Palm Monday. The donkey awakened, his mind still savoring the afterglow of the most exciting day of his life. Never before had he felt such a rush of pleasure and pride. He walked into town and found a group of people by the well. “I’ll show myself to them,” he thought.
But they didn’t notice him. They went on drawing their water and paid him no mind. “Throw your garments down,” he said crossly. “Don’t you know who I am?” They just looked at him as nothing more than a wandering mule. Then to add insult to injury, someone slapped him across the tail and ordered him to move. “Miserable heathens!” the donkey muttered to himself. “I’ll just go to the market. The good people there will remember me for sure!” But when the little donkey arrived in the busy Jerusalem market the same thing happened - no one (not a single person) paid him any attention. Then the donkey thought, “Oh yes, the palm branches! Where are the palm branches?! Yesterday, these people raised, waved and threw palm branches!” Hurt, baffled and confused, the donkey sulked and returned home to his mother. When she heard what had happened, she compassionately whispered to the little donkey, “Foolish child, don’t you realize that without Jesus, you are just an ordinary donkey?”
Today we are reminded that without Jesus to accompany us in this life, we are like the donkey in this (made up) metaphor; we too are simply misguided creatures, full of false hope and lofty expectations. We end up living superficial lives that seek nothing more than to live in moments of self-centered glory.
The people who crowded into the streets of Jerusalem in order to welcome Jesus into the city had worked themselves up into a frenzy; a frenzy driven by false hope and unrealistic, lofty expectations. Jesus was the Messiah. This was a triumphant military entry into the most holy city in the universe. The Christ would liberate these people from the burden of Roman oppression; the Christ would raise Israel up above her enemies in triumph; the Christ would bring down the reign of God, and Zion would flourish. Yet, as we shall see the Jewish leaders and people of Jerusalem set themselves up for a major disappointment.
Like our little donkey, Holy Monday (Palm Monday as the story called it) brought a completely different tone. Where were the mighty acts of this Messiah? Where were the angel and heavenly hosts? Where was their “self” prophesied liberation? Why were the Roman soldiers still occupying the city? Nothing had changed! Disappointment, discouragement and ultimately anger must have festered in the city streets of Jerusalem. I imagine each time a discarded palm branch came into view; it only served to stoke and ignite the angry disappointment of the Jewish people. To make matters worse, not only did Jesus not call down a heavenly army of liberators, Mark tells us that as quickly as he entered the city, he left. Jesus didn’t even make a sacrifice in the temple, address the people or challenge the Roman authorities. Jesus and his disciples go back outside the city to Bethany and retire for the night. Is Mark joking? All the hype and energetic build up and then – nothing? Ironically the very moment the crowds seem at last to recognize Jesus and eager to affirm his identity, Jesus decides to emphasize that he is not the kind of Davidic and liberating Messiah they expect. So Jesus and the twelve disciples simply left Jerusalem leaving nothing more than a (disillusioned) donkey to show he had been present.
Palm Sunday is a subtle reminder to each of us that it is often our own expectations (spoken or not) that get us into trouble and cut us off from God. Our perceptions of what we want God to do in this life often become the stumbling blocks that trip us up as we journey through this life. If only God would have saved that person from death; if only God had not allowed that criminal to commit such a heinous act; if only God had allowed me to avoid those painful experiences….(the list goes on and on).
We have all stood in the street and waived our palms at Jesus, expecting him to do for us those things that we desire or project on him. And we have all felt the bitter disappointment when those expectations go unmet. Yet God is not manipulated by our actions, nor tricked by our careful plans. Instead, God loves us despite the isolating and divisive nature of sin. God longs to be in communion with each and every one of us, and looks beyond our human shortsightedness to the eternal truth. And just what is that eternal truth? It is the fact that God’s nature is to draw all things to him. While sin ran amok in this world, unchecked and ramped, God’s task was not possible. But in Christ Jesus, that would change!
Like the label on the back of a bottle of salad dressing that says, Shake well before using - shaking is a part of God’s divine nature. God doesn't forewarn, he doesn't explain, sometimes he just shakes.God shook Job -- he lost everything.God shook Jonah -- the bottom dropped out of his plans.God shook the apostles -- the vibrations didn't stop until they reached heaven.Left unshaken, a bottle of salad dressing creates sour sediment like that at the bottom of a wine vat. The world had become stale, flat and sour because she was sedimentary, calcified, hardened. Through out the history of the world we witness God restore his people and nations by shaking them up. God doesn't shake just for the sake of shaking. There is a reason. The stuff of life is being rearranged, and people are going to be affected.
Therefore on the day we call Palm Sunday, God decided to radically shake things up in this world. God did the most unexpected and selfless act by sending Jesus as the living sacrifice that would restore the world to freedom. Through this jarring action - sin and death are defeated and the hope for all creation is restored. The eternal truth is - that our hope (yours and mine) is restored, and nothing (Absolutely Nothing) will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
As we move forward into Holy Week and journey with Jesus to the cross, I ask each of us to prayerfully reflect:
What selfish expectations do we wave like palms in the air as we seek Christ?
What parts of our lives need to be shaken and jarred?
Are we like the donkey on “Palm Monday” blindly caught up in our own life needs and wants?
The journey that lies before us as we enter Holy Week is one that will take us ever deeper into the mystery of God. This is a journey that will shake our lives to their very core, shaking loose the sediments and calcified deposits of sin that weigh us down; the hardened film that cuts us off from God. Holy Week has begun; darkness falls; the light is dimmed; Christ has triumphantly entered Jerusalem (only) to quietly leave and prepare for the earth shattering darkness to come.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Go to Dark Gethsemane
Let go in faith and journey into the unknown. Easily said, much harder to do! The author of the Book of Hebrews tells us, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the assurance of things unseen.” In other words, faith is a means of letting go of all the “control issues” in our lives; those predetermined plans that we often interject or sneak into our prayers as we try to influence God to “just let things turn out my way!”
Throughout Scripture we witness God’s people do great things because of their willingness to step outside of themselves in faith. Abraham left behind all he knew and led his people into a new land, becoming the Father of all Nations. Moses answered God’s call and returned to Egypt to face Pharaoh, in order to free the Children of Israel from the bondage of sin and slavery. God’s prophets were driven (sometimes kicking and screaming) by faith to hold God’s people accountable when they strayed away from Yhweh. Countless Christians in the early church (as well as today) experienced intense persecution by governments and authorities because of their faithfulness to Christ. And finally, Jesus faithfully accepted his fate in the Garden of Gethsemane even though he prayed to the Father, “If it be your will please remove this cup from my lips, but thou will be done.”
As we prepare to embark on this journey with Christ and disciples through Holy Week, we find ourselves on a path that is most uncomfortable and often harsh. Like the disciples, it is easier to fall asleep, run and avoid the painful darkness of Holy Week. This is the time for Jesus’ passion and suffering; a faithful suffering that buys our freedom from the bondage of sin and death. All too often we go to sleep on Palm Sunday and awake on Easter morning. We miss the whole journey! In many ways we are no better than the faithless disciples who abandoned Christ in his most desperate hour. Faith is not comfortable. Faith is not easy. Faith is not an assurance that we will always get our way in life (thank goodness!). Faith requires us to stand, walk and trudge forward, even though life sometimes hurts and becomes very dark and grim. Faith is the grains of sand used to polish our armor of light (as Paul describes in his Letter to the Ephesians) so that our spirits burn brighter and more radiant despite the darkness of our age. Faith simply requires that we believe; believe in Christ Jesus’ unconditional love and the wholesome desire to do the next right thing no matter the cost.
During this most holy week of Christendom, as we prepare to undertake this difficult journey of faith with Jesus, one that will lead us right through the painful abandonment of the cross; it is my most fervent prayer that we find the courage to believe in God’s redeeming grace and love. Dear Father I believe! Help my unbelief!
Throughout Scripture we witness God’s people do great things because of their willingness to step outside of themselves in faith. Abraham left behind all he knew and led his people into a new land, becoming the Father of all Nations. Moses answered God’s call and returned to Egypt to face Pharaoh, in order to free the Children of Israel from the bondage of sin and slavery. God’s prophets were driven (sometimes kicking and screaming) by faith to hold God’s people accountable when they strayed away from Yhweh. Countless Christians in the early church (as well as today) experienced intense persecution by governments and authorities because of their faithfulness to Christ. And finally, Jesus faithfully accepted his fate in the Garden of Gethsemane even though he prayed to the Father, “If it be your will please remove this cup from my lips, but thou will be done.”
As we prepare to embark on this journey with Christ and disciples through Holy Week, we find ourselves on a path that is most uncomfortable and often harsh. Like the disciples, it is easier to fall asleep, run and avoid the painful darkness of Holy Week. This is the time for Jesus’ passion and suffering; a faithful suffering that buys our freedom from the bondage of sin and death. All too often we go to sleep on Palm Sunday and awake on Easter morning. We miss the whole journey! In many ways we are no better than the faithless disciples who abandoned Christ in his most desperate hour. Faith is not comfortable. Faith is not easy. Faith is not an assurance that we will always get our way in life (thank goodness!). Faith requires us to stand, walk and trudge forward, even though life sometimes hurts and becomes very dark and grim. Faith is the grains of sand used to polish our armor of light (as Paul describes in his Letter to the Ephesians) so that our spirits burn brighter and more radiant despite the darkness of our age. Faith simply requires that we believe; believe in Christ Jesus’ unconditional love and the wholesome desire to do the next right thing no matter the cost.
During this most holy week of Christendom, as we prepare to undertake this difficult journey of faith with Jesus, one that will lead us right through the painful abandonment of the cross; it is my most fervent prayer that we find the courage to believe in God’s redeeming grace and love. Dear Father I believe! Help my unbelief!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
A Journey through Christendom's Most Holy time of Year
The Liturgical Season of Lent:
Lent is the season of prayerful journey and self-reflection. It is the forty days plus the six Sundays of preparation and self-denial that lead up to Easter. For centuries, Lent has been observed as a special time of personal examination and penitence. Today we find ourselves in a barren season that beacons us to concentrate on our fundamental Christian values and priorities. Contrary to the views of many, the season of Lent is not a time for self punishment; instead it is a time of letting go of those things that cut us off from God. Lent is a time in our spiritual lives in which we are called by God to prepare our hearts for the redeeming love of Christ.
Perhaps we find ourselves living in this world as one of the many aimlessly lapsed Christians, wandering away from church and neglecting our spiritual lives. For centuries, Lent has offered God's people the opportunity to return to the fellowship of the church. In fact the season of Lent historically is a period in the life of the church in which the lapsed, as well as those who have committed notorious sins were received back into the community of faith. If you are questioning your own faith and wondering what to believe, this is a most appropriate reflect and ask the difficult questions with sincerity and truth. For some Lent is a pathway that leads back into the Body of Christ or the Church.
Throughout Lent, the worship services of the church take on a simpler tone, appropriate to this season. Crosses showing the risen Christ are veiled. The word "Alleluia" is not used in the words of the liturgy or hymns. These practices help the worshipping community to mark this season of renewal as a special time in the church year.
Observing a Holy Lent ~ The custom is to mark the season of Lent by giving up some things and taking on others. Both can serve to mark the season as a holy time of preparation. Some examples of things people give up for Lent include sweets, meat for all or some meals, and alcohol. In most cases, giving up something for Lent can be made more meaningful by using the money or time for another purpose. For example, meal times on fast days could be spent in prayer. Another example is that if you give up meat during Lent, the extra money that would go to meat dishes can be given to a group, such as World Vision, which works to end hunger worldwide. Some things added during Lent are daily Bible reading, fasting on Fridays, times of prayer, taking a course of study related in some way to spirituality.
Note that the season of Lent is forty days plus the six Sundays. This is because Sundays are celebrations of Jesus’ resurrection and are always an appropriate day to lessen the restrictions of Lent. So that if you have, for example, given up chocolate for Lent, you could indulge in a weekly candy bar on Sunday.
The Sacrament of Confession ~ Lent is also an especially appropriate time for the sacrament of confession. While confession to a priest is not required to receive God’s forgiveness, it can be a meaningful rite of reconciliation to God.
Special Days and Services:
Shrove Tuesday ~ This is actually the day before Lent begins. The day is named for the "shriving" or confessing that was traditional on this day before beginning Lent. This day is also known as Maddi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday," because it was a time for eating the things from which one would abstain during Lent. Pancake suppers are traditional as they were a way of using up some of the ingredients not needed during Lent.
Ash Wednesday ~ The first day of Lent is marked with a special liturgy. The theme for the day, though not for all of Lent, is that we stand as sinners condemned to die, but for God’s grace. This is symbolized by the imposition of ashes on the forehead, with the words, "You are dust and to dust you shall return." In the Old Testament, ashes were a sign of penitence (feeling regretful at offenses) and mourning.
Ash Wednesday is one of two days of special observance (the other being Good Friday) for which fasting is recommended. While this usually refers going without food for the entire day, this practice is not practical for all persons, including, but not limited to, diabetics. Use your own discretion in determining how you can best observe this day.
Stations of the Cross ~ These are depictions of 14 incidents in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ death from Pilate’s house to being placed in the tomb. They are used for the service called the Way of the Cross, which visits each station in turn with a brief reading, response, collect and on some occasions, a meditation. This is particularly appropriate for Good Friday.
Palm Sunday ~ This Sunday before Easter is the last Sunday in Lent. The day commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem with a blessing of palms and a procession in which the whole congregation carries palms. The day is also marked by reading the story of Jesus’ passion (the word used to describe Jesus’ death comes from "suffering," which is one old meaning of passion).
Maundy Thursday ~ This is the Thursday in Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter). The day is a time for remembering The Last Supper. The name comes from the Latin word "Maundatum" for "commandment" as Jesus said, "I give you a new commandment; that you love one another." This is also the moment in which Jesus showed his disciples the meaning of servant hood by washing their feet. We will observe the foot washing during the liturgy. At the conclusion of this service, altars are stripped of any ornamentation and crosses are removed or veiled to mark the solemnness of the occasion.
Good Friday ~ The Friday in Holy Week is a time for remembering Jesus death. Traditionally there is a Good Friday service at noon as Jesus hung on the cross from noon until 3 p.m. This is the second day of special observance for which fasting is recommended. One should use discretion in decided how best to observe this day. There is no celebration of Communion from Maundy Thursday until the Easter Vigil on late Saturday or early Sunday. However, it is customary in many churches to give out the elements of communion blessed during the Maundy Thursday service.
The Easter Vigil ~ This service is appropriate from after sunset on Holy Saturday until sunrise Easter morning. This is our most ancient Christian Liturgy. In the early Christian Church it was the traditional time of baptism, reaffirmation and reconciliation. This service begins in darkness and a new fire is lit, from which the Christ candle is lighted. It signifies the light of Christ coming into the world anew at the resurrection. This service ends the season of Lent and begins the joy of the Easter season.
Lent is the season of prayerful journey and self-reflection. It is the forty days plus the six Sundays of preparation and self-denial that lead up to Easter. For centuries, Lent has been observed as a special time of personal examination and penitence. Today we find ourselves in a barren season that beacons us to concentrate on our fundamental Christian values and priorities. Contrary to the views of many, the season of Lent is not a time for self punishment; instead it is a time of letting go of those things that cut us off from God. Lent is a time in our spiritual lives in which we are called by God to prepare our hearts for the redeeming love of Christ.
Perhaps we find ourselves living in this world as one of the many aimlessly lapsed Christians, wandering away from church and neglecting our spiritual lives. For centuries, Lent has offered God's people the opportunity to return to the fellowship of the church. In fact the season of Lent historically is a period in the life of the church in which the lapsed, as well as those who have committed notorious sins were received back into the community of faith. If you are questioning your own faith and wondering what to believe, this is a most appropriate reflect and ask the difficult questions with sincerity and truth. For some Lent is a pathway that leads back into the Body of Christ or the Church.
Throughout Lent, the worship services of the church take on a simpler tone, appropriate to this season. Crosses showing the risen Christ are veiled. The word "Alleluia" is not used in the words of the liturgy or hymns. These practices help the worshipping community to mark this season of renewal as a special time in the church year.
Observing a Holy Lent ~ The custom is to mark the season of Lent by giving up some things and taking on others. Both can serve to mark the season as a holy time of preparation. Some examples of things people give up for Lent include sweets, meat for all or some meals, and alcohol. In most cases, giving up something for Lent can be made more meaningful by using the money or time for another purpose. For example, meal times on fast days could be spent in prayer. Another example is that if you give up meat during Lent, the extra money that would go to meat dishes can be given to a group, such as World Vision, which works to end hunger worldwide. Some things added during Lent are daily Bible reading, fasting on Fridays, times of prayer, taking a course of study related in some way to spirituality.
Note that the season of Lent is forty days plus the six Sundays. This is because Sundays are celebrations of Jesus’ resurrection and are always an appropriate day to lessen the restrictions of Lent. So that if you have, for example, given up chocolate for Lent, you could indulge in a weekly candy bar on Sunday.
The Sacrament of Confession ~ Lent is also an especially appropriate time for the sacrament of confession. While confession to a priest is not required to receive God’s forgiveness, it can be a meaningful rite of reconciliation to God.
Special Days and Services:
Shrove Tuesday ~ This is actually the day before Lent begins. The day is named for the "shriving" or confessing that was traditional on this day before beginning Lent. This day is also known as Maddi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday," because it was a time for eating the things from which one would abstain during Lent. Pancake suppers are traditional as they were a way of using up some of the ingredients not needed during Lent.
Ash Wednesday ~ The first day of Lent is marked with a special liturgy. The theme for the day, though not for all of Lent, is that we stand as sinners condemned to die, but for God’s grace. This is symbolized by the imposition of ashes on the forehead, with the words, "You are dust and to dust you shall return." In the Old Testament, ashes were a sign of penitence (feeling regretful at offenses) and mourning.
Ash Wednesday is one of two days of special observance (the other being Good Friday) for which fasting is recommended. While this usually refers going without food for the entire day, this practice is not practical for all persons, including, but not limited to, diabetics. Use your own discretion in determining how you can best observe this day.
Stations of the Cross ~ These are depictions of 14 incidents in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ death from Pilate’s house to being placed in the tomb. They are used for the service called the Way of the Cross, which visits each station in turn with a brief reading, response, collect and on some occasions, a meditation. This is particularly appropriate for Good Friday.
Palm Sunday ~ This Sunday before Easter is the last Sunday in Lent. The day commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem with a blessing of palms and a procession in which the whole congregation carries palms. The day is also marked by reading the story of Jesus’ passion (the word used to describe Jesus’ death comes from "suffering," which is one old meaning of passion).
Maundy Thursday ~ This is the Thursday in Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter). The day is a time for remembering The Last Supper. The name comes from the Latin word "Maundatum" for "commandment" as Jesus said, "I give you a new commandment; that you love one another." This is also the moment in which Jesus showed his disciples the meaning of servant hood by washing their feet. We will observe the foot washing during the liturgy. At the conclusion of this service, altars are stripped of any ornamentation and crosses are removed or veiled to mark the solemnness of the occasion.
Good Friday ~ The Friday in Holy Week is a time for remembering Jesus death. Traditionally there is a Good Friday service at noon as Jesus hung on the cross from noon until 3 p.m. This is the second day of special observance for which fasting is recommended. One should use discretion in decided how best to observe this day. There is no celebration of Communion from Maundy Thursday until the Easter Vigil on late Saturday or early Sunday. However, it is customary in many churches to give out the elements of communion blessed during the Maundy Thursday service.
The Easter Vigil ~ This service is appropriate from after sunset on Holy Saturday until sunrise Easter morning. This is our most ancient Christian Liturgy. In the early Christian Church it was the traditional time of baptism, reaffirmation and reconciliation. This service begins in darkness and a new fire is lit, from which the Christ candle is lighted. It signifies the light of Christ coming into the world anew at the resurrection. This service ends the season of Lent and begins the joy of the Easter season.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
I'm with Peter!
In the 16th c. the Pope sent Jesuit missionary’s into China in order to evangelize the huge population. He had them take art work with them that depicted scenes from Jesus’ life. He thought this would assist with the obvious challenge of the language barrier. Interestingly the Chinese people took an instant liking to paintings of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child. However, when it came to depictions of the crucifixion and the missionary’s explanation that this was the same child that Mary was holding, they were shocked. The Chinese people were even more disturbed that this Child was the Christian God and that was treated so repulsively. They were horrified to see how Jesus was made to suffer and ultimately die. This was extremely counter cultural to them, so the Chinese people decided they would rather worship the Blessed Mother Mary, since she was pictured in love and adoration for the child.
None of us likes suffering do we? It is counter cultural to our need to survive and live. When Jesus tells the disciples that he must be delivered into the hands of his enemies, suffer and die by crucifixion, they naturally were appalled. Peter, who had just identified Jesus as the Messiah (after all Peter is the guy in the bunch who most often spoke first and thought later) – he was the stunned enough to actually rebuke Jesus. Think about it for one moment and put yourself in Peter’s shoes (or sandals). He and the rest of the disciples had witnessed Jesus heal the sick, cast out demons and work miracles. Jesus was their hope; Jesus was their leader; Jesus was their inspiration. Yet, Jesus must die.
Well, I don’t know about you all but I’m with Peter! I would have had the same reaction. I would have been just as confused, protective and ready to argue with Jesus as Peter. I would have been ready to keep my dear friend safe and secure. Friends protect friends; that is the way love and friendship work! There would be no reason for useless suffering. Look at all the good Jesus was doing for his people. Like the Chinese, I would have been repulsed had Jesus revealed his hideous fate on the cross; one that was reserved for thieves, murderers and rebels.
Jesus reaction to Peter was even harsher than Peter’s reaction to him. The Greek word Mark used for ~ rebuke ~ is the exact same word he uses when Jesus casts out demons. This was a very serious rebuke! It was a direct command with the authority of God. Jesus would not be tempted. He knew this was one of those moments that the Adversary seized to try and derail his divine mission; even though the temptation came in the form of concern from an innocent and loving friend.
Jesus mission was one of love and sacrifice. In the process he redefined discipleship. Jesus says, “Set your mind on divine things, not human things.” And here is the real kicker, he says, “Be ready to suffer!” Suffer! That’s right, you heard me correctly. To be a follower of Jesus means that we must become willing to suffer. What Mark is telling us is that self-sacrifice, self-abandonment and self-empting are at the very core of God’s divine love for all creation. Jesus is telling us that in order to follow him, we are called to suffer through the same self-sacrificial acts. This is what he means when he says, “In order to save you life you must lose it.”
One January afternoon in 2007, 50-year-old Wesley Autrey was waiting with his two young daughters to board a train at Broadway’s 137th Street station in Manhattan, when the unthinkable happened. According to cbsnews.com, Cameron Hollopeter, 19, fell onto the subway tracks while suffering a seizure, just as an oncoming train was approaching. In a split second Autrey, a construction worker and Vietnam War veteran jumped onto the tracks to save him. As the train barreled toward them, unable to stop in time, Autrey realized he could not lift Hollopeter to safety. So he threw his body on top of the still convulsing young man, pinning him down in the shallow drainage trough, roughly a foot deep, between the tracks. The train’s front two cars rolled over them with just about two precious inches to spare before the operator was able to bring it to a stop. Hollopeter and Autrey emerged largely unharmed. Cheers erupted and Autrey was hailed as a hero. But Autrey, as humble as he was brave, told The New York Times, “I don’t feel like I did something spectacular; I just saw someone who needed help. I did what I felt was right.”
Wesley Autrey provides us with an incredible example of what it means to deny ourselves of our self, and give to others (even those we do not know) in unconditional love and sacrifice.
In this season of Lent we often give up things, by denying ourselves chocolate, coffee, sodas, TV or something important to our daily lives. While this act is an important reminder of the act of sacrifice, God’s call to follow him is far deeper and demanding than these (often inconvenient) but small reminders. Jesus wants us to give to God ~ our complete selves: our thoughts; our dreams; our egos; our goals; our burdens and problems. God wants every single little piece of us.
The path to sacrifice is what leads us to God and allows us to identify with God. While this is counter culture to the world, God made the world and God put his unconditional love and labor into our very existence. Therefore we should really flip this around and say, “The world is counter cultural to the original way God created and brought it into existence.”
Mr. Autrey understood something that the Chinese culture of the 16th c. had not yet learned: Jesus defines true discipleship as a way of life that imitates God. Since God made himself vulnerable to the extreme (ultimately allowing the Son to perish on the cross) he calls us (you and I) to the same life of vulnerability. Our God loves us so much that he longs to be in communion with us, and will go to what ever length required to show us. God gives so completely of God’s self (to us) that nothing is ever held back in reserve.
So, whether it is leaving the comforts of home and traveling all the way around the world on mission; whether it is jumping on a train track, using our own body to shield and protect a complete stranger from the train; whether it is saying the blessing before a meal in the restaurant in order to give God thanks, at the expense of a few stares – Christ is calling us to a life of self-sacrifice; one that demands all of us (heart, mind, and body). God holds nothing back and neither should we.
As we follow this road of Lent together. I pray that we continue to keep our attention focused on Jerusalem and the cross. While the heavy burden and fear will only grow and become darker over the next few weeks, we shouldn’t over look one tiny, but major and significant statement Jesus makes at the very end of this mornings passage from Mark. After he tells the disciple of his fatal destination and fate, he says, “And on the third day I will rise again.” In all the shock, the disciples missed that one liner! God is reminding us that through Jesus’ suffering that we are promised life eternal. When giving of ourselves unconditionally don’t forget the beautiful reward that awaits us all.
None of us likes suffering do we? It is counter cultural to our need to survive and live. When Jesus tells the disciples that he must be delivered into the hands of his enemies, suffer and die by crucifixion, they naturally were appalled. Peter, who had just identified Jesus as the Messiah (after all Peter is the guy in the bunch who most often spoke first and thought later) – he was the stunned enough to actually rebuke Jesus. Think about it for one moment and put yourself in Peter’s shoes (or sandals). He and the rest of the disciples had witnessed Jesus heal the sick, cast out demons and work miracles. Jesus was their hope; Jesus was their leader; Jesus was their inspiration. Yet, Jesus must die.
Well, I don’t know about you all but I’m with Peter! I would have had the same reaction. I would have been just as confused, protective and ready to argue with Jesus as Peter. I would have been ready to keep my dear friend safe and secure. Friends protect friends; that is the way love and friendship work! There would be no reason for useless suffering. Look at all the good Jesus was doing for his people. Like the Chinese, I would have been repulsed had Jesus revealed his hideous fate on the cross; one that was reserved for thieves, murderers and rebels.
Jesus reaction to Peter was even harsher than Peter’s reaction to him. The Greek word Mark used for ~ rebuke ~ is the exact same word he uses when Jesus casts out demons. This was a very serious rebuke! It was a direct command with the authority of God. Jesus would not be tempted. He knew this was one of those moments that the Adversary seized to try and derail his divine mission; even though the temptation came in the form of concern from an innocent and loving friend.
Jesus mission was one of love and sacrifice. In the process he redefined discipleship. Jesus says, “Set your mind on divine things, not human things.” And here is the real kicker, he says, “Be ready to suffer!” Suffer! That’s right, you heard me correctly. To be a follower of Jesus means that we must become willing to suffer. What Mark is telling us is that self-sacrifice, self-abandonment and self-empting are at the very core of God’s divine love for all creation. Jesus is telling us that in order to follow him, we are called to suffer through the same self-sacrificial acts. This is what he means when he says, “In order to save you life you must lose it.”
One January afternoon in 2007, 50-year-old Wesley Autrey was waiting with his two young daughters to board a train at Broadway’s 137th Street station in Manhattan, when the unthinkable happened. According to cbsnews.com, Cameron Hollopeter, 19, fell onto the subway tracks while suffering a seizure, just as an oncoming train was approaching. In a split second Autrey, a construction worker and Vietnam War veteran jumped onto the tracks to save him. As the train barreled toward them, unable to stop in time, Autrey realized he could not lift Hollopeter to safety. So he threw his body on top of the still convulsing young man, pinning him down in the shallow drainage trough, roughly a foot deep, between the tracks. The train’s front two cars rolled over them with just about two precious inches to spare before the operator was able to bring it to a stop. Hollopeter and Autrey emerged largely unharmed. Cheers erupted and Autrey was hailed as a hero. But Autrey, as humble as he was brave, told The New York Times, “I don’t feel like I did something spectacular; I just saw someone who needed help. I did what I felt was right.”
Wesley Autrey provides us with an incredible example of what it means to deny ourselves of our self, and give to others (even those we do not know) in unconditional love and sacrifice.
In this season of Lent we often give up things, by denying ourselves chocolate, coffee, sodas, TV or something important to our daily lives. While this act is an important reminder of the act of sacrifice, God’s call to follow him is far deeper and demanding than these (often inconvenient) but small reminders. Jesus wants us to give to God ~ our complete selves: our thoughts; our dreams; our egos; our goals; our burdens and problems. God wants every single little piece of us.
The path to sacrifice is what leads us to God and allows us to identify with God. While this is counter culture to the world, God made the world and God put his unconditional love and labor into our very existence. Therefore we should really flip this around and say, “The world is counter cultural to the original way God created and brought it into existence.”
Mr. Autrey understood something that the Chinese culture of the 16th c. had not yet learned: Jesus defines true discipleship as a way of life that imitates God. Since God made himself vulnerable to the extreme (ultimately allowing the Son to perish on the cross) he calls us (you and I) to the same life of vulnerability. Our God loves us so much that he longs to be in communion with us, and will go to what ever length required to show us. God gives so completely of God’s self (to us) that nothing is ever held back in reserve.
So, whether it is leaving the comforts of home and traveling all the way around the world on mission; whether it is jumping on a train track, using our own body to shield and protect a complete stranger from the train; whether it is saying the blessing before a meal in the restaurant in order to give God thanks, at the expense of a few stares – Christ is calling us to a life of self-sacrifice; one that demands all of us (heart, mind, and body). God holds nothing back and neither should we.
As we follow this road of Lent together. I pray that we continue to keep our attention focused on Jerusalem and the cross. While the heavy burden and fear will only grow and become darker over the next few weeks, we shouldn’t over look one tiny, but major and significant statement Jesus makes at the very end of this mornings passage from Mark. After he tells the disciple of his fatal destination and fate, he says, “And on the third day I will rise again.” In all the shock, the disciples missed that one liner! God is reminding us that through Jesus’ suffering that we are promised life eternal. When giving of ourselves unconditionally don’t forget the beautiful reward that awaits us all.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Floods, Deserts and Dust. It Must be Lent!
The shadow of Lent has fallen upon us. The light of the Epiphany has dimmed and been covered. The dark cloud of inevitable death is only a stones throw away. God has empowered his only begotten Son with a mission of salvation to all creation. While this isn’t the first time God has made a covenant (or promise) with his creation, this will be the ultimate and last covenant necessary.
Long before Jesus is sent on his divine salvific mission, there is the story of Noah. Once again we learn that God has become displeased and disgusted with his very free, but very broken creation. Once again God looks down at not only humanity’s waywardness, but on at the negative effect we have had on the rest of his creation. One would think that we might have learned something in the Garden of Eden. But that is the nature of sin. Left unchecked it continues to repeat its destructive patterns over and over again; each time becoming a little worse until it has consumed all the things it touches (especially us) cutting us off from the light and love of God.
In this mornings reading from the Book of Genesis we find the whole earth at fault before God. God’s patience is gone. His tolerance of humanity’s self-centered, faithless behavior is at its end. God will no longer allow his creation to live in such a filthy and sinful manner. So He brings the flood. Since all of God’s creation is closely linked the destruction of the earth and all living things is part of God’s divine plan. Yet we have a loving God. A God whose nature it is to create; and rather than wipe out his work completely, God has his faithful servant Noah build an ark and herd two of every kind of animal (both male and female) aboard the big boat. Now, I used to work for the Biology Department while in college at UGA. I was the animal caretaker for the lab animals. That smelled bad enough, but can you imagine what the ark must have smelled like?! I often wonder who got the job of cleaning the stalls.
The important thing to note about the flood story is that after it was all over, God made a covenant with Noah. He said he would never again destroy the earth by flood waters. To mark the sign of this covenant he hung a beautiful rainbow in the sky. In Christ Jesus, God will do the same for us. Accept rather than hang a rainbow in the sky, he will hang his only Son from a cross.
In today’s reading from Mark, we witness Jesus’ baptism and literal expulsion into the Judean desert (not a good place to be). This reading in Mark is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry to his people and eventually to all creation. In many ways, Jesus is the “New Ark.” We find Jesus suffering through merciless temptation for 40 days, with the wild beasts and angels. (You see) once again we see that all creation is linked.
As we look at the nature of God and his covenants, there are interesting parallels between today’s two readings:
In Genesis the clouds form and the rain pours down. In Mark the heavens are violently torn apart at Jesus’ baptism, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus like a Dove.
In Genesis, Noah floats on the waters for 40 days; adrift in a wet and abandoned world. There is a dark void where abundant life used to exist. In Mark, Jesus is set adrift in the desert. For 40 days he endures the desolate void found in a dry and abandoned waste land.
In Genesis, Noah herds God’s creatures into the ark and cares for them during this 40 day period. In Mark, Jesus draws the desert creatures to himself. He is God’s new Ark or refuge.
We don’t know what kind of sailing Noah experienced during the flood. We are not told if he faced terrible waves and violent tempests. But we do know that Jesus faced a terrible onslaught by the Adversary; an attack meant to derail and destroy the future hope of God’s creation. If Jesus gave in or failed, the world was doomed. But as we all know, where Adam failed in the Garden of Eden, Jesus will succeed in the Judean desert. And just as the flood waters eventually subside, so does Jesus’ wilderness exile. God’s plan for redeeming all creation is now in motion.
All too often we find ourselves adrift in this world. We find ourselves frightened, worried and consumed with the weight of our problems. Perhaps we long for the heavens to open up and have God deliver us. Perhaps we desperately hope to find refuge and sanctuary on a rescue boat, as we slowly drown in a sea of doubt and despair.
There is no doubt that today’s world is a difficult place to exist. We all have major worries. If it is not the deflated economy, it is the violence we see in society. If it is not war and conflict, it is the abuse of the innocent. We exist in a very harsh and world in which the Adversary is always brewing up a new tempest or sand storm to make our lives difficult, full of doubt and distracted. This is why it is absolutely vital that we remember that Jesus (the New Covenant) is (dare I say the word!) our Bailout Package. Except unlike the monstrosity in Washington, this bailout comes at no cost without interest. This morning as Jesus undertakes his mission to redeem the world, deep down in creation a change is subtly taking place. Because of Jesus’ faithfulness, the Adversary knows that he has already lost the battle. While he will make a few subtle returns, Jesus will not fall for his tricks or ploys. Jesus has turned his face toward Jerusalem and the cross. Lent has begun.
As we undertake this Lenten journey with Christ; the more faithfully we commit ourselves to stay the path; the less power our fears will have over us. Please remember, no matter what storms or hardships we face, God is faithful and God will not abandon us. Through Christ Jesus our Lord we have a new hope and a new life. So, please – join me and together, (together) we will take this Lenten journey – (a journey) which will eventually lead to the greatest bailout package of all – the Resurrection.
Long before Jesus is sent on his divine salvific mission, there is the story of Noah. Once again we learn that God has become displeased and disgusted with his very free, but very broken creation. Once again God looks down at not only humanity’s waywardness, but on at the negative effect we have had on the rest of his creation. One would think that we might have learned something in the Garden of Eden. But that is the nature of sin. Left unchecked it continues to repeat its destructive patterns over and over again; each time becoming a little worse until it has consumed all the things it touches (especially us) cutting us off from the light and love of God.
In this mornings reading from the Book of Genesis we find the whole earth at fault before God. God’s patience is gone. His tolerance of humanity’s self-centered, faithless behavior is at its end. God will no longer allow his creation to live in such a filthy and sinful manner. So He brings the flood. Since all of God’s creation is closely linked the destruction of the earth and all living things is part of God’s divine plan. Yet we have a loving God. A God whose nature it is to create; and rather than wipe out his work completely, God has his faithful servant Noah build an ark and herd two of every kind of animal (both male and female) aboard the big boat. Now, I used to work for the Biology Department while in college at UGA. I was the animal caretaker for the lab animals. That smelled bad enough, but can you imagine what the ark must have smelled like?! I often wonder who got the job of cleaning the stalls.
The important thing to note about the flood story is that after it was all over, God made a covenant with Noah. He said he would never again destroy the earth by flood waters. To mark the sign of this covenant he hung a beautiful rainbow in the sky. In Christ Jesus, God will do the same for us. Accept rather than hang a rainbow in the sky, he will hang his only Son from a cross.
In today’s reading from Mark, we witness Jesus’ baptism and literal expulsion into the Judean desert (not a good place to be). This reading in Mark is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry to his people and eventually to all creation. In many ways, Jesus is the “New Ark.” We find Jesus suffering through merciless temptation for 40 days, with the wild beasts and angels. (You see) once again we see that all creation is linked.
As we look at the nature of God and his covenants, there are interesting parallels between today’s two readings:
In Genesis the clouds form and the rain pours down. In Mark the heavens are violently torn apart at Jesus’ baptism, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus like a Dove.
In Genesis, Noah floats on the waters for 40 days; adrift in a wet and abandoned world. There is a dark void where abundant life used to exist. In Mark, Jesus is set adrift in the desert. For 40 days he endures the desolate void found in a dry and abandoned waste land.
In Genesis, Noah herds God’s creatures into the ark and cares for them during this 40 day period. In Mark, Jesus draws the desert creatures to himself. He is God’s new Ark or refuge.
We don’t know what kind of sailing Noah experienced during the flood. We are not told if he faced terrible waves and violent tempests. But we do know that Jesus faced a terrible onslaught by the Adversary; an attack meant to derail and destroy the future hope of God’s creation. If Jesus gave in or failed, the world was doomed. But as we all know, where Adam failed in the Garden of Eden, Jesus will succeed in the Judean desert. And just as the flood waters eventually subside, so does Jesus’ wilderness exile. God’s plan for redeeming all creation is now in motion.
All too often we find ourselves adrift in this world. We find ourselves frightened, worried and consumed with the weight of our problems. Perhaps we long for the heavens to open up and have God deliver us. Perhaps we desperately hope to find refuge and sanctuary on a rescue boat, as we slowly drown in a sea of doubt and despair.
There is no doubt that today’s world is a difficult place to exist. We all have major worries. If it is not the deflated economy, it is the violence we see in society. If it is not war and conflict, it is the abuse of the innocent. We exist in a very harsh and world in which the Adversary is always brewing up a new tempest or sand storm to make our lives difficult, full of doubt and distracted. This is why it is absolutely vital that we remember that Jesus (the New Covenant) is (dare I say the word!) our Bailout Package. Except unlike the monstrosity in Washington, this bailout comes at no cost without interest. This morning as Jesus undertakes his mission to redeem the world, deep down in creation a change is subtly taking place. Because of Jesus’ faithfulness, the Adversary knows that he has already lost the battle. While he will make a few subtle returns, Jesus will not fall for his tricks or ploys. Jesus has turned his face toward Jerusalem and the cross. Lent has begun.
As we undertake this Lenten journey with Christ; the more faithfully we commit ourselves to stay the path; the less power our fears will have over us. Please remember, no matter what storms or hardships we face, God is faithful and God will not abandon us. Through Christ Jesus our Lord we have a new hope and a new life. So, please – join me and together, (together) we will take this Lenten journey – (a journey) which will eventually lead to the greatest bailout package of all – the Resurrection.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Indifference, the Refined Art of Exile
This past Sunday I preached a sermon on the hurtful nature of indifference. This particular sermon was a difficult one to preach, because not only did several folks in the congregation find it challenging, but so did the preacher! The question as well as the challenge is - as Christian's how can we remain indifferent to people who genuinely suffer? How can we turn our backs on people whose pain is only magnified by society's blatant abandonment? The political prisoner, the homeless refugee, starving families, the sick, destitute and abandoned; by ignoring their existence and looking the other way we exile them from our consciousness. The Jewish Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel states it best when he says, "By denying their humanity, we betray our own."
Remaining indifferent to those who truly suffer in this world is nothing new to our time. Indifference is a cruel form of social marginalization. A Darwinian theorist might even justify that marginalization of those who are sick, needy or in desperate trouble is the "natural order of things." But for those who claim Christ as our Lord, we are called to usurp the "natural order of things."
First century Palestine was no different than any other age when it came to the outcast, socially marginalized and loathed. Actually it was probably worse since the Jewish law gave credibility to the exile and expulsion of those considered unclean. Leprosy most assuredly was one such death sentence to a life of normal social acceptance. It was an ancient curse that guaranteed a person of a life stripped of dignity, hope and any kind of value. This terrible disease caused grotesque disfigurement of the body. It was considered highly contagious, and those who contracted it were condemned to a life of exile, desperation and poverty. Lepers were cast out of society, avoided and treated as despicable objects. The lepers of Jesus day lived a life of deep humiliation, and were treated with an attitude of indifference. In Wiesel's words, they were reduced to a mere "abstraction."
Can you imagine every time encountering a "clean" person having to yell, "Unclean! Unclean!" so that they might avoid contact with you? That was exactly what the Jewish law required. Can you imagine the humiliation of being bound in filthy rags from head to toe in order to distinguish yourself as a disease infected leper? Can you imagine having to live near the city dump so that you could out run your fellow lepers for scraps of food? Well, that was exactly the hopeless existence the lepers of Jesus' day were forced to live. They were treated as rude and unwanted interruptions, reduced to mere abstractions.
Yet the leper in Mark's Gospel ran to Jesus. He broke the law and asked Jesus to please make him clean; and Jesus did exactly that - he touched him and made him clean; made him whole and restored his dignity. One might argue at this point that Jesus is God and he knows the heart of all people. True; that is a correct thought and understanding of the nature of God, and we know (at least most of know!) that we're not God. But still, as Christians we are given a few direct marching orders from Jesus to take care of the poor, the destitute, the widows and orphans, as well as the oppressed and alien (legal or illegal).
A few days ago I gave a man ten dollars so that he could buy gas in order to get to a job interview near Petersburg. I found out within the hour that he took that ten dollars straight to the liquor store. At first, I was frustrated and disappointed because the gentleman lied to me; I felt deceived and used. No wonder people (myself included) often walk right by or step over those who claim to be in desperate need. But is that what Jesus is telling us to do - make judgments regarding those who ask us for help? For those of us who have experienced the abuse of trust and the deceptive ploys of the needy and homeless, Jesus' direct commandment to us to take care of the sick and poor is most difficult.
The last I checked, God doesn't ask us to determine who is worthy of our assistance and who is not (at least I haven't been charged with that daunting responsibility). God simply asks us to be faithful conduits of his love and mercy to all those in trouble, sorrow, sickness or adversity. God also didn't tell us to be door mats for those we know abuse the system either! There is a fine line of accountability and enablement that we need to recognize, yet this is learned through our willingness to love unconditionally and give of ourselves as Christ has taught us. Our directive is to serve Christ as his humble servants and become icons of love, hope and light to all people; even the ones who abuse the system. (You never know what transforming action or word might invite the Spirit into their lives).
In conclusion, Jesus treats all people as just that - people. Everyone from the most desperate leper to the most pious Pharisee, Jesus refuses to treat them as a rude intrusion or mere abstraction. He treats all of God's children the same - with love (some time's rather testily - but nevertheless love) compassion and dignity. This is the model that we as Christians are called to live and inwardly digest. While this lifestyle is not easy, it is the food that nourishes our spirits and the life line that connects us and God to the community. When we become willing to step outside of ourselves and become vulnerable (even to the abuse of society) we suffer with those who suffer; we suffer with Christ as he continues to tirelessly unite his Body as one in Him. So I encourage all of us to be a conduit of God's love and mercy and not a gatekeeper or judge.
Remaining indifferent to those who truly suffer in this world is nothing new to our time. Indifference is a cruel form of social marginalization. A Darwinian theorist might even justify that marginalization of those who are sick, needy or in desperate trouble is the "natural order of things." But for those who claim Christ as our Lord, we are called to usurp the "natural order of things."
First century Palestine was no different than any other age when it came to the outcast, socially marginalized and loathed. Actually it was probably worse since the Jewish law gave credibility to the exile and expulsion of those considered unclean. Leprosy most assuredly was one such death sentence to a life of normal social acceptance. It was an ancient curse that guaranteed a person of a life stripped of dignity, hope and any kind of value. This terrible disease caused grotesque disfigurement of the body. It was considered highly contagious, and those who contracted it were condemned to a life of exile, desperation and poverty. Lepers were cast out of society, avoided and treated as despicable objects. The lepers of Jesus day lived a life of deep humiliation, and were treated with an attitude of indifference. In Wiesel's words, they were reduced to a mere "abstraction."
Can you imagine every time encountering a "clean" person having to yell, "Unclean! Unclean!" so that they might avoid contact with you? That was exactly what the Jewish law required. Can you imagine the humiliation of being bound in filthy rags from head to toe in order to distinguish yourself as a disease infected leper? Can you imagine having to live near the city dump so that you could out run your fellow lepers for scraps of food? Well, that was exactly the hopeless existence the lepers of Jesus' day were forced to live. They were treated as rude and unwanted interruptions, reduced to mere abstractions.
Yet the leper in Mark's Gospel ran to Jesus. He broke the law and asked Jesus to please make him clean; and Jesus did exactly that - he touched him and made him clean; made him whole and restored his dignity. One might argue at this point that Jesus is God and he knows the heart of all people. True; that is a correct thought and understanding of the nature of God, and we know (at least most of know!) that we're not God. But still, as Christians we are given a few direct marching orders from Jesus to take care of the poor, the destitute, the widows and orphans, as well as the oppressed and alien (legal or illegal).
A few days ago I gave a man ten dollars so that he could buy gas in order to get to a job interview near Petersburg. I found out within the hour that he took that ten dollars straight to the liquor store. At first, I was frustrated and disappointed because the gentleman lied to me; I felt deceived and used. No wonder people (myself included) often walk right by or step over those who claim to be in desperate need. But is that what Jesus is telling us to do - make judgments regarding those who ask us for help? For those of us who have experienced the abuse of trust and the deceptive ploys of the needy and homeless, Jesus' direct commandment to us to take care of the sick and poor is most difficult.
The last I checked, God doesn't ask us to determine who is worthy of our assistance and who is not (at least I haven't been charged with that daunting responsibility). God simply asks us to be faithful conduits of his love and mercy to all those in trouble, sorrow, sickness or adversity. God also didn't tell us to be door mats for those we know abuse the system either! There is a fine line of accountability and enablement that we need to recognize, yet this is learned through our willingness to love unconditionally and give of ourselves as Christ has taught us. Our directive is to serve Christ as his humble servants and become icons of love, hope and light to all people; even the ones who abuse the system. (You never know what transforming action or word might invite the Spirit into their lives).
In conclusion, Jesus treats all people as just that - people. Everyone from the most desperate leper to the most pious Pharisee, Jesus refuses to treat them as a rude intrusion or mere abstraction. He treats all of God's children the same - with love (some time's rather testily - but nevertheless love) compassion and dignity. This is the model that we as Christians are called to live and inwardly digest. While this lifestyle is not easy, it is the food that nourishes our spirits and the life line that connects us and God to the community. When we become willing to step outside of ourselves and become vulnerable (even to the abuse of society) we suffer with those who suffer; we suffer with Christ as he continues to tirelessly unite his Body as one in Him. So I encourage all of us to be a conduit of God's love and mercy and not a gatekeeper or judge.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Fear Driven or Faith Driven
What does it mean to experience life through a "Fear Driven" lens? What does it mean to experience life through though a "Faith Driven" lens?
To live driven by fear means we are usually running away from someone or something that creates anxiety in our hearts. A fear driven life also has the ability to drive us toward something (healthy or unhealthy) in order to escape those threats. I spent much of my youth living on the fear driven side of the scale; either running towards denial or running away from reality and pain. Like many people today I too experienced those dreaded demons who whisper words of phantom doubt and anxiety into the soul's ear, cultivating various forms of spiritual sickness and disease. It is a nightmare existence to live in constant and unceasing fear - fear of failure, fear of loss, fear of others, fear of self, fear of conflict, fear of authority, fear of things beyond our control, and fear of retribution. For many of us this list has the potential go on and on, forming an endless litany of despair.
How are we to live a life centered in Christ if we spend a life immersed in fear? The answer is quite simple; we can't!
The prophet Jeremiah wrote:
"Blessed is the man who trusts the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by water that sends its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when the heat comes; its leaves are green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8
I want to be like that tree planted by the water; a clean, clear and nutrient laden water; one that provides spiritual refreshment and growth; a living water that brings peace and calmness to the very core of life's storms; a water that cools and refreshes the heart, even when the heat of life creates a parched and dusty drought. When our roots are spiritually deep, planted in the rich soil of Christ, we suddenly experience what it means to lead a faith driven life. Those deep roots are grounded in trust; a holy and unbending trust in God, who provides the sustaining nutrients our spirits and consciousness need to live. In Jesus Christ we find an unconditional love that when tapped into, we are able to experience the benefit of a joy filled confidence.
The true fact of the matter is spiritual droughts will always occur in this life. Challenges will rise and fall with whatever season we find ourselves. There are days in which we will feel parched and dry; we may even find ourselves in a desert. But if our spiritual roots are spread out and firmly attached to Christ, the one thing we can most assuredly count on is God's living water. In the most barren time it will bubble up and nourish our hearts, minds and bodies.
The holy and life giving spirit our hearts long for is God. He is the nurturing water that gushes out of rocks, rises out of sand and flows through dry desert crags. Christ is the living water that gives rest to the weary, strength to the weak, love to the reviled, calmness to the restless in spirit, and peace to those who are desperate.
While fear will always exist in this world and constantly assault us, looking for any crack or crevice to breach our faith, know that in Christ there is an endless ocean of hope that is filled with grace and love. In Christ Jesus nothing can ever separate us from the love of God.
To live driven by fear means we are usually running away from someone or something that creates anxiety in our hearts. A fear driven life also has the ability to drive us toward something (healthy or unhealthy) in order to escape those threats. I spent much of my youth living on the fear driven side of the scale; either running towards denial or running away from reality and pain. Like many people today I too experienced those dreaded demons who whisper words of phantom doubt and anxiety into the soul's ear, cultivating various forms of spiritual sickness and disease. It is a nightmare existence to live in constant and unceasing fear - fear of failure, fear of loss, fear of others, fear of self, fear of conflict, fear of authority, fear of things beyond our control, and fear of retribution. For many of us this list has the potential go on and on, forming an endless litany of despair.
How are we to live a life centered in Christ if we spend a life immersed in fear? The answer is quite simple; we can't!
The prophet Jeremiah wrote:
"Blessed is the man who trusts the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by water that sends its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when the heat comes; its leaves are green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8
I want to be like that tree planted by the water; a clean, clear and nutrient laden water; one that provides spiritual refreshment and growth; a living water that brings peace and calmness to the very core of life's storms; a water that cools and refreshes the heart, even when the heat of life creates a parched and dusty drought. When our roots are spiritually deep, planted in the rich soil of Christ, we suddenly experience what it means to lead a faith driven life. Those deep roots are grounded in trust; a holy and unbending trust in God, who provides the sustaining nutrients our spirits and consciousness need to live. In Jesus Christ we find an unconditional love that when tapped into, we are able to experience the benefit of a joy filled confidence.
The true fact of the matter is spiritual droughts will always occur in this life. Challenges will rise and fall with whatever season we find ourselves. There are days in which we will feel parched and dry; we may even find ourselves in a desert. But if our spiritual roots are spread out and firmly attached to Christ, the one thing we can most assuredly count on is God's living water. In the most barren time it will bubble up and nourish our hearts, minds and bodies.
The holy and life giving spirit our hearts long for is God. He is the nurturing water that gushes out of rocks, rises out of sand and flows through dry desert crags. Christ is the living water that gives rest to the weary, strength to the weak, love to the reviled, calmness to the restless in spirit, and peace to those who are desperate.
While fear will always exist in this world and constantly assault us, looking for any crack or crevice to breach our faith, know that in Christ there is an endless ocean of hope that is filled with grace and love. In Christ Jesus nothing can ever separate us from the love of God.
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