Today is April 8, 2024. Where I live the sun is shining and there’s warmth in the air. Looking out my window I can see the daffodils bursting with glorious new color as the blooms stretch their necks to let the warm face of the sun shine on the bright, yellow faces of the flowers. As Fred Rogers would say, “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.” Today is also the day when Luna will pass before the face of Old Sol. I’m fortunate in that I live directly in the center of the Path of Totality. So, I will be on my patio with my special ISO approved glasses watching as this event crosses directly over my head. As I reflect on this a few things pop into my head like sparks rising from a fire and drifting into my consciousness to illuminate whatever it is that may be hiding in the nooks and crannies of my mind. This particular eclipse has a fairly lengthy lineage. About 13.8 billion years ago the Universe which we call home exploded into life. As the gasses and various atomic “stuff” that makes up everything that we can see sped at nearly the speed of life in all directions, clumps of it began to gather and coalesce. Approximately 4.6 billion years ago a hot mess spun into shape. Over the next bunch of billions of years that hot mess began to form and differentiate into balls of hot gasses and matter. These slowly cooled and formed the Solar System that we love and know. During this process the earth and the moon began their dance of joy around one another. Sometimes, as we’re spinning our beloved partner she takes her place between Old Sol and our Terra. We are truly “Leapin’ and Hoppin’” in a Moonshadow. Such things are blessings made. There are many, perhaps too many, who think that such an event is a ‘sign’ or ‘portent’ of something much more sinister and supernatural. To them I say, “Let’s talk tomorrow when everything is still the same.” For me, I am quite happy to share in this Super event that is truly Natural. Too old souls simply enjoying the music of the heavens and dancing with joy.
I have all sorts of things to write about. Today, though, there is only One Story to tell.
53 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. (Is. 53:1-9)
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— 17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. 19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! 22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. 25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. 29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it. (Ps. 22)
Today is Good Friday. We remember the death of God. If you read this far, you saw that the end is NOT death. For, “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord…”
Covid-19 is taking lives and livelihoods every day. Friends and family are affected by job loss, income loss, and lives lost. It’s hard to be thankful for anything when these hit us so close to home.
Our culture is severely divided along ideological lines. It’s not just right vs. left or Democrats vs. Republicans. It’s son vs. father, daughter vs. mother. There are many households that are fractured during a season where joy and thanks should be the hallmarks.
Issues that surround the differences in skin color have been cut open and are bleeding in our streets. For many people, particularly white Americans, this has come as a surprise. They had thought that this issue had been settled in the 60s. In fact, racism had just been covered up. It still festered like an untreated infection until the poison came to a head and exploded.
Native Americans remember this day with great sorrow. Many take this day for “reflection and mourning for Lives Taken.” Others celebrate the harvest in order to remember what Thanksgiving is truly about.
Yet, here I am encouraging everyone to embrace Thanksgiving. Not as the cultural holiday that it has morphed into. But, so that we may express Gratitude. It’s easy to sit around a table laden with all sorts of seasonal goodies. We can gorge ourselves on turkey and dressing, pie and cream. Then, sit in our living rooms watching football and feeling content. Gratitude is not the same as feeling content. Feeling content is more akin to feeling satisfied. Satisfied in how well I and my family fare so that we can afford this meal with all the trimmings. Satisfied that I can watch a game on my 50″, super HD television while seated in my padded recliner in the warmth of my heated home. I don’t want to judge anyone. I’m going to do the same thing today. With, maybe, a nap thrown in for good measure. There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with feeling content.
We must, however, remember that the feelings we have are not truly gratitude.
Perhaps we can be grateful for the resiliency of humankind. We are stretched almost to breaking by the pressures of the pandemic and the culture and politics and the economy and, and, and…. Yet, we do not break. We find ways, not just to cope, but to overcome. Our lineage still hearkens back to our first forbears, including Lucy. These beings adapted and overcame obstacle that could have caused extinction. There are many examples of hominin species that did not survive. Ours, thankfully, did. Their survival and continued existence through many changes and forms seems to have engrained in us that same will to survive and thrive. So, thank you Lucy!
We can be thankful for our friends and family. Especially, those of us who are difficult to love. People still put up with us. One or two actually seem to like us! Holy Crap! So, thank you to all. (You know who you are!)
The food and shelter that so many take for granted are truly reasons to be thankful. Through science and sweat we have surpluses of grain, fruit, meat, and fish. We have technology that allows us to build and maintain housing in cities and suburbs. We are able to pipe water into our homes and, pipe our waste out. Gas, electricity, and telecommunications are things that we take for granted. We should not. These are things that we should be particularly thankful for. So, thank you to the scientists, engineers, and laborers who make these things possible.
I could go on about specific things that we may be grateful for. But, I don’t want to sit here typing all day. There are turkey and potatoes calling my name!
I do want to say thank you to One more Person. How can I express my gratitude to the One Who has given more than any other could possibly give? Call this Person God if you like. Love and acceptance are difficult for us humans. We find ourselves trying to condition our offering of these to others. “They aren’t like us,” we say. So, whoever ‘they’ are don’t receive those from us. “They talk strange,” or “They worship differently.” These difference seem to give us license to treat them as “Other” or “Less than.” Yet, a Merciful God did not consider us as “Other.” God did not think of us as “Unworthy” or “Less than.” God chose to Love us instead. And, not only us! God chose to Love the earth and the cosmos and the entire universe.
This should serve us as the Ultimate Example of how we should express our gratitude toward God, our families, and our communities. And, not only these.
Perhaps during this season of thankfulness and joy we can take a minute to consider how we have benefitted by being a part of the Cosmos.
From out of a tomb, a womb, made of Earth, a “New Adam” has arisen! One who is the True Image of the Living God! The One who is the True Steward of Creation!
With truth and justice He serves and protects that which God has placed in His hands.
Cosmos redeemed! Hope restored!
The Promise kept!
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. Luke 24:1-12 NRSV.
May we all hope in the reality that Messiah Jesus has risen indeed!
Today is Palm Sunday. This day marks the beginning of the holiest week in the Christian calendar. Today commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Less than a week later, we will remember His betrayal and crucifixion. What began on such an exciting day in which Jesus was hailed as the King of the Jews, that signaled to the people living in occupied Palestine that all of the promises of God about their deliverance were finally going to be answered, fell so far off the rails in a matter of days.
It seems that the old saying about, ‘the best laid plans…’ is all too accurate.
But, as the story continues, all is not lost. God will get the final Word and Jesus will be exalted above every other.
As I reflect on the events of this week as we remember all that happened way back when, my thoughts wander to the final result of all of this. The Exalted Messiah Jesus was the fruition of God’s plan for humanity from the very beginning. God had commissioned humankind to partner with the Divine purpose to be stewards and care takers of the world in which we live. God declared this arrangement to be ‘Very Good.’ Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection was the final proof that God’s plan was finally enacted. And, through Jesus, humanity can both know God and be known by God. We have been given the means to become a community of people who are empowered by God to be light in darkness and to give hope to the hopeless. It’s our job description as God’s eikons; God’s image-bearers to follow in Jesus’ footsteps in order to fulfill God’s purpose here and now.
The reason this all came to mind today is because we appear to be fractured at this moment in time. Our collective reaction to the current health crisis has forced us to remain separate from one another. From outward appearances it would seem that our task has suddenly become exponentially more difficult, if not impossible.
But, (you know there’s always a ‘but’), this morning I logged into the Facebook live feed of a service from the church that I attend. There was no congregation present to process waving palm fronds. We had no sharing of the Eucharist or even a friendly glance from others. We were all in our own shelters weathering this storm. Yet, we shared in a few moments of prayer and reading. We used the same words and the same texts. We were, in effect, together while apart. Yeah, that seems contradictory and paradoxical. Well, it is, actually. One of the things about following Jesus is that our lives are mostly spent IN the paradox. In the “Now,” but “Not Yet.” In the Completion of the story, yet still on page one.
So, together we shared in the Communion of Saints as we, unified in purpose and spirit, worshiped our God and gave thanks for all that God accomplished during that most important week so many years ago.
May you all experience the unity that is in God. And, may we all realize that, even though we may be separated by ‘social distancing,’ we are still truly inseparable in our shared humanity.
Yesterday morning I went to St. Barnabas, led a Bible class, and went into the sanctuary for the service. Nothing unusual in that. That’s pretty much been my normal Sunday morning practice since last June. I walked in and found my seat. Yes, we all have “our” seat, “our” place on the pew. And, heaven help that person who sits there before we get in! Don’t deny it! “My” seat is at the back of the sanctuary.
The service began as it always does. We stand for a hymn while the priest and acolytes walk to their places at the front of the church. A couple of prayers were offered. Then we sat down to listen to the readings that were selected for this particular morning.
As I sat there, I gazed around at the people who were all sitting in “their” seats. Their faces were all pointing toward the lectern where someone stood, reading words from our Holy book.
My heart became suddenly light. Joy welled up within me as I watched these people. Around 150 people had chosen to come here. They chose to spend their time on this gloriously sunny morning in February together!
Later in the service as I knelt by the altar rail to receive communion, as the host was on my tongue, I looked back out over all of those people.
I smiled.
I thanked God for all of them. Every child. Every woman. Every man.
Why, I wondered, had they chosen to come here? Why St. Barnabas and not St. Mattress?
In the early mornings, when all is quiet, I sit at my desk and seek God. During this time I lift my hopes, dreams, concerns, and desires to the Heavenly Dwelling of Yahweh. Daily, I remember the people of St. Barnabas. Our priest and leadership. Those who serve faithfully in myriad ways.
And, I always ask Yahweh to make St. Barnabas Church a beacon of Love, Hope, and Acceptance. A lighthouse in the storms that rage, unseen, around and in each and every one of us.
Are these many people I watched yesterday, with all of their faults and foibles, all of their wounds and scars, all of their hopes for tomorrow, a result of prayers like mine?
Perhaps.
I can’t know for certainty.
What I do know, however, is that when I sat in that place, with all of those people, I felt God’s pleasure.
The word comes from a Greek word that means, “appearance, or manifestation.”
We tend to use that word when a person comes to a sudden understanding or realization of the significance of some event or discovery. “Wow! I get it now!” he said as he grasped that moment of Epiphany.
There is another Epiphany that followers of Jesus celebrate today, January 6. This one looks to the revealing, or appearance, of Jesus as God Incarnate.
Here in the West we use the image of the Magi who traveled from the region where Eastern Iraq is now. They gathered gifts to present to the One whom they considered the new born King of the Jews. Traversing deserts and desolate routes, they led their caravan to a small, podunk town in the Province of Judea. When they arrived they fell down and worshiped Jesus. This was their Epiphany. They experienced the appearance and manifestation of God in the face of a young child.
The Eastern Church celebrates with remembering Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River at the hands of His cousin, John. As Jesus came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended upon Him and the Voice of the Father spoke revealing that Jesus was God’s Son. A Son in whom God was ‘well-pleased.’ In this act, this Epiphany, Jesus appeared to the World as the manifest Presence of God.
Here in the U.S. we don’t think too much about Epiphany as a religious holiday. We’re usually pretty busy cleaning up after the REAL holidays of Christmas and New Year. We get back to work and business-as-usual moaning about the fact that the next paid holiday for most of us is months away.
But, Epiphany? Yeah, who cares? I still have to go to work. School’s back in session. It’s no big deal.
What if we stopped for a moment and considered this event? Who is Jesus in the world today? Is He a child at His mother’s side holding a blanket? Excited, yet too young to understand why these strange men are standing around praising God and offering Him gifts? Or, is he a young man standing in the living waters of the Jordan, dripping from being immersed in the cool wetness of the river?
Well, yes and no.
Yes, Jesus was all of that and more. We celebrate the events that revealed Him to the World.
However, are we who follow in His footsteps not truly His Body right here; right now?
If His Body, then bearers of His Image and Presence.
We are, in a very real sense, the Epiphany of God today. We are God’s appearing and manifestation in our own culture.
First, I wish that you all will have a happy and prosperous New Year in 2020. The ball dropped. The old is past. Hope looks ahead.
Many of us look to this date as a resetting of the clock. We are full of optimism and hope for fresh changes in the twelve months that lie ahead. Resolutions for personal improvement and growth are made once the effects of last night wear off. (Hint: Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!) Then, by February the resolutions are largely forgotten and we get on with life as usual. In my entire life I only made one resolution that I successfully implemented. That was to never make a New Year’s resolution. I have kept that one.
I am not going to have the luxury of allowing life to simply carry on as usual this year. There are changes coming that will upend the routines that I’ve spent nearly 50 years building and reinforcing. They say that time waits for no one. This year is proof of that.
And, I have to admit to no small amount of fear and uncertainty. Any changes that come our way cause anxiety. Major life events, no matter how well prepared for, bring that anxiety on steroids. I remember how my wife and I walked into marriage 43 years ago. Yeah, there was great joy and celebration. But, our lives were changed that day. We looked forward to our life together with optimism and fear. A strange emotional cocktail. We drank it, however, and for better or worse we have muddled our way through.
We looked forward with happy expectation as our children entered the world and joined us on this journey. Again, though, worries and anxiety came to the party. How would we be as parents? Concerns about finances, health, housing, education, etc., etc., etc. clouded our minds every day. Life as we knew it had changed forever.
We watched as our own parents aged and walked on from this life. Our friends and siblings grew up and apart over the years. People change. That’s part of the journey, isn’t it?
And, still we trek on. Putting one foot in front of the other. In the midst of, or perhaps, in spite of the anxiety.
The alternative is to stop walking. The result of that is to wake up on the wrong side of the grass.
All of that to say, 2020 will be a year of profound change for us. And, yes, I am afraid of what lies ahead. It is an unknown. If thar be beasties out there, then we’ll meet them together.
Perhaps, though, there is a new world awaiting us with new joys and gifts and promises.
I was going to post this yesterday. But, I ran out of time. Kinda like so much else last year.
Goodbye, Old Friend! You came to us with a shout of gladness, Clad in diaper and sash.
Quickly you grew in harmony with the world around us. From infant to child. The green shoot echoing as it pushed through the frost.
You blossomed into a young adult. Full of promise; growing in Strength. You worked among us and shared the fruit of your labor. We all ate and were satisfied.
All too soon, we saw white, like frost on the grass, appear in your hair. Like the naked trunks of trees, lines began to crease your brow.
Now, your departure is at hand. It is with profound thanks that we sing this final goodbye.
As I considered the passing of the year I couldn’t separate it from the cycle of life that we experience here. As the world around us stirs and grows from the cold of winter through spring planting. Sowing and reaping; hope and gladness. Until the circle is joined as we bid farewell to our old friend.
Today’s the Eve of New Year’s Eve. For a lot of us it’s a time to tidy up after Christmas. Take the decorations down and store them away for another year. Others may still be returning gifts or redeeming gift cards. Gotta keep Amazon busy! For many it’s just another day. Back to work trying to make sure all of the year-end accounting is completed. Then there are those who take the last few days of the year to reflect on the days now past. The days of darkness from a year ago when the cold winds whipped across the landscape. Snow and ice piled up in parking lots. Yet, with lengthening daylight came a bit of hope. Hope that was finally realized when the first crocus forced its head up through the still thawing earth. There was the return of the birds and other animals after their long winter sojourn in other places or hidden away from the forces of Nature. Hope gave way to realization of new life and green trees. Warmth seeping into the ground to rouse the seed and call the sprout from its protective shell. Soon the colors change and daylight again begins to wane. Harvest time! Gladness in the fruit of the ground! Then, the circle closes as we come, yet again, to the end.
Or, is it a beginning?
As the Cosmos cycles through birth, life, and death, so too do we. There are cries of newborns and sighs of the aged and infirm. Relationships blossom and bloom. While others get tangled in the weeds, choke, and pass into compost.
Yet, it continues.
We still hope.
We still sow and reap.
Perhaps it is a good thing to reflect. To remember things as they are and have been.
