Rejoice!

Rejoice! Christ the Lord is risen! Again I say, rejoice!

May the God of resurrection be with you today and always. Praise be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen and amen.

Odds and Ends

Original 2012 Post

Every worthwhile Lenten practice requires sufficient time to reflect on the experience. So as Lent 2012 comes to a close, it is appropriate that some time be devoted to analysis. First, the obvious questions:

- Was the practice faithfully kept?

- Did it continue to provide benefits?

- Is it worth keeping the practice after Lent?

- Are modifications to the practice in order?

More specific questions may depend on the practice, but here are a few to consider:

- Can the practice be (caringly) recommended to others?

- Have and will others notice beneficial results?

- Are there tangible results that might be put to good use?

- Has the practice found favor with God?

Naturally, these questions may be difficult to answer, especially without hindsight's sharpening touch. And in time, some answers may change. If this seems possible, it might be worth leaving a physical reminder for later examination, an appointment with self, as it were, for a week later, a month, or next year.

To be open and frank about this blog, it has been a mixed blessing. There have been days where the post seemed obvious and the words flowed with ease. There have been other days that were quite difficult. The average time spent exceeded the budgeted amount almost every day. Most days, the extra time spent felt worth it. But there are tasks that necessarily must now take precedence.

There were many lessons along the way. From the sources found and researched, to new books and fresh authors, to Web skills attained. Most interesting, current research on the dynamics of social media has been clearly in evidence in this endeavor. In her TED talk of this week, Sherry Turkle tells of her recent work examining some consequences of being connected through technology:

http://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together.html

In a nutshell, as a means of keeping us truly connected with friends and family, the smart phone fails in some critical ways. In a similar manner, as a vehicle for study and communication about Lent, this blog falls short. For example, blogs promise quick, easy access to the latest updates, but the posts here are more suitable for time spent in reflection and contemplation. As another example, blogs offer the opportunity for dialog, but not only has none occurred, a quick scan of a cross section of blog postings related to Lent shows a marked dearth of reasoned exchange. It may be that the distance and anonymity provided by the Web discourage the sharing of personal ideas and beliefs. Or the amount of time required to compose a clear, concise comment is more than people are willing to spend, leading either to no comment or to ones easily misinterpreted.

Finally, for those who wish to continue reading blog posts after Easter, a respected source of like-minded, daily writings can be found in the Sojourner, Jim Wallis' publication of "Faith in Action for Social Justice":

http://sojo.net/

2013 Addendum

I have found that few of the original 2012 posts required significant re-writing, perhaps not surprising given the original desire to pen reflections that did not depend critically on time or place.  I have also found that almost all of the citations made a year ago are still current, always a consideration for Web-base access.  For these reasons, I plan to leave this blog open and available to all, though it will only occasionally be moderated.

This year, I am grateful to all who have followed these posts, whether on-line or by hard copy provided locally.  It remains true that all feedback to date has been made face-to-face, rather than by electronic means.  This fact has been my greatest disappointment, betraying my hope to develop connections to like-minded people over great distances.

Still, the experience has been positive, in total, and I am hopeful for new avenues through which to serve God and my neighbor.

May God use your reflections on the practices of this Lent to bring growth and peace.

Good Friday, Anew

There have been ample opportunities for trying something new today - new worship formats, new friendships to forge, new stories to hear, new viewpoints to consider. The day has been so rich, in fact, that an additional posting is warranted. It stems intentionally from risks taken in response to recent personal insights, themselves a topic worthy of future writing. For now, it will suffice to describe today's events.

An ecumenical group of some two dozen townsfolk gather on a sunny day to stroll through town. They proceed moderately, with purpose, but without haste. Along the way, there are stops at a handful of prominent locations to take a brief moment in consideration of some of the ways humanity falls short of the Kingdom of God. In between, time en route to contemplate, share with others, and marvel in the bright sunshine. All normal enough, except perhaps for the curious notion of transporting a group so large along congested roads on foot.

Yet certainly not normal, not on this particular day, and certainly not with a companion at once so recognizable, yet so foreign to today's public square. For on this Good Friday, the ad hoc congregation remembers Jesus' own travel through His beloved city and the companion forced upon Him by the failings of friends, the demands of government and the mistakes of misplaced righteousness. Both then and now, it was not the people or the travel that brought notice, but rather the companion - a cross. For Jesus and the disciples, the cross was an abomination, an instrument of brutality, torture, subjugation and shame. Centuries later, true believers still found it difficult to accept, much less embrace. For today's participants, though, it was a potent symbol of death once real, now overcome.

This worship in the world, this meditation among the masses, was a challenge in many aspects. The usual quietude was replaced by cars and trucks, purposeful but in large part patient, maybe a bit curious and cautious. The comfort of a pew was replaced by a light workout and for those who desired, a chance to lead the procession and carry the cross. And traditional, contemplative Christian homiletics were punctuated by long silences and conversations with friends and small talk with strangers.

Still, thanksgiving is most appropriate. Foremost for a bright, early spring day, with rays hard at work melting the remaining snow. And for intrepid sojourners, together courageously highlighting their common heritage. And above all, for the Holy Spirit, that leads ministers to reach out to small numbers; that imbues familiar words with new meanings; that encourages those that can, to do so, and those that cannot, to assist; and that prompts the timid to reach beyond comfort.  For where the Holy Spirit is, these things are abundant.

May God grant you newness amidst familiarity and the ability to experience His grace afresh.

Good Friday

Good Friday - a day that could be so named only once it was long past. It must have seemed anything but good at the time. Surely it was surreal, quite illogical, so traumatic it's amazing any of the events could be recalled later. Now, as then, the thoughts and images are so raw and come so rapidly, they can only be captured in small part and without a unifying sense of order. Almost stream of consciousness, this post is forced to conform.

A question from one who is fasting - should Lent end on Good Friday? Arguably, it should, for the life we are attempting to emulate ended on Good Friday. But, alas, it does not. Whether one takes Sundays as celebrations, a break from obligation, or one practices from Ash Wednesday uninterrupted, the day after Good Friday must be a day of observance, for it is not yet Easter.

A recalled Holy Week worship calls for a remembrance of revelation. Indeed, Lent and Easter stories cannot be told without revelation. Whether it be an exhilarating rush of knowing, a release from pain, worry and doubt, or a gradual awakening to the mysteries of faith, each story is worth telling and even more worth hearing.

Traditions regarding Good Friday vary, but may include such things as covering crosses or at least draping black cloth on them, concerns tucked into a cross fashioned from brambles or wire, and special worship opportunities. A personal favorite of the last variety is commemoration of the last seven "words" of Jesus Christ, sentences or phrases uttered from the cross as recorded in the Gospels. Each may be considered in turn, with an accompanying reflection, music and poetry. Traditionally, it spans noon to mid-afternoon, in remembrance of the hours Christ hung on the cross and is the perfect opportunity for an ecumenical service, for if the denominations cannot agree on the death and resurrection of Jesus, what hope is there for reconciliation? In many communities, there is a wealth of oratorical talent that can be a Lenten offering to all, even if many are too busy to avail themselves of it.  Alas, even traditions must evolve and change, and this one is now but a treasured memory, replaced by a more active, public display recalling the events of that first Good Friday.

The seven words:

- "Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing."

- "Today you will be with me in paradise."

- "Mother, there is your son."

- "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

- "I am thirsty."

- "It is finished."

- "Into thy hands I commend my spirit."

From past meditations, a few gathered thoughts:

*** Salvation is not an event. It is a relationship. *** (Attribution uncertain, but quite possibly Pastor Mandara - http://www.allsaintslutheran.ca/reflections/reflect_11_28.html)

The opening of this thought seems less remarkable than the conclusion. Which is not to say that any of it is uncontroversial, because for many, Christ's sacrifice defines salvation and applies to all humankind. Many others invoke a need for belief, which is not an event, but a state of relationship. Wiser people recognize this conundrum as one of the mysteries of faith. But succinctly identifying relationship as the alternative to event emphasizes the personal, dynamic, ongoing nature of whatever initially starts the believer on the journey. This is especially important during Lent, where an observance may be the process, but the goal is a saving connection, a relational salvation.

*** Jesus' response is to "open up the circle of agony and invite John in." *** (Rev. Gareth Evans)

As is so often true, Jesus' responds quite unlike typical humanity. Suffering on the cross, in pain and agony, it is astonishing that Jesus could be so aware of the needs of others. It may seem reasonable for Jesus to be thinking about his mother's long-term survival, but Jesus had brothers and possibly sisters, so why not admonish them? The answer is almost unbelievable - widening the family to include John makes it stronger. Jesus' family was under assault, His mother suffering the unthinkable, the death of her firstborn, and many of the others probably worried the authorities would be looking for them. Besides, they had been given no choice in the matter, indicted by birth, in pain through no fault of their own. John had been chosen and trained and had been thoroughly warned, as prepared as any for the numbing events of that week. So including John gives each family member additional support and resources through which to thrive. If tradition is correct, Jesus' insight allowed His mother to live out her life peacefully under John's protection.

*** Having overcome the sin of the world, death will be a small obstacle. *** (Stages on the Way, (c) 1998 WGRG, Iona Community, Glasgow G51 3UU Scotland)

Indeed, measured in any number of ways, Christ clearly conquered death. His battle against each person's separation from God, though, is seemingly eternal - witness just the Lenten struggles treated in these posts, for example. But our faith ensures that even this has already been overcome.

*** I'm not afraid of death, I just don't want to be there when it happens. *** (Woody Allen)

Even on a day of remembered sorrow and tears, there should be room for humor.

A prayer for today:

Lord Jesus, remember us

when you come into your kingdom.

Remember us,

not for our impressive resume,

nor for the things

which we hope will appear in our obituaries.

Remember us,

not for the virtues we occasionally display

or for any credit

we think we have in our moral account.

Remember us,

as one of the criminal community

who hung at your side,

and if life will not let us be in paradise

with you today,

keep a place for us.

Amen.

May you find the place in God's heart that He keeps for you.

Today's Mandate

Lent is quiet and subdued, at least until Holy Week. But by Maundy Thursday, there is so much to review, it does not fit. First to the meaning of the word Maundy. Wikipedia lists several possibilities, the most fitting being from the Latin mandatum, the first word in the phrase mandatum novum, which translates "A new commandment", from the charge Jesus gives to His disciples at the Last Supper "to love one another, as I have loved you". More literally, a modern equivalent might be "A new mandate". For many worshippers, Maundy Thursday is linked to the somber service that recalls the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus.

Significant portions of the Gospels are devoted to the events of this day and the subsequent night, including the Last Supper, at which Jesus washed the disciples feet and transformed the elements of the Seder meal into what in Christianity is the sacrament of Communion, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal by Judas, the arrest of Jesus, the three denials of Peter, and the trial, sentencing and ridicule of Jesus. There is ever so much for the Lenten faithful to contemplate.

But this Maundy Thursday, one of many texts is brought to the spotlight. John 17 records Jesus' prayer to God, spoken in the presence of His disciples, just before leaving for the garden where He would be arrested. While written in the form of a prayer, it reads more like the words of a televangelist, where the message is really more to the people listening than to God.

And not just any translation of that text, but the Common English Version:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017&version=CEV

This version, in particular, makes clear the meaning of John's somewhat poetic phrases. It also portrays a humbler Jesus, one who claims unity with God from before the beginning of the world, but who also remains subservient to God's will. Between the clarity of expression and the ever-obedient tone, this passage reminds all believers of the Christ-like attitude we are to adopt, through Lent to be certain, but also throughout all our lives. It is a beautiful example of the power of servanthood, that mix of faithful dedication and loving confidence, that emboldens Christ's followers, allowing them to be assured of the future, even when the present looks bleak.

On a day filled to overflowing with emotion, mixing beauty, sadness, accomplishment, despair, opportunity and grief, it is a blessing to receive God's grace, a word of encouragement and assurance, to shore up the faltering parts of our lives.

May you receive God's mandate for your life as a gift for your joy and salvation.

Relevance

The convergence of the Holy Week lectionary texts from Jeremiah and a friend's morning meditation call forth an unusual topic for Lent - influence, or perhaps more correctly, relevance. There is a sense among many Christians that the place of religion in society is changing for the worse, that in matters of importance, the views of the church are no longer a force for change.

It's not that the church is out of the news. From abuse by priests to book burnings to political movements to ministry bankruptcies, there is plenty of high profile talk about churches. And there is seemingly no end to discussion of such topics as gay marriage and abortion. And there can be no denying that Christianity-based aid organizations are among the most effective in efficiency, speed of response and global reach. So, on the one hand, it seems the world pays most attention to those aspects of religious practice that are on the fringe, while many central tenets are being effectively carried out.

What, then, is causing this feeling that Christianity is on the decline? Part of it certainly relates to the falling number of churches and reduced church attendance. Some of it can be traced to increasing diversity and creeping political correctness. Perhaps fanatical religious terrorism is giving faithfulness a bad name. Or maybe the rise of technology is pushing out older support structures in society. Blame has been laid on everything from separation of church and state movements to lower enrollment in seminaries to Western views on individual responsibility to post-modern relativism (whatever that really means).

Regardless of the source, it seems that fascination with the state of religious institutions misses several critical points. First, though Christians view the church as Jesus' hands and feet, still at work within the world, the structure of the institution was of no concern to Jesus. He worked both within and outside the synagogues of His day and almost nothing of His teachings addresses individual churches. Second, 'the church', discussed as if it was a single, monolithic body, is in reality a divergent group of organizations that often are at odds with each other. Even within single denominations, it can be a struggle to hold the faithful together under one creed. Third, formal participation in a church is an incomplete measure of faith, at best. Especially in light of ongoing revelations and inept management of abuse allegations, there are many who refuse to practice in standard ways. There are many additional factors, but perhaps the strongest is that God has never been limited to acting through the church. He can and does minister to His people through individuals, even through the unchurched.

So what are good Christians to do? Foremost, they must remember that Jesus did not come to create an earthly institution. He came to rescue individual souls, now as then, and everything He was and is starts and stops there. In light of this, Christians should be exhorted to apply their efforts individually, to their own piety and to the needs of specific neighbors. Under this model, the highest calling for the organized church is to nurture believers in their spiritual growth and to provide opportunities for the building of relationships. At their core, these are the goals of traditional Lenten practices - new practices should be similarly motivated. Once grounded in a vibrant faith and in relation to others, especially those oppressed or in need, Christians will find they are relevant in all the ways God desires.

May God strengthen you through your Lenten observances, that you might be a shining example of faithfulness to Him.

Fleeting Fervor

After the early events in that Passover week, after the triumphal Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem and after overturning the tables of the moneychangers, life continued on. In spite of the the damage He had inflicted on the commercial interests of the Temple, Jesus returned daily to teach the people and to goad the Pharisees and Temple rulers. Yet the authorities did not act until later in the week.

Does this make sense? Picture this: a trouble maker has been of concern and under observation for some time, when he arrives in the capital city with a huge fanfare, refusing to be quiet. The first thing he does is to create a public disturbance, disrupting the marketplace and bringing commercial activity to a halt. Perhaps he escapes capture at first, but he then returns to the scene of the crime day after day, continuing to upset the authorities each time. Somehow, in spite of being a thorn in their side, he avoids capture for almost a week. Does this make sense?

Comparing the Gospel accounts of the Holy Week, John is largely silent about Jesus' activities over that week, but Matthew, Mark and Luke tell of many teachings by Jesus in the Temple. Of these, Mark lists a careful chronology of daily activities, from which we gather that Jesus and the disciples spent the nights in Bethany, a neighboring town, and spent the days in the Temple, where there was ample opportunity to interact with the Pharisees and Sadducees. Mark lists what today would be seen as a campaign to discredit Jesus, first questioning His credentials, then repeatedly applying political litmus tests and finally resorting to trick questions, all to trap Jesus in an embarrassing answer. Together, these incidents amount to character assassination, but they were to no avail, for He outwitted his questioners in every opportunity, much to the crowd's delight.

So what changed, that the authorities were finally able to gain the advantage? Well, many things, to be sure. First, there is Judas and the perfume incident - betrayal by one in the inner circle is devastating - followed by Peter's denial, another inner circle failure. It's possible, too, that the opposition to Jesus took some time to become united, either in intent or in plan. Or maybe like politics today, it just takes time for the machine to be put in motion. It's difficult to know which of these is the most important.

There is one more factor. The Gospels aren't clear why (Mark blames the chief priests who hadn't been able to turn opinion earlier), but the public support that had protected Jesus for the rest of that week disappeared just when He needed it most. Perhaps the smear campaign finally took hold. Or maybe the daytime Temple crowd was away from the city when Pilate paraded Jesus out. Maybe people were offended when Jesus said the Temple would be leveled or they just got tired of the circus that was Passover in Jerusalem. Quite possibly, some thought Jesus deserved to be arrested. Whatever the reason, when things started to turn, everyone backed out and Jesus was left on His own.

This, then, is one reason that Lent is forty days. Christians clearly need stamina in their practices, for they did not have it on that Passover. The powers of evil acted strongly that night, arguably stronger than human resistance could have surmounted. But knowing the result of that particular corporate timidity has spurred believers ever since to keep their guard up. Injustice must be resisted and the more formidable the oppressor, the more important it is that people of conscience risk standing for what's right.

May God give you the strength to go against prevailing thought as He directs.