to civilized society.

 

Paul and Silas write to the Thessalonians that they remember them before God in prayer. Paul has heard of the Thessalonian’s ministry and the giving of themselves, their time, and their possessions. It is described as: work produced by faith, labour prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. May our families, our friends, our neighbourhood hear and see that this community of Jesus’ followers – practice the teachings of this Gospel, joyfully contributing to the wider community, giving not paying taxes, and that our work is produced by faith, our labour prompted by love, and our endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. And that these gifts of joy, faith, love, and hope are only this when shared – given to all.

 

We Give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus Christ, who on this day over came death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and with joy give all that we have, all that we are, for the healing of the whole world.