THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER   Year C  May 1, 2022

• Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)  •   Psalm 30  •   Revelation 5:11-14  •   John 21:1-19

In 1995 Joan Osborne released a song onto the charts.  It was called, One of Us.  The lyrics began; “If God had a name, what would it be, and would you call it to his face?..”  The song posed many questions about what our reaction might be to an encounter with God.  In today’s readings we look at a couple of significant encounters with God, that of Saints Paul and Peter, who were stand out leaders in the establishment of Christianity.

 

Two of the most dramatic encounters with God are described in our readings.  But wait… did you notice that I said encounters with God?  This is true, but the encounters were actually with God the son.

 

Saint Paul, then known as Saul, was a very zealous pharisee.  He was dedicated to God, and he saw the movement of Jesus as a heresy for which he was prepared to spend his life in eradicating.  Saul had letters from the high priest which gave him permission to find the Christians and bring them bound to Jerusalem.  He was there at the stoning of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, holding the coats of those who did the stoning.

 

Along the road, as he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light flashed around him and he heard the voice say, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

He didn’t recognise the voice…. He asked "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting…”

 

What would be your reaction?  Imagine you are going on an expedition to stamp out a heresy and suddenly the central figure of that heresy appeared to you in this way.  Saul immediately realizes that he has been wrong all this time that he has been persecuting the Christians.  More than this, every time there is an encounter with God, it is not just for the benefit of the person who receives it, but it is for the benefit of all.  What this means is that Saint Paul’s encounter with Christ is for the benefit of us.  Not only did his conversion mean that the message spread more powerfully, but the encounter with God formed the theology of Saint Paul.  Firstly, notice that Jesus says, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”?   What we do to each other, we do to Christ… we are the body of Christ….  It is Saint Paul who proclaimed that we are the body of Christ.  This teaching is in the letter to the Corinthians, Romans, Ephesians and Colossians.  It was a message we hear from Jesus in the Gospels, but this message was one that Saint Paul knew by heart because of his encounter with Christ.

 

For three days after the encounter Saint Paul ate and drank nothing.  He was in deep mourning as we might expect a person would be after realizing the damage that they had done in persecuting God himself.  We don’t realize that Saint Paul had other visions in this time that he was blinded, until we hear of God’s words to Ananias, who went and prayed for and baptised Saul.

 

Ananias was hesitant to go to Saul, but God was definite in the call.  Ananias’s response to the word of God, was “here I am” – he was available and willing to do God’s will, but that doesn’t mean that he wasn’t apprehensive about deliberately putting himself in the way of danger.

 

Saul was baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit and after recovering his sight and energy, immediately began to declare in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

 

Saint Paul encountered God and changed his name to Paul – Little!  He was a somebody as a pharisee.  As a follower of Christ, he declared himself to be little.   He was not little in the history of our faith, but his attitude of declaring himself to be little was a constant reminder of his encounter with Christ and how, in the body of Christ he was not the head.  We can learn from this too.  We are not the head.  Christ is the head and we are all the body and if one member hurts, we

 should all feel the pain.  If one member is in need, we should all be concerned to help where we can.

 

Those travelling with Saul also encountered God.  They heard the voice, but saw no one.  We don’t know what happened to them, but I expect their lives also changed that day.  As the words of the Joan Osbourn song says, “If seeing meant that you would have to believe in things like heaven and in Jesus and the Saints and all the prophets.”   For us today, what would change for us if we saw God face to face, or heard the voice?

 

Perhaps we might be like Saint Peter.  After all, we are church people and we already believe and follow Jesus.  Saint Peter knew Jesus as a human, but Saint Peter was Jesus greatest fan.  Saint Peter put his faith in Jesus long before the crucifixion and resurrection.  Saint Peter had a pretty unique relationship with God… but actually, we all do.  Saint Peter being Jesus’ biggest fan and greatest follower declared that he would never deny him.  But Peter did deny Christ… not once, or twice, but three times.  Three times in the Hebrew tradition was a contract.  It was a sure and done deal.  But Peter was so truly sorry and wept bitterly.  When Jesus rose, Peter was there ahead of the others, once again Jesus’ biggest fan.

 

How do we deal with our own failure towards God?  I have had the privilege of meeting a lady from Rockhampton many years ago.  I don’t know what it was that was in her past, but she confided that for many years she had dedicated herself to working for the church.  She went above and beyond because she loved God, but also because she had failed him.  In some hidden recess of her heart she was trying to make up for what she had done, but knew she couldn’t.  She hadn’t missed the message that Christ died for her sins, but she had sinned since being a Christian and felt that she was beyond forgiveness.  Christ died for our sins….  Past, present and future… they are all forgiven, but I imagine that Peter was like this lady.  He knew Jesus loved him, but he felt unworthy of restoration. This is what we do when we believe, but feel unworthy – we bury ourselves in being so busy that we don’t have time to dwell on the awful truth of our feelings.

 

If we can face our feelings, we will find them transformed in the light of the Gospel.  Notice how Jesus draws out the deep pain in Peter…. Very gently… and restores him fully.

 

In our Gospel we read that Jesus actually asks Peter three times if he loves him, but in the original language of the Bible there is more going on, as we only have one English word for love, but the language of the Bible uses two different words in this story.

 

As our encounter begins, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him more than “these”.  Who or what are “these”.  There are three possibilities; Did Peter love him more than his fishing career?  Did Peter love Jesus more than he loved the other disciples?  Or Did Peter love Jesus more than the other disciples loved Jesus. 

 

Many have put emphasis on the fish or career and implicate that we too must love Jesus more than our career, but this is not most likely what Jesus was asking….  Jesus actually blessed their fishing expedition and even Saint Paul continued in his tent making trade as he travelled proclaiming the Gospel.  His tent-making work meant that he was able to support himself and give the gift of the Gospel freely.  God does not require us to all quit our jobs and proclaim the Gospel, but he does want us to proclaim the Gospel as we go about our jobs. 

 

We are to love God with all our heart, mind and strength.  It is the first commandment, and the second is like it; to love others.  The two are closely united and those who proclaim that we must love God first, often do so with an ulterior motive to justify a lack of love for another.  Many times the way that people have come to faith is because they sensed the love of God through the way that someone loved them.  This love for others must be genuine. 

 

I have been to churches where there is an appearance of love, but the purpose of that love is simply to make you one of them.  So that you can become a church member.  This kind of love is fake and revolting.  Genuine love for others is something that Jesus commands and it seems unlikely that Jesus was asking Peter, do you love me more than you love these.  We must ensure our love for others is not conditional or measured, because God’s love isn’t. 

 

It seems clear to me that Jesus was asking Peter if Peter loved Jesus more than the other disciples loved Jesus.  Let me explain why…  In Peter’s life he had been the loud man of action, and where Jesus was concerned Peter had always made it clear that Peter was the one Jesus could rely on most.  But in this first question was a word for love, used by Jesus which is AGAPE – meaning the full and unconditional love of God.  Peter responds that he does love Jesus.  He doesn’t say whether it is more or less than the others, but the word Peter uses for love is not AGAPE, but Philos….  A friendship kind of love. 

In the second question Jesus lowers the bar a little and asks Peter again if he loves him, but doesn’t ask if he loves him more than the others.  This time Jesus uses the same word, AGAPE, and Peter responds exactly the same with the word PHILOS.  Peter has been truly humbled and, it would appear, doesn’t want to make big claims about his love.  He knows that his love was incomplete and that he denied Jesus – He knows that his love is fallible.  Peter really does love Jesus.  Peter is truly a friend of God, but now he knows that he caves under pressure – there is no big boasting anymore.

 

Finally, Jesus asks Peter a third time, but this time Jesus lowers the bar again and asks Peter if he loves him using the word PHILOS… friendship love.  I guess this rubbed salt into the wound and opened it right up.  Do we deny our friends?  But Peter responds that Jesus knows all things and knows that he loves him, using Philos again.  Peter is honest, but he also declares the sovereignty of Christ who knows all things.

 

After each question Peter is exhorted to feed God’s lambs, tend the sheep and feed the sheep.  Regardless of where Peter is at and his limited love, God has a calling for Peter.

 

These encounters with God changed those who had the encounter.  They understood God because of these interactions and they understood God’s priorities.  These encounters not only changed those people who had the encounter but they also helped to shape our church.  Through these encounters we reap the benefit and understand some very important things; God loves us and will choose us as his people regardless of what we have done and regardless of some failing we have done while already knowing him.  Peter was not only forgiven, but his position of leadership was confirmed.

 

Something else we learn; Our own encounters with God are not for us alone.  Everything that God teaches us he wants us to share as his message is for all.  After all, we are the body of Christ – If one member receives a message, it is for the benefit of all.  Saint Paul was not a follower of Christ, but Christ came to him in a very dramatic way, post resurrection.  There is nothing to say that this will not happen to you too.  Saint Peter was a leader of Christ’s people and when he was put under pressure, he denied Christ.  But Jesus forgave him and restored him.  This Jesus will do for you too.

 

There is no other religion in the world that has a God like our God who loves and forgives us.  Who restores us and even lifts us up into positions of leadership – but know that both of these Saints suffered for their faith.  They knew that they would – they were told ahead of time and they both willingly proclaimed the truth of Jesus because that is what one does when faced with God and all his love and mercy.  But where are we in this story?  Are we waiting for the blinding light, living in busyness to hide our shame, or are we declaring the truth of God because we have also encountered the risen Christ?  Perhaps we are waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit with power to change our lives – but do we want that and what will we respond if we are presented with the fulness of the power of God?

Reflection Easter 2 C April 24 2022

 

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER   Year C   April 24, 2022

• Acts 5:27-32  •     Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150  •   Revelation 1:4-8  •   John 20:19-31 

We have just celebrated our most holy week.  For many people it is a great time to go camping… to reset our lives a little with rest.  For all Christians it is a most important commemoration, and for those from the more orthodox traditions, who’ve partaken in fasting of some kind – or given up something for Lent, we actually enter into that story of our salvation, feeling the story quite profoundly.  I believe that we do our children a huge disservice if we don’t encourage them to give up something for Lent – or take up doing something significant for Lent, because this helps them to connect with, and enter into the story of Christ.  My own most cherished memories of Easter as a child, are connected deeply with fasting on Good Friday – going to church at 3pm and then coming home to hot cross buns. I distinctly remember the sense of stillness each Good Friday.  It is always as if all of creation remembers that it is Good Friday and pauses with us as we recall the events.

 

It has been a lot of years since Christ walked the roads of Jerusalem.  If Thomas, who so loyally followed Christ was inclined to doubt the resurrection, how can we blame anyone today for doubting?

 

Why was Thomas not in the room when the others were?  Our Gospel begins by telling us that the disciples were in a locked room for fear of the Jews.  I have a crazy theory that Thomas was actually more faithful to Jesus and perhaps not there because he was less afraid.  Thomas, in the Gospel of John chapter 11, verse 16 says, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”  This was before the crucifixion when Jesus was going to raise Lazarus.  They knew that the Jews were plotting to kill Jesus.

 

This is simply my musings, but what is fact, is that Thomas was a true and loyal disciple.  He didn’t necessarily have the same “theological” understanding as the others, who also were lacking in their own understanding of the message of God… and there is something in that to ponder for us all.  Thomas was genuine in his relationship with Christ, but most importantly, he was not in the room when the others saw Christ.    

 

Remember, after the women saw Jesus, many still doubted.  It is probably good to have a healthy amount of scepticism.  So, let’s not be harsh with Thomas – or with others who are like him.

 

We live in an age when there are people who doubt everything.  The simplest example is covid.  So many and varied opinions about the virus and the vaccine.  So many conspiracy theories also.  In this day and age, on the internet, anyone can have their say about anything.  Many do!  Many do, deliberately, put out false information just to see how much power they have to cause confusion.  For this reason, platforms like facebook and twitter are being asked to filter information and sometimes posts are taken down as false news – and sometimes these platforms get it wrong.  False information is actually really dangerous and can cause much suffering and is causing suffering and a whole lot of anxiety.  Truth, and preserving it is important.

 

The message of our faith is vital.  Our very lives depend on it, as Christ died to bring us life – life eternal and abundant.  But how can we know that our faith is for real?  How can we know that we are putting our trust in something that is totally trustworthy?

 

For a start – for this reason, I believe it is important that we continue good traditions like fasting in Lent.  For this reason, I believe it is important that we involve our children in these traditions…. We pass the story on and we involve each other in the story of Jesus.  We don’t simply read the story.   We must become involved in it. ..AND we must involve others in the story also. Notice that Thomas is instructed to touch the wounds of Jesus.  Jesus didn’t chastise Thomas, but gave him what he needed.  To touch the wounds of Jesus today might mean caring for those in need.  Touching Jesus for us today, might mean becoming involved in a charity.  It might mean becoming a life-line counsellor.  For each of us the call is answered differently, but all of us are certainly called to touch the wounds of Jesus, remembering that what we do for the least of these we do for him – and in this way we will truly come to know that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, and in believing in him, we will have life.

 

All that being said and done, it is important that we know exactly what it is that we believe and that it is worthy of our belief and our allegiance.  Our reading from Revelation tells us about the nature of Jesus, who was and is and is to come. 

 

You see there are levels in the story of our faith.  At a purely physical level there is the story of a man named Jesus who performed miracles and who was crucified.  This much is verified by non-Christian historians – and also that the body disappeared, his followers claiming that he rose from the dead.  Even the enemies of Christ admitted that the tomb was empty.  There are many very logical and rational reasons to believe in the resurrection.  For starters, the many eye witnesses who remained true to their story though persecuted and even put to death.

 

This leads us to the belief level of our faith story.  After we know the facts, we decide what we believe about those things that are not physical, but most likely true.  Many people believe that Jesus was an important person, even a prophet, miracle worker, and some believe he is who he claimed to be, but even the demons know who he is.

 

The important level in our faith, is to not just know the facts and believe in Jesus, but the important, vital aspect is the action level  - to join our lives to him and be united with him.  We believe in him, but we also accept him as our Lord and saviour.

 

Our first reading tells us about the apostles putting their faith into action.  They were preaching and healing in Jesus’ name and were warned by the authorities not to do so, however they continued, because they put their faith into action.  They were obeying God first and foremost. 

 

 

The Book of Revelations proclaims that Jesus is, was and is to come – the alpha and the omega.  In case you are wondering, this is a similar idea to the God who revealed himself to Moses in the burning bush and declared himself to be I AM.  Jesus’ nature is divine.  He is one with the father and his nature is eternal.  Revelations explains what Jesus has done for us – He freed us from our sins by his blood.  Something we should never take for granted, forget or diminish.  The conclusion of the reading makes it very clear that the one who was, who is and who is to come is the ALMIGHTY.

 

Putting all our readings together we have faith being put into action in the first reading of the apostles before the council and the high priest.  We have an understanding about who Christ is and what he has done for us in our revelation reading, but the Gospel reading portrays the journey of faith and a group of frightened and doubting disciples.  How is it that such a frightened and fractured group become so transformed that they changed the course of our world?

 

It is definitely something worth pondering, as we currently are also a very fractured society and, in many ways, a frightened society.  To give an example of just how frightened and fractured we are; a few months ago, I had a conversation with a lady who didn’t like what was being taught in a high school.  I pointed her in the direction of petitions that she could sign.  “Oh, I will never do that!” she exclaimed.  She went on to explain that she didn’t want to take the chance that anyone would know what she was putting her name to.  How far have we fallen that we’ve become so inhibited & impotent?

 

But let’s go back to our Gospel story again and see what Jesus does with these frightened, fractured and doubting disciples, because in this is the key to courage, and becoming the effective people of God.

 

Firstly, notice that he showed the disciples his hands and his side.  He was reassuring them that he was not a Ghost, but his body had been resurrected.  Then Jesus breathes on them and urges them to receive the Holy Spirit.  The Greek word for spirit is pneuma, an ancient word for “breath” and also used to indicate “spirit”.  It is a word that has the basic meaning of “air in motion” – something necessary for life. 

 

In Old Testament times a prophet would present themselves to the community with an object and declare the word of God using that object to make their point.  Therefore, Jesus breathing on them was a prophetic sign accompanying his message to them.  He emphasizes definite link between the Holy Spirit and life.

 

Jesus then tells his disciples that if they forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, and if they retain the sins of any, they are retained.  This simply indicates our responsibility to proclaim the Gospel and that with the power of the Holy Spirit to declare the Gospel, those who receive that Gospel are set free and forgiven, and those who refuse the Gospel are not forgiven, but their sins remain because they haven’t accepted the gift that Jesus offers.

 

In a particularly puzzling part of the Gospel, in both Matthew and Mark, there is a message about blaspheming the Holy Spirit.  It states that those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.  The reason is simply that those who resist the prompting of the Holy Spirit to receive the message of the Good News, can’t be forgiven because they have refused to believe.  And this is very different from our doubting Thomas and very different from those who genuinely struggle to comprehend the message of salvation.

 

In the breath of Jesus is life.  Although there are logical and rational reasons for faith, when all is said and done, spiritual life is a gift that is accepted as simply and as innately as breath. When we breathe we don’t actually think about it, but without it we have no life. Likewise the message of our salvation is not complete/ not alive, without the receiving of the Holy Spirit – there is a most important link here.

 

We are made in the image of God.  God who is the father, the son and the Holy Spirit, is a triune being.  So are we.  We are body, soul and spirit.  Spiritual life is when we receive the Holy Spirit.  But wait – there is more to this;

 

Our breath informs our body to live beyond the womb.  Likewise, the Holy Spirit informs our life to live beyond the grave, but also to live that life now.  The difference between a group of frightened, fractured disciples and those brave preachers who stood before the council and high priest is that they had received the Holy Spirit.  They operated, walked and worked in God’s life breath.

 

In this time, between resurrection and Pentecost, we realize that we need more than mere belief – we need to respond to this post resurrection message of Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are called to enter into the story of faith, touching wounds. But in our own strength we are frightened, fractured and powerless.  The Gospel is incomplete and has no life unless we all heed the call of Jesus as he breathes on us today and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit”.

What Only Jesus could Do. Fifth Sunday in Lent 3rd April 2022

 FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT   Year C    3^rd April 2022

• Isaiah 43:16-21  •   Psalm 126  •    Philippians 3:4b-14  •    John 12:1-8

What is your faith worth to you?

Do you consider yourself to be a practical person?  Do you balance your books and budget well?  Do you seldom allow yourself the luxury of physical delights?  Certainly, in the season of Lent we strive to exercise self-control and limit our luxuries.  Lent is a time of identifying with the poor and exercising self-control through some kind of abstinence.  A time of prayer and reflection.  In contrast we have a lavish act occurring in the telling of our Gospel story, of what seems to be pointless exuberant indulgence.

 

In fact, our first reading seems to be in contrast with the season of Lent.  There is a sense of joyful expectation of something great happening- a sense of victory.  In the end, we know that victory is coming to this Gospel story.  We know that Jesus rose from the grave, conquering death and sin, but at this point in our Lenten journey we are still looking grimly at the cross and at the suffering to come.

 

In our world, we are looking at inflated petrol prices.  Things seem grim. We feel pain for those in Ukraine, praying and wishing that the Russians would have mercy and cease their onslaught.  It seems like the whole world is in a season of poverty and hardship…. Much like our Lenten journey, a season of hardship.  Lent is the season that leads us to the cross…  - but the cross isn’t pointless…  it ends with victory and resurrection. 

In this life, more hardships are yet to come, there is no doubt.  Life on planet Earth is fraught with pain.  If we come down to personal levels, we find friends struggling with cancers, daughters with broken hearts because they can’t fall pregnant, financial hardships, natural disasters like the floods impacting such that any sense of home is lost – and it is probably about now that many of those are feeling the full impact of that loss.

 

We are on the road to the cross.  We are in a wilderness of grief and loss.  We are in a desert where the things that should come easily to refresh us are missing, and we still can’t plan a night out without considering if all of our invitees are double vaccinated.

 

In the midst of this we have a word from God through Isaiah declaring; “I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.”   In the midst of our hardship there is a way of refreshment – but it only comes from Jesus.

 

In Lent we take up some kind of abstinence.  We focus on our faith and we pray and we give.  Sometimes when we fast and pray we expect that because of these actions that God will act with blessing.  Almost like, “Hey God… if I do this, then you should do that for me.”  I doubt that we would put it in those words, but we all can, and do naturally tend towards thinking; “Hey I do what is right… why are these bad things happening to me?”  “Surely God knows how much I try to do good and should be rewarding me.”

 

In stark contrast to our very natural way of thinking, we need to reflect on the words of Saint Paul.  Saint Paul, was brought up to be a righteous man.  He studied diligently and was an A student.  He was brilliant.  He was also a particular personality type that was fastidious and particular.  He ensured that he did everything correctly according to God’s law.  He fasted and prayed and gave sacrifices and he didn’t stop there.  He was so zealous for the law of God that he set out to persecute the Christians.  He put his faith into action.  Surely, this was a man who was going to be welcomed by God. 

 

If one could be welcomed into the kingdom by their good works and adherence to their own form of Religion, God would surely have left Paul alone.

 

Paul believed that he was God’s right-hand man.  He was a person of position and influence.  It was Paul who gave the authority for the stoning of Stephen, the first martyr of the church.  Paul, then called Saul, believed he was acting righteously – how can we hold this against him?  You can believe in God and be zealous in your faith and still get it so wrong.

 

But Paul knows better than any of us, that our good intentions, if they are not done through Christ, are worthless.  Paul knows better than any of us that our righteous acts, if they are not done through Christ, are worthless.  Paul completely and thoroughly understood that there is no salvation apart from Christ and, most importantly, this is a salvation by faith in Jesus and HIS actions and God’s grace and NOT by anything that we do to earn that favour.   Jesus is the key!

 

Saint Paul declares that he strives to attain the heavenly goal by sharing in Christ’s suffering, but make no mistake, he is aware that his own salvation is nothing to do with his works, but by the grace of God, yet he presses on toward the goal.  Note his words; “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.” 

 

Compared to this gift of God, all else is incomparable.  How much is this gift of God worth?  Sharing in suffering for the Gospel message?  A whole jar of perfume? 

 

There are many Christians who don’t believe we should have anything but the bare essentials for our Churches….  Or would much rather be practical stewards by investing in programs or practicalities, than in beautifying a church.  For the most part, most would agree.  But Jesus accepts the expensive perfume (about a year’s wage worth), simply to wash his feet.  Can you imagine that?  A year’s wage!  Think of that in today’s terms, apparently about $66000, and understand what extravagance was given to wash those feet.

 

In the heart of Mary there was no doubt she was washing the feet of the Messiah.  Notice that neither her brother or sister stopped her from doing this.  They had all experienced the resurrection of Lazarus and this act was an act of love and worship and gratitude.  Yet Jesus shows us that it is more than that, it is a prophetic act.  Jesus is going to die and she has anointed him for his death.

 

Martha and Lazarus knew what the gift of God was worth….. and they approved of Mary’s giving.  Have we considered how much the gift of God is worth to us?  We are a practical people.  We give what we can, but I wonder what we would give if we had our eyes opened to the same vision of the gift of God, as Mary and of Saint Paul.

 

While many will condemn the riches of the churches in Rome, Michelangelo painted the masterpiece ceiling of the Sistine chapel as a commissioned art work, yet still as an expression of his own devotion and commissioned by the devotion of another.  In our devotion to God, we might give to the poor, perform acts of hospitality or other works.  We are all different and the painter will paint a master piece, the song writer writes a song, and the architect might design an intricate building.  None of these will win our way into heaven, but I hope that we are not like Judas, discouraging an act of extravagant worship.

 

Mary’s worship was extravagant but Jesus declared it right that she should use this for the day of his burial.  And suddenly the room becomes solemn with the realization that Jesus was on his way to the cross.

 

Jesus knew where he was going. 

 

From my own observation, when a person is dying with cancer, perspectives change.  Some things are really important and other things are not. 

 

Jesus knew he was on the journey to the cross.  Jesus knew the priorities of God the father and the gift that he was about to bring about for the world.  A gift that only he could pay for… a price too dear for us.  Only a person without sin could die to save us.  Us, in all our self-righteousness could never be so perfect so as to attain eternal life.  We could not die to save ourselves let alone the whole world.   We can not do it!  We, without Jesus, are separated from God… loved, but in our imperfection, separated.  If Saint Paul’s perfect living was not perfect enough then we can rest assured that there are none who are perfect enough…. Only Jesus and this is our Gospel message.  The Good news of the Gospel is that through Jesus, God see us as his perfect son.

 

Only Jesus could save us.  He was born the son of God, God incarnate.  He is the truth, the life and the way and none can come to the father, but through him.  Our Gospel message is vital, and it is vital that we understand it because without it there is no eternal life.  Life is only through Jesus.  How much is this worth to us?

 

We take it for granted and we complain about things that in the light of eternity are so insignificant.  But rest assured, he does care for us and all those little and big things that cause us grief.  But just for this week, as we journey with Jesus to the cross, reflect on the enormous consequence of this Gospel.   Jesus knowingly went to Jerusalem to die so that we might be saved for eternity.  In his dying he imparts the power of his eternal life to us all.

 

In this life there is pain, but remember the words of Isaiah who declares that God makes a way in the desert.  Rivers do sometimes flow in the desert, but it isn’t the normal thing.  God makes a way for us.  In the desert of our pain and grief and even confusion, God brings us the waters of eternal life through the gift that Jesus bought with his blood and his broken body.  Eternal life… what is it worth to you?  Jesus brings us into a renewed relationship with God the father.  What is that worth to you?  A year’s wage?  No…. it is worth our whole life.  Let us offer ourselves to God …...our whole self.

Walking in faith 2nd Sunday of Lent C 2022

 

Second Sunday of Lent Year C - March 13, 2022

• Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18  •   Psalm 27  •   Philippians 3:17-4:1  •   Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)

On television this week, I saw Batman Begins.  Gotham was Batman’s town and it was wicked.  The man who trained Batman, claiming to have a higher purpose, infiltrated the corruption so as to completely destroy the town.  Batman intervenes.  He says, “there is still good here”, and “It can still be saved”.  These statements are echoes our scriptures and the hearts of the Prophets who have laid down their lives in an effort to bring the people back to God. 

 

Our Gospel reading shows the heart of Christ, similar to our Batman narrative, and his desire to save.  The words of Jesus are; “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, …. How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, …!”

 

We know that Christ, laid down his life, not just for the city of Jerusalem, but for the world.  As the followers of Christ, we are those who live in God and God lives in us.  Therefore there is an element in each of us, calling us to have this same heart for our community?

However, we are the “Me” generation.  Well maybe not you specifically – or even me specifically, but we live in the “Me” generation.  We live in a community which has more in common with Gotham and Jerusalem than we might like to admit.  The “Me” generation is a little like the yeast of the Pharisees…  beware of it because it can easily grow and increase in our lives without us even realizing.

 

In our Gospel story some Pharisees were actually trying to be helpful.  They warned Jesus to leave and save himself.  But Jesus was not infected by the “Me” generation.  And there we were thinking that the “Me” generation was something new.  It is not.  It has always been there.  It was there in the beginning when Adam and Eve wanted to be like God.  That was, counting themselves as the most important…. Afterall… surely it is a good thing to eat that fruit and better oneself!

 

The interesting thing about the warning of the Pharisees, is that they were warning Jesus to save himself and yet Jesus actual mission was to die.  Jesus states, “'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work”.  The work of Jesus was to bring forth the Kingdom of God.  In casting out demons and curing ills, he was declaring his authority, but “on the third day” is a symbolic reference to the completion of his ministry, inferring his death, which is exactly why he would return to Jerusalem.  Jesus’ ministry involved ultimately laying down his life for the world, in order to save us and to bring us into a right relationship with God.  We have a right relationship with God because of the sacrifice of Jesus, but Abraham was also declared to be righteous – in a right relationship with God. 

 

Our reading from Genesis holds that statement that is repeated in the letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament.  Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.  Therefore, this is an important account, which we need to understand.

 

There are many who say that they believe in God, but there is a difference in ”believing God”.  Many who believe in God, have little to do with him other than to state that they do.  Believing God, implies a relationship and consequent actions.   Do you see the difference?  I can believe in my Husband… Believe he exists and still have no relationship with him.  To say that I believe him, means that I have spoken with him and heard what he said and will act in accordance.  I have a one on one relationship with him.

 

Abraham had a relationship with God his whole life, but for some reason this action of belief rendered him righteous.  The message that Abraham believed was that he, with a barren and aging wife, was going to be the father of many.  God said it, Abram believed it.  I don’t understand it, except to say that it wasn’t anything that Abraham did, but God’s love and grace.  Abraham is considered the father of our faith because his righteousness is not based on something he did, but instead it is based on the action of, declaration by, and promise of God in response to Abraham believing God.

 

If you think that to be righteous you need to have complete faith and never doubt – read on – God told Abraham that his children would own a great amount of land, but Abraham wanted God to prove that this would happen – And so, God made a covenant with Abraham.  This covenant involved five animals, three of which were three years old.  Three of these animals were cut in half but not the birds.  What is going on here? 

 

The first animal is a heifer.  According to the research that I have done, a heifer was used as a sacrifice to purify people who had become unclean due to coming in contact with a dead body.  Figuratively, to be cleansed from our mortality – cleansed from the fact that we are finite and will die.  The next was a female goat, which signifies life giving.  Next was the ram, signifying Christ himself, the sacrifice for sin. Then the turtle dove and the pigeon signifying the love of God and peace.  Also three is the number signifying life.  Now, I’m not completely sure about all of this, but after a bit of research, this seemed to make the most sense.

 

Apparently common in the ancient world, a beast would be cut in half to signify “cutting a deal”… an agreement.  If two Kings met and even if they didn’t speak the same language, but they cut an animal and walked in between the halves, it was understood that this meant that there was a peace agreement, with the understanding, “May it be done to me as it is with this animal if I should break the agreement.”

 

The very interesting thing about the covenant with Abraham is that Abraham didn’t walk through the halves, but God did.  This meant that it was an unconditional covenant, dependant on the actions of God, regardless of any action on Abraham’s part.  It was a promise and it was solemnly sealed.  The saving grace of God, declared prophetically through the symbols of the animals of the covenant sacrifice, meant that Abraham was redeemed from death, given life, his transgressions atoned for and he had the love of God and Peace between him and God.  This is what we have also. 

 

The meaning behind those animals of the covenant tell the story of salvation to show that we have the promise of eternal life and abundant life, we are redeemed through the sacrifice of Jesus, which brings us into a relationship of love and peace with God.

 

The letter to the Philippians tells us, “He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.”  This is telling us about our eternal life. Eternal life – We have this promise.  Do we believe it? 

Just as Abraham couldn’t, in himself, do anything to bring about life from his barren wife, neither can we do anything, in ourselves, to bring about eternal life.  But can we believe God and agree that HE can?

 

What we believe forms our actions.  When we truly believe all that God tells us it shows in our actions.  Although it is through our believing, that we are completely saved by the Grace of God, there naturally must follow, an action. Knowing that we have eternal life gives us a different perspective.  Knowing that we have the life of God and that we are saved by the sacrifice of Jesus, also should change us.  Knowing that we are loved by God and have peace with God, should cultivate a different, more compassionate view of others.  Our behaviour should flow from our belief.  From our faith our behaviours, indeed we ourselves, are transformed.

 

Jesus was imparting healing and casting out demons, loving and caring for people, knowing all the while that he was going to lay down his life for them.  He knew that it was worth it.  His laying down his life would be the completion of his ministry and his final authority over sickness, evil and death.  And now we know why he cried out on the cross – IT IS FINISHED.

 

Life is filled with moments of resilience and pushing through pain.  In these times we push through the pain because there is a vision of a better future.  A “Me” generation only looks at the here and now, but with a vision of a better future we can all find the resilience to live more like Jesus.  Abraham died at 175 years old, but the promises that God made to him were for about 400 years.  Abraham didn’t see all the promises of God fulfilled, but he believed God and this belief formed his actions of complete trust in God – Even when asked to do things that were hard and testing.

 

Let me go back to the batman story; Batman’s love interest, Rachel, makes a judgment about Bruce Wayne when he tries to tell her that He is more underneath, then the visible playboy façade.  She replies to him, “It's not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you.”

 

Make no mistake.  We are given the gifts of God because of God’s love for us and not because of anything that we do, but our faith and our belief should be evident by what we do.

Without deserving or earning anything, through Christ we are gifted the promise of eternal life.  We are given the promise of abundant life, we are redeemed from transgressions and have the love of God and peace with him.

 Life is hard and that is a fact.  We have so many youths with depression and perhaps the reason is that they don’t expect life to be hard.  It is!  Our story of faith clearly shows that evil came into the world at the beginning of time and all life was subject to decay because of it – in other words, evil and sickness and disasters and hardship are all part of life on planet Earth.  But Christ has achieved complete authority over death – it is finished – it is accomplished -  and he brings us life.  Note that Jesus desired to embrace die for Jerusalem though there was wickedness there.  There is nothing you can do that will separate you from the love of God.

 

Knowing all that God has given us, can we follow in the footsteps of Abraham and walk in faith, rejoicing in the promise?  Can we walk in the footsteps of Jesus and live selflessly, laying down our lives for others?  The victory is already ours….  Jesus has achieved it.  This world of pain is similar to that of a woman giving birth – there is pain, but there is victory and life through Jesus who has authority over all that pain.  Let’s push through the pain and walk through this life in a way that shows our faith in God who loves us, and the promise that is ours through Christ.