June 26, 2019

I like that you're broken, broken like me . . .

Lovelytheband

These are the opening lyrics to “Broken” and from the first time I heard the song it became one of my favorites. Besides having a catchy tune, the lyrics are insightful.

“I like that you're broken, broken like me. Maybe that makes me a fool. I like that you're lonely, lonely like me. I could be lonely with you.”

We all have our broken pieces: A love lost; a friendship ended; words spoken in haste; a perceived slight; attempts to reach out that have been rebuffed; the memories of bullying. And the list goes on.

We all have our broken pieces. We all have our scars. But all of this – our brokenness and our scars – are part of being human. And all of this tells the story of who we are.

This brokenness also tells the story of who others are. Some people have been broken more than ourselves, some less. Some people have more scars than us, some less.

I think it's important to remember that. It's important to remember that we all have various broken pieces and scars.

And it's important to remember that people break, people are scarred, most often at the hands of others. How would our life be different if people treated us like a fragile piece of art they didn't want to break? How would the lives of those around us be different if we did the same? How would the Church be different?

May we strive to be gentle. May we strive to be a community that heals and strengthens.

Blessings,

June 19, 2019

Ordinary Time

We have moved out of liturgical time and into Ordinary Time; that time of the Church year when Sundays are simply counted sequentially. It is during this time that, instead of the season shaping the readings, the readings shape the season. In other words, instead of the events of Jesus' life being the focus, the life of Jesus becomes the focus. This long season is really where we learn about daily discipleship. It is here, in this long season, where our discipleship roots grow deep.

Christmas and Easter cast wide nets. Those are the two seasons, well . . . days, actually, where we see the most people in attendance. Those two days are the high holy days of the year, and people from far and wide come to be part of the celebrations. And that's okay. In fact, that's good. It's good to see the church full of people worshiping. It's good to hear the sound of a full church as people raise their voices in song and praise.

But not every day is a celebration. Not every day can grab peoples attention. By trying to do that, by trying to cast our nets wide, we end up focusing on the shallow. We end up focusing on what looks good.

Ordinary Time, however, allows us to focus on daily discipleship. It allows us to focus on strengthening our relationship with God. It allows us to, as Jesus told Peter, put out into the deep water. It allows us to develop holy roots.

Every Lent we are asked to develop a Lenten discipline that helps us fast from what draws us away from God. We spend this time in prayer, fasting, and self-denial, as we confront our sinful nature and look to repent and return to God.

This is always a good thing to do, but it is often short-lived since we tend to follow this discipline only through the 40 days of Lent.

In this upcoming Ordinary Time, I invite you to develop an ordinary discipline. I invite you to develop a discipline, habit, rule of life, that isn't so much focused on reminding you of your sinful nature as it is focused on developing a deep-rooted discipleship. Read scripture daily. Pray at set times. Find a time to listen to God. Participate in a new activity at church. Attend Evening Prayer. The list is close to endless.

And remember that you've got a long time to figure this out. A spiritual discipline shouldn't cause stress or additional problems in your life. As a monk said at my conference last week, “A spiritual discipline is only helpful if it's helpful.”

My prayer for all of us as we move into Ordinary Time is that we will all develop ordinary disciplines that will grow deep discipleship roots in all of us.

Blessings,

June 5, 2019

Follow

We have gone to the tomb only to find it empty. Christ has been resurrected. Through his death and resurrection we have been given new life.

In this Easter season we have experienced the joy of resurrection. We have also had our doubts. The resurrection stories are full of joy and doubt: the initial news as told by the women; the ten disciples telling Thomas; all of the disciples at the Ascension. Joy and doubt seem to go hand in hand when talking about the resurrection. But that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Doubt leaves room for questions and learning. It leaves room for people to explore their faith. A faith that can doubt is a faith that can question and wrestle. Jacob wrestled with God. Gideon had doubts. Almost every prophet exclaimed, “Not me!” Mary pondered things in her heart. Jesus may have wrestled with his call during those 40 days in the wilderness. But note that none of those people who doubted and wrestled quit following God.

We have seen the empty tomb. We have encountered the risen Christ. We have joy and we have doubts. In that joy and in those doubts, let us continue to follow the one who has destroyed death and claimed the victory of life.

Because it's in the continual following where our faith is strengthened.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Blessings,

May 29, 2019

The Tomb is Empty

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, or when the sun had risen (depending on which gospel you read), Mary Magdalene and various women go to the tomb where Jesus was laid to either finish the burial rite or to simply mourn his death.

People can get caught up in the minutiae of an event that leads them to miss or invalidate the prime truth the event, and this is one of them. Was it still dark or wasn't it? Was it only Mary Magdalene at the tomb, or was her and another woman, or was it her and three or four other women? Did they bring spices or didn't they? Was the rock already rolled away or was it rolled away as they approached? Again, it depends on which gospel story you read. But none of that is the prime truth of the event.

The prime truth of the event, and therefore the prime truth of the gospel, all four of them, is that the tomb was empty. The women went to the tomb to finish the burial rite, and the tomb was empty. Mary went alone to the tomb to mourn the death of her friend, and the tomb was empty. And after seeing the empty tomb, there are four different response.

The women go and tell the disciples, and they are believed. The women flee in terror and say nothing to anyone. The women go and tell the disciples, and are dismissed as silly women. Mary tells two of the disciples who then run to verify her account.

The tomb is empty. We are now in the position of the women. Will we tell people about the good news of the resurrection, or will we say nothing to anyone for fear of how we will be perceived?

The tomb is empty.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Blessings,

May 22, 2019

Power

Power is an interesting thing. We tend to think of power as equal to strength or force. Military power, for example. Or physical strength and power. Or maybe we think of power as equal to control.

But is that what power really is?

In the Gospel of John, Jesus and Pilate have a discussion about what power is and who holds it. I've pointed out several times that part of the reason we are to forgive others is so that their harmful actions will not hold power over us. The power of the Civil Rights movement, while not completely fulfilled, stood in the face of violence and hatred. Many martial arts are predicated on the transference of power; ie using the strength and aggressiveness of the other to your advantage. We used to think that death had power over us, but Christ destroyed that power through the power of his resurrection.

In our journey with Christ, we learn about a different kind of power – a power based on the love of God. This is a power that stands in the face of evil to proclaim the love of God to all. This is a power that says, “We are not afraid.” This is a power that says life is changed, not ended. There is a power in living in the assured grace of God.

It's not always easy, but it's powerful.

As we move through the Easter season, may we continue to find places of resurrection. May we continue to find opportunities to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ. May we continue to grow in our discipleship and faithfulness, as our own resurrection energies and abilities are released into the world.

That is a powerful witness.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Blessings,

May 15, 2019

Embodiment

“Eat this bread. Drink this wine. This is my body. This is my blood.”

Every Sunday we hear these and similar words at Communion as I read the Institution Narrative and the epiclesis. Every Sunday bread and wine are substantially changed as they are infused with the real presence of Jesus Christ. Every Sunday these creatures of bread and wine become holy gifts for holy people, the bread of life and the cup of salvation. And every Sunday we are fed and nourished by our Lord through the sacrifice he made.

In partaking of that holy meal we are also infused with the real presence of Jesus Christ. In partaking of that holy meal we are also substantially changed.

This is one aspect of embodiment; that we feed on him who died for us and, through that feeding, become embodied with the presence of Christ.

But there is another aspect to the embodiment of Christ, and that is our sharing in the totality of his life. We share in not only his life, but his baptism, his ministry, his death, and his resurrection. And this may be the most difficult part of embodiment – to embody Christ in our daily lives. To live our lives respecting the dignity of every human being. To seek and serve Christ in all people. To recognize differences yet respect and honor the image of God in all people. To walk daily in the footsteps of Christ. To live a life of discipleship in a way that embodies Christ always. This is the hard work of embodiment. This is the hard work of discipleship.

It's hard work, but it is worth it in so many ways.

How are you the embodiment of Christ in the world around you?

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Blessings,

May 8, 2019

Victory

When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.

Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

1 Cor. 15:54-55

During the Easter season we celebrate Christ's victory over death. We remember that neither the powers of this world nor death have any hold over us. More than any other time of the year, we proclaim the power of the Resurrection.

In the current world climate with daily mass shootings, the bombings of synagogues, mosques, and churches, the rise of white supremacy and nationalism, the scapegoating of easy targets, wars and rumors of wars, it can be easy to forget this. It can be easy to forget that death has lost. It can be easy to forget that the powers of hell have been vanquished. It can be easy to forget all this because it seems as if these things, not Christ, have won.

Unfortunately too many people, when faced with the paradox of Christ's victory in a world filled with death, offer simplistic platitudes – a pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by attitude telling people it will all be okay in the end while doing nothing to help in the now. In the current climate, many people are wondering about that victory and whether or not they will be okay.

Christ died for the sin, and sins, of the world. Christ died to put an end to death. Christ died so that we might live. Christ embodies a death-defeating, life-giving power that can and will save and heal. But in order for that power to be unleashed in the world, we must live as if we believe it. We must live lives that challenge all that attempt to destroy what God has wrought.

For us to continue to challenge death and hate, for us to plant the seeds of love and inclusion, then we must continue to proclaim Christ crucified and resurrected, and we must feed, tend, and feed others. Only then will the victory of Christ be made known to the world.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Blessings,