My brothers and sisters, being a bystander is not ok! We must all role up our sleeves and take our place in the Family of God!
In our first reading today, we heard a short clip about the works of our patron St. Stephen. As he is pursued by the murderous crowd, has a vision of heaven. From this he draws the grace he needs to die in full imitation of Jesus; by willing giving his soul to God and praying for those who kill him. He is definitely a holier man than I am . . .
I am sure we have all heard the story: As the Christian Community grew, the need for leaders besides the apostles became obvious. So, seven were chosen to attend to social-service and administrative functions (“daily distribution of food”), of whom Stephen is one. Later in the story we are introduced to Saul (A.K.A. Paul). We see him in his pre-conversion role of supporting the killing of Christians.
In our second reading we hear the classic image of believers being transformed into living building blocks for the house of God. All centered on Jesus the corner stone. Though some rejected Jesus, he is God’s chosen and will be the foundation of the people God is amassing. The author goes on to describe Christians as a “priesthood” dedicated to God (that is: holy) who are to present lives of faith and love.
In today’s gospel story, Jesus explicitly proclaims himself as the way into the house hold (family) of God. We are all called to become part of this spiritual family. Farther, Jesus makes the point that the one who believes will do the works of Jesus, and even greater.
My sisters and brothers, Do not be sitting on your hands! As Peter said, we are being built into the “house, church, family of God.” We are expected (rightly) to participate by helping the project along . . . Jesus’ example and teaching is our road map (or blue prints) for this project. Saint Stephen gives us yet another powerful example. He steps up to the calling that God gave him and gets to work for the growth and good of God’s people. We, in our day and age, each have our own calling for God. Do not be a bystander, an accidental/incidental Christian. To be the real thing, we must get involved in doing the work of the Family of God! We are not all the same. We cannot all do exactly the same. However, we can all do something, and to be authentic, we must do that something. We all have that natural human desire to “test the water” before “taking the plunge!” It is normal. The problem comes in when we make sitting on the fringe into a permanent perch. We must not let our selves get stuck.
Or, to put it another way: Will we let ourselves fall in love with God, or will we keep a safe distance? Will we love our brothers and sisters in the family of God, or will we keep a safe distance? To be authentic, we must eventually cross the line or doom ourselves to a lukewarm existence. Is that the way any of us really want to live? I really do not think so . . .
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Interesting conversations in the Scientific American Web Site today.
This first one (Click Here) is about the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) and the obvious speculations that go with it. Clearly, the researchers involved in the SETI project presume that any extra terrestrial intelligent race we my find will post no threat to us. In fact many hole the belief that such a race would be highly advanced and altruistic, sharing with us their accomplishments. Others, including Stephen Hawking, have pointed out that we have not rational basis for this attitude; they prompt the idea that we should keep quiet until we are better able to protect ourselves on a planetary level. As much as I love this kind of highly speculative conversation... I must point out that we have absolutely no factual information from which promote either position. Cautious exploration seems the only wise and rational option.
This Second story (Click Here) explores new astronomical discovers about planets and their niche in the galaxy. It appears that some planet size bodies may not orbit a star but have their own path around the galactic center.
This Second story (Click Here) explores new astronomical discovers about planets and their niche in the galaxy. It appears that some planet size bodies may not orbit a star but have their own path around the galactic center.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Homily for 5 Lent A, April 10, 2011
My sisters and brothers, the resurrection takes place both in our world and inside each of us.
The lesson we had from Ezekiel, the valley of the Dry Bones is a powerful symbol of renewal and restoration. It may well be the source of the Jewish belief in the resurrection at the end of time. It is likely that Ezekiel was among those deported when the Babylonians first took Jerusalem, in 598 BC. He opposed a political solution to Judah’s woes, espousing instead the notion of Israel as a community faithful to God in religious observance. This story involves both one of the prophet’s visions and an interpretation. Namely, that faithful Israel will be resurrected.
In our lesson from Romans, we have Paul’s classic duality of Spirit (things of God) vs. Flesh (things of the earth). The Christian is able to live a life for God, in the Spirit. Christian life is bound up in the Spirit, and not by the desires of the flesh. Now he explains the difference between what he calls living in the Spirit and living according to the flesh: two very different mind-set. A person whose mind “is set on the flesh,” whose view is limited to the natural world, is at enmity with God because he is fundamentally unable to obey God's law – he lacks the power to transcend his inner conflicts, and. On the other hand, Christians are in the Spirit. Spirit of God dwelling in them, fills and motivates our Christian lifestyle.
Today’s gospel story, of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, is a dramatic representation of Jesus’ divine power. He, like God, has power even over death itself. In way, the story sets the stage for the resurrection story of Jesus himself. As the story begins, Jesus and his disciples are at a safe distance from Jerusalem, out of reach of the authorities that are out to get them. Thomas, shows great courage in his readiness to travel back to the Jerusalem area and risk his life with Jesus.
In that day, people thought that one’s soul hovered around one’s body for three days, but when Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead for “four days;” making his miracle all the more powerful. I love the gentle way Martha rebukes Jesus for his tardiness wile showing her confidence in his ability to heal. She goes further: perhaps because the Father grants the Son whatever he asks, Jesus will restore life to Lazarus. She, as many did, believed in “the resurrection [of all] on the last day” (v. 24), but this is small comfort to her now. Jesus identifies himself as he who raises believers from death. Yet, even Jesus becomes distraught and his humanity shows in his tears. Causing some to say that he weeps at the loss of a friend (having compassion for Jesus), but others criticize him for his tardiest. They are about to be amazed and overwhelmed at Jesus’ compassion and power.
All of this gives us a view of the end of our Lenten journey, a reminder of our Easter celebration which is just a couple weeks away. As we make our way toward Easter, we have some choices to make about how we get to Easter. We can choose not to focus on the things of the world that distract us from our relationship with Christ. We can choose to resist spite, envy greed, etc. We can deny those things that satisfy a sense of artificial power based on material things. Or we choose to allow God to restore and renew us by filling us again with the risen Spirit of Christ. Let us pray for this gift!
The lesson we had from Ezekiel, the valley of the Dry Bones is a powerful symbol of renewal and restoration. It may well be the source of the Jewish belief in the resurrection at the end of time. It is likely that Ezekiel was among those deported when the Babylonians first took Jerusalem, in 598 BC. He opposed a political solution to Judah’s woes, espousing instead the notion of Israel as a community faithful to God in religious observance. This story involves both one of the prophet’s visions and an interpretation. Namely, that faithful Israel will be resurrected.
In our lesson from Romans, we have Paul’s classic duality of Spirit (things of God) vs. Flesh (things of the earth). The Christian is able to live a life for God, in the Spirit. Christian life is bound up in the Spirit, and not by the desires of the flesh. Now he explains the difference between what he calls living in the Spirit and living according to the flesh: two very different mind-set. A person whose mind “is set on the flesh,” whose view is limited to the natural world, is at enmity with God because he is fundamentally unable to obey God's law – he lacks the power to transcend his inner conflicts, and. On the other hand, Christians are in the Spirit. Spirit of God dwelling in them, fills and motivates our Christian lifestyle.
Today’s gospel story, of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, is a dramatic representation of Jesus’ divine power. He, like God, has power even over death itself. In way, the story sets the stage for the resurrection story of Jesus himself. As the story begins, Jesus and his disciples are at a safe distance from Jerusalem, out of reach of the authorities that are out to get them. Thomas, shows great courage in his readiness to travel back to the Jerusalem area and risk his life with Jesus.
In that day, people thought that one’s soul hovered around one’s body for three days, but when Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead for “four days;” making his miracle all the more powerful. I love the gentle way Martha rebukes Jesus for his tardiness wile showing her confidence in his ability to heal. She goes further: perhaps because the Father grants the Son whatever he asks, Jesus will restore life to Lazarus. She, as many did, believed in “the resurrection [of all] on the last day” (v. 24), but this is small comfort to her now. Jesus identifies himself as he who raises believers from death. Yet, even Jesus becomes distraught and his humanity shows in his tears. Causing some to say that he weeps at the loss of a friend (having compassion for Jesus), but others criticize him for his tardiest. They are about to be amazed and overwhelmed at Jesus’ compassion and power.
All of this gives us a view of the end of our Lenten journey, a reminder of our Easter celebration which is just a couple weeks away. As we make our way toward Easter, we have some choices to make about how we get to Easter. We can choose not to focus on the things of the world that distract us from our relationship with Christ. We can choose to resist spite, envy greed, etc. We can deny those things that satisfy a sense of artificial power based on material things. Or we choose to allow God to restore and renew us by filling us again with the risen Spirit of Christ. Let us pray for this gift!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Homily for: 4 Lent A, April 3, 2011
My sisters and brothers, God is full of surprises.
Our first lesson from the prophet Samuel begins a saga for us. The prophet is off about God’s work, blessing the next King of Israel. But, God has not chosen the usual suspects. The present king (Saul) has enjoyed God’s favor, but has lost it by disobeying the prophet Samuel’s instructions. God now orders Samuel to anoint a new king, a son of “Jesse.” The story goes into great length describing how God had not chosen any of the young men that Samuel or Jesse might have guessed. When Samuel does anoint David as the upcoming king, the “spirit of the Lord” fills the young man in a noticeable way. His brothers themselves are witnesses to the event. Saul will persecute David relentlessly but upon Saul’s death in battle, David unifies the northern and southern districts and ascends to the throne over all of Israel. The unexpected boy, is God’s chosen instrument.
In the letter to the Ephesians, the author has exhorted his readers to conduct themselves ethically as befits those who have adopted the way of Christ. Having “put away your former way of life” and being clothed with the new self in baptism, they are now to lead moral lives befitting members of a body in which the Holy Spirit dwells. An offence against a member is an offence against God. Using terminology one also finds in the Qumran scrolls and Matthew, the author contrasts unbelievers (who live in “darkness”and disobey God) with those who are in “light,” i.e., “in the Lord.” Evil deeds are never hidden from God.
The gospel story we just shared, about the man born blind, is one of John’s most rich and intricate stories. In ancient Judaism, illness and physical disability were often attributed to sin: in this case, either of the man (prenatally) or of “his parents.” Jesus dismisses the link between sin and illness. Rather, he says that this man’s impairment gives him opportunities to do the works of God. The Pharisees consider making mud on the Sabbath as breaking the Law so they question the man. They are divided among themselves: some clamming that Jesus cannot be from God (for he breaks the Law) and those who wonder how a sabbath-breaker can perform miracles (which only one approved by God can do). Finally they side against Jesus and the man he cured. The man boldly asserts the fact of the cure. Eventually, in frustration, he ridicules their expert opinion. Jesus must be “from God” for no one has ever before performed such a cure.
There are several themes in this gospel that I believe we need to take note of: 1, The man’s spiritual journey on the way to faith, takes him through three levels of awareness about Jesus: Jesus is a prophet, He is of God, the man worships Jesus. We all have phases to go through in our lives of faith, we grow and mature along the way.
2, Blindness. Spiritual sight or insight is not a given in our lives. It is something that some of us are better at than others. It is something that we all grow in as we invest more effort into our spiritual lives. Even the best of us can miss what God is doing and have the experience of being taken by surprise.
3, The self-righteous-know-it-all vs. the humble peasant. The peasant recognizes that God does not have to operate in the way we expect. Jesus broke the Sabbath law to heal a blind man. What might God do that takes us by surprise.
God’s ways are not our ways. They are above and beyond us. God can and usually does take us by surprise.
When I was a college sophomore, working towards a degree in electronics, with a job in the college lab and an active outdoors-man life style; the last thing I expected of God was to be called to ordained ministry. Yet we can all see who prevailed......
Let us not get to confident about what Jesus would or would not do.
Our first lesson from the prophet Samuel begins a saga for us. The prophet is off about God’s work, blessing the next King of Israel. But, God has not chosen the usual suspects. The present king (Saul) has enjoyed God’s favor, but has lost it by disobeying the prophet Samuel’s instructions. God now orders Samuel to anoint a new king, a son of “Jesse.” The story goes into great length describing how God had not chosen any of the young men that Samuel or Jesse might have guessed. When Samuel does anoint David as the upcoming king, the “spirit of the Lord” fills the young man in a noticeable way. His brothers themselves are witnesses to the event. Saul will persecute David relentlessly but upon Saul’s death in battle, David unifies the northern and southern districts and ascends to the throne over all of Israel. The unexpected boy, is God’s chosen instrument.
In the letter to the Ephesians, the author has exhorted his readers to conduct themselves ethically as befits those who have adopted the way of Christ. Having “put away your former way of life” and being clothed with the new self in baptism, they are now to lead moral lives befitting members of a body in which the Holy Spirit dwells. An offence against a member is an offence against God. Using terminology one also finds in the Qumran scrolls and Matthew, the author contrasts unbelievers (who live in “darkness”and disobey God) with those who are in “light,” i.e., “in the Lord.” Evil deeds are never hidden from God.
The gospel story we just shared, about the man born blind, is one of John’s most rich and intricate stories. In ancient Judaism, illness and physical disability were often attributed to sin: in this case, either of the man (prenatally) or of “his parents.” Jesus dismisses the link between sin and illness. Rather, he says that this man’s impairment gives him opportunities to do the works of God. The Pharisees consider making mud on the Sabbath as breaking the Law so they question the man. They are divided among themselves: some clamming that Jesus cannot be from God (for he breaks the Law) and those who wonder how a sabbath-breaker can perform miracles (which only one approved by God can do). Finally they side against Jesus and the man he cured. The man boldly asserts the fact of the cure. Eventually, in frustration, he ridicules their expert opinion. Jesus must be “from God” for no one has ever before performed such a cure.
There are several themes in this gospel that I believe we need to take note of: 1, The man’s spiritual journey on the way to faith, takes him through three levels of awareness about Jesus: Jesus is a prophet, He is of God, the man worships Jesus. We all have phases to go through in our lives of faith, we grow and mature along the way.
2, Blindness. Spiritual sight or insight is not a given in our lives. It is something that some of us are better at than others. It is something that we all grow in as we invest more effort into our spiritual lives. Even the best of us can miss what God is doing and have the experience of being taken by surprise.
3, The self-righteous-know-it-all vs. the humble peasant. The peasant recognizes that God does not have to operate in the way we expect. Jesus broke the Sabbath law to heal a blind man. What might God do that takes us by surprise.
God’s ways are not our ways. They are above and beyond us. God can and usually does take us by surprise.
When I was a college sophomore, working towards a degree in electronics, with a job in the college lab and an active outdoors-man life style; the last thing I expected of God was to be called to ordained ministry. Yet we can all see who prevailed......
Let us not get to confident about what Jesus would or would not do.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Homily for 3 Lent A, March 27, 2011
My sisters and brothers, let us drink of the Lord’s refreshment for our souls!
In the first lesson we heard today, God gives water from a rock to Israel as they wandered through the desert. The Israelites travel “by stages” toward the Promised Land. As God showed his power during their slavery, winning their freedom by inflicting ten plagues on the Egyptians, he now tests the Israelites’ faith in him, as provider and ruler, ten times. If they trust in him, he will save them. This reading is about one of these tests. God orders Moses to take representatives of the people with him. The elders see his show of power. They will certainly not miss that he uses the same staff he carried when the Nile was given its plague back in Egypt.
In the second lesson Paul talks about the Love of God for his people in Christ dying for us wile we were still sinners. Now that we are justified by Christ, that is, we are united in a sacred relationship with Christ, how much more will God watch over us.
Our gospel lesson is one of John’s beautifully crafted stories of an individual’s spiritual encounter with Christ. There are some details that are important for us to really grasp the story. Fist, Rabbis did not speak to strange women in public and Jews considered Samaritans ritually unclean, so the woman is rightly surprised by Jesus’ request. Secondly, “living water” has a double meaning in the culture of Jesus’ day. It’s a common expression for moving or flowing water and (in our story) a symbolic expression for the gift of faith. Initially the woman thinks Jesus is referring to moving water, then she remembers the legend about Jacob well: for him water rose to the top of this well and overflowed. So, she implies that Jesus is counting on such a miracle, quipping about his not having a bucket. Jesus contrasts the well water with “water gushing up to eternal life” making his meaning more obvious. Finally, as Jesus address her on a more personal level (talking about her past husbands) she makes the leap of faith and receives the spiritual renewal that Jesus was talking about in the symbol of life-giving water.
Water is one of the most basic essentials of life. It is also a symbol for God's life saving grace. We enter into a new existence in God's blessed grace through the life-giving gifts of Christ. I’m not simply speaking about baptismal water, but also about life sustaining grace. Which keeps us spiritually alive and refreshed; that metaphorical drink of everlasting life. This water, Jesus offers, is a drink for our inner, spiritual, thirst. A refreshment for that longing inside each of us that we really can’t name or get a grip on. This inner thirst is part of each of us and in our heart of hearts, know it. We feel it in those moments when we wonder: “is it all really worth it?” Those moments when we feel like we are busting our tails for nothing. Christ came to let us know that the answer is yes, it is worth it. Christ’s gift is the refreshment we need to keep going and not give up! The spiritual drink . . .
We need to ask our selves, do we drink regularly enough from the spiritual well Christ offers us? Communion is part of this gift, but also privet prayer and reading the scriptures. It all goes to refresh us spiritually. My brothers and sisters, let us drink deeply of this gift by having a conversation with God each day, as well as coming each week to worship and share communion.
In the first lesson we heard today, God gives water from a rock to Israel as they wandered through the desert. The Israelites travel “by stages” toward the Promised Land. As God showed his power during their slavery, winning their freedom by inflicting ten plagues on the Egyptians, he now tests the Israelites’ faith in him, as provider and ruler, ten times. If they trust in him, he will save them. This reading is about one of these tests. God orders Moses to take representatives of the people with him. The elders see his show of power. They will certainly not miss that he uses the same staff he carried when the Nile was given its plague back in Egypt.
In the second lesson Paul talks about the Love of God for his people in Christ dying for us wile we were still sinners. Now that we are justified by Christ, that is, we are united in a sacred relationship with Christ, how much more will God watch over us.
Our gospel lesson is one of John’s beautifully crafted stories of an individual’s spiritual encounter with Christ. There are some details that are important for us to really grasp the story. Fist, Rabbis did not speak to strange women in public and Jews considered Samaritans ritually unclean, so the woman is rightly surprised by Jesus’ request. Secondly, “living water” has a double meaning in the culture of Jesus’ day. It’s a common expression for moving or flowing water and (in our story) a symbolic expression for the gift of faith. Initially the woman thinks Jesus is referring to moving water, then she remembers the legend about Jacob well: for him water rose to the top of this well and overflowed. So, she implies that Jesus is counting on such a miracle, quipping about his not having a bucket. Jesus contrasts the well water with “water gushing up to eternal life” making his meaning more obvious. Finally, as Jesus address her on a more personal level (talking about her past husbands) she makes the leap of faith and receives the spiritual renewal that Jesus was talking about in the symbol of life-giving water.
Water is one of the most basic essentials of life. It is also a symbol for God's life saving grace. We enter into a new existence in God's blessed grace through the life-giving gifts of Christ. I’m not simply speaking about baptismal water, but also about life sustaining grace. Which keeps us spiritually alive and refreshed; that metaphorical drink of everlasting life. This water, Jesus offers, is a drink for our inner, spiritual, thirst. A refreshment for that longing inside each of us that we really can’t name or get a grip on. This inner thirst is part of each of us and in our heart of hearts, know it. We feel it in those moments when we wonder: “is it all really worth it?” Those moments when we feel like we are busting our tails for nothing. Christ came to let us know that the answer is yes, it is worth it. Christ’s gift is the refreshment we need to keep going and not give up! The spiritual drink . . .
We need to ask our selves, do we drink regularly enough from the spiritual well Christ offers us? Communion is part of this gift, but also privet prayer and reading the scriptures. It all goes to refresh us spiritually. My brothers and sisters, let us drink deeply of this gift by having a conversation with God each day, as well as coming each week to worship and share communion.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Lent A, 2011
March 20, 2011
My brothers and sisters, let us put renewed faith in God!
In our first lesson today we have the very brief story of God calling Abram, who God will later rename Abraham, to pick up his life and go. We need to understand the context of the story. Abram and his people were semi-nomadic - before God called to him. About 4,000 years ago, Abram his father and nephew Lot traveled with their families from Ur, near the delta of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to Haran. This is where our scripture passage picks up the story. The point of the story is that Abram puts great trust or faith in God’s promises to bless him for his loyalty.
The reading from Romans Paul makes the point that one can attain a right relationship with God through faith, without living by Mosaic law. He takes Abraham as an example and asks: what can we conclude about faith vs. obedience? Pharisaic Judaism claimed that Abraham kept the Law before God gave it, i.e., he was justified because his “works” were in accord with the Law. Paul rejects this claim; it was, as Genesis shows, Abraham’s faith that counted for him as godliness. So a right relationship with God “depends on faith.” It is based first on God’s promise of grace and later our deeds empowered by God’s grace.
The gospel story of Nicodemus is one of my favorites. He has understood from Jesus' miracles that Jesus is “from God.” However, Jesus throws him a curve, saying that he has not yet understood the main point: to see the kingdom of God one must have a spiritual rebirth. Nicodemus misunderstands, he thinks that Jesus is speaking of a biological rebirth. This sets up the story so that Jesus can make an analogy for the workings of the Holy Spirit. We can see many things only in the effect they cause, like the blowing of the wind. The same is true of birth in the Spirit.
First, let us remind our selves about the difference between belief and faith. Belief is accepting the truth of something that you cannot prove/experience for yourself. For example, I believe in the existence of the country of China, though I have never been there. Faith, is trusting in someone; I have faith in my wife and the loyalty we share for each other.
∙ Abraham shows faith in his dramatic trust in God; picking up and moving to a strange place.
∙ Paul contrasts this example of faith with adherence to Divine Law. The law has its benefits as a guide through life’s confusion but obedience cannot earn what is freely given when one puts faith in God.
∙ Nicodemus struggles to embrace belief and faith in Jesus. By the end of John’s gospel he is a loyal follower of Jesus.
These lessons are a call to deeper faith, which is a deeper trust in God. Trust that God will be with us, guide us, support us, and protect us from those things that are beyond us.
Faith/Trust is a growing thing. We start trusting God in little ways: to answer our prayers as children, to bless us and the ones we love, to guide us in ruff times. Nevertheless, we can also learn to trust God in deeper things that influence the whole direction of our lives: discerning a calling to a professional ministry, the calling to married/family life, the pursuit of justice and the building of a better world.
Remember that old joke about the guy who was hiking at night and falls off a cliff. He scrambles for something to save him self and his hands land on some scrub brush. Hanging there, he calls out to God for help and a voice from heaven tells him to “let go.” The man thinks for a second, looks down at the darkness of the night, unable to see if the bottom is close or far and says: “is there anyone els out there?”
Our lives are often like this, we know we need God’s help, but we are afraid to trust what we cannot see. Though we would all accept that God surly sees reality more clearly and than we do. Now I do not mean foolish or ignorant trust. God is not asking us to be fools. I mean thoughtful, wise and prayerful trust in God.
My brothers and sisters, let us always seek divine guidance in our prayers. Let us put trust in God in little everyday ways so that we can learn to trust God in bigger things as well.
My brothers and sisters, let us put renewed faith in God!
In our first lesson today we have the very brief story of God calling Abram, who God will later rename Abraham, to pick up his life and go. We need to understand the context of the story. Abram and his people were semi-nomadic - before God called to him. About 4,000 years ago, Abram his father and nephew Lot traveled with their families from Ur, near the delta of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to Haran. This is where our scripture passage picks up the story. The point of the story is that Abram puts great trust or faith in God’s promises to bless him for his loyalty.
The reading from Romans Paul makes the point that one can attain a right relationship with God through faith, without living by Mosaic law. He takes Abraham as an example and asks: what can we conclude about faith vs. obedience? Pharisaic Judaism claimed that Abraham kept the Law before God gave it, i.e., he was justified because his “works” were in accord with the Law. Paul rejects this claim; it was, as Genesis shows, Abraham’s faith that counted for him as godliness. So a right relationship with God “depends on faith.” It is based first on God’s promise of grace and later our deeds empowered by God’s grace.
The gospel story of Nicodemus is one of my favorites. He has understood from Jesus' miracles that Jesus is “from God.” However, Jesus throws him a curve, saying that he has not yet understood the main point: to see the kingdom of God one must have a spiritual rebirth. Nicodemus misunderstands, he thinks that Jesus is speaking of a biological rebirth. This sets up the story so that Jesus can make an analogy for the workings of the Holy Spirit. We can see many things only in the effect they cause, like the blowing of the wind. The same is true of birth in the Spirit.
First, let us remind our selves about the difference between belief and faith. Belief is accepting the truth of something that you cannot prove/experience for yourself. For example, I believe in the existence of the country of China, though I have never been there. Faith, is trusting in someone; I have faith in my wife and the loyalty we share for each other.
∙ Abraham shows faith in his dramatic trust in God; picking up and moving to a strange place.
∙ Paul contrasts this example of faith with adherence to Divine Law. The law has its benefits as a guide through life’s confusion but obedience cannot earn what is freely given when one puts faith in God.
∙ Nicodemus struggles to embrace belief and faith in Jesus. By the end of John’s gospel he is a loyal follower of Jesus.
These lessons are a call to deeper faith, which is a deeper trust in God. Trust that God will be with us, guide us, support us, and protect us from those things that are beyond us.
Faith/Trust is a growing thing. We start trusting God in little ways: to answer our prayers as children, to bless us and the ones we love, to guide us in ruff times. Nevertheless, we can also learn to trust God in deeper things that influence the whole direction of our lives: discerning a calling to a professional ministry, the calling to married/family life, the pursuit of justice and the building of a better world.
Remember that old joke about the guy who was hiking at night and falls off a cliff. He scrambles for something to save him self and his hands land on some scrub brush. Hanging there, he calls out to God for help and a voice from heaven tells him to “let go.” The man thinks for a second, looks down at the darkness of the night, unable to see if the bottom is close or far and says: “is there anyone els out there?”
Our lives are often like this, we know we need God’s help, but we are afraid to trust what we cannot see. Though we would all accept that God surly sees reality more clearly and than we do. Now I do not mean foolish or ignorant trust. God is not asking us to be fools. I mean thoughtful, wise and prayerful trust in God.
My brothers and sisters, let us always seek divine guidance in our prayers. Let us put trust in God in little everyday ways so that we can learn to trust God in bigger things as well.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
1st Sunday of Lent A, March 13, 2011
My sisters and brothers, let us strive to make wise decisions by always seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Today’s first lesson is a collection of excerpts from an epic tale about the creation of humanity. God formed the human “from the dust of the ground” and gave him his spirit of life. I have always found it ironic that this poetic description from millennia ago, turns out to be so scientifically accurate. The basic elements of human body chemistry (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen) are all the stuff of the earth.
But, one very important detail of the stories symbolism is difficult to translate into English. The name Adam is really the Hebrew word for “Human.” Human’s equal partner, whom God creates and a natural and necessary partner is “Woman” (Hebrew: isha). Then the vocabulary changes and Human is now called Man (Hebrew: ish) and the two, Man (Ish) and Woman (Isha) shall be as one; reflecting God’s own image.
God tells the humans (Adam and Eve) that they may eat the fruit of the trees with just two exceptions:
1, “the knowledge of good and evil”
2, that of “life.”
If they do this, they will be separated from God. It is important here for us to realize that the sin of Eve and Adam is not disobeying God; it is just the outer level of the symbol. The deeper message in the story is that of people trying to be gods. It is a sin of pride and arrogance. And as we know from our own lived experience, the arrogant tend to create their own punishments.
In the second lesson Paul contrasts Adam and Christ, both began whole eras in salvation history. Adam foreshadowed Christ as head of humanity. Adam disobeyed God’s direct command. Jesus, is unlike Adam:
1, Adam was condemned to separation from God but Christ brings union with God;
2, Adam’s sin allowed “death” to rule through the Devil but we let good rule our hearts through Christ;
3, Adam’s action led to the sin of many but Christ’s will lead many to godliness and “eternal life.”
In our gospel story of Jesus’ temptations we have the symbolic countering of Eve & Adam. In Mark’s version (the original version of the story) only the essential historical facts are recorded: The disciples probably knew none of the details of Jesus’ trials. Let’s face it, temptation is essentially a personal inner battle with one’s conscience.
Matthew castes the temptations of Christ as ways of sinning against the great commandment in Deuteronomy: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. We can look into each of them and see part of the not-so-attractive side of human nature. To change “stones” into bread would be to for Christ to use his power for his personal greedy benefit. Jesus says no to that and counters symbolically by asserting the importance of the word of God. Throwing himself from a pinnacle was about trying to manipulate God to Jesus’ own advantage, make himself look good. Jesus answers: testing God’s protection by unnecessarily risking life is a mockery of real sacrifices of martyrdom. Next Jesus is invited to prefer personal wealth and power over the love of God by worshiping the devil who symbolized all evil of such obsessive desires. Jesus answers: God is the only god to be worshiped and served. The details make the point that Jesus is the perfect lover of God, the ideal Israelite, the founder of a new way of being human.
As I mentioned, we have a dynamic contrast between the old era and he new one. This is symbolized in Adam & Eve’s bad choice verses Jesus’ much wiser choices. We have to be careful that we don’t read too much into this story of original sin. It is a mythic tale meant to get us thinking about human nature, especially our own ability to make choices that are self destructive. We humans can easily fool ourselves into thinking that certain possessions or pleasures, will make us all the things we are not. And it never works out that way. The point of the story is not a history of disobedience to God vs. Jesus’ obedience. It is asserting the truth that it is human choice (human agency) that brings the most genuine evil into our lives. Not God’s will or demonic forces but human action.
Jesus in contrast makes the wise choices that bring a long term happiness to life. Starting with recognizing one’s true place in the world. Turning way from greed, manipulation and unbridled power He sets his life and ministry on a wholesome and life-giving path rather than one that will inevitably lead to conflict and destruction. The final vindication of Jesus’ choices is dramatized in the stories of his resurrection.
My brothers & sisters, let us strive to choose wisely by allowing the Holy Spirit to be our guide in this life.
Today’s first lesson is a collection of excerpts from an epic tale about the creation of humanity. God formed the human “from the dust of the ground” and gave him his spirit of life. I have always found it ironic that this poetic description from millennia ago, turns out to be so scientifically accurate. The basic elements of human body chemistry (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen) are all the stuff of the earth.
But, one very important detail of the stories symbolism is difficult to translate into English. The name Adam is really the Hebrew word for “Human.” Human’s equal partner, whom God creates and a natural and necessary partner is “Woman” (Hebrew: isha). Then the vocabulary changes and Human is now called Man (Hebrew: ish) and the two, Man (Ish) and Woman (Isha) shall be as one; reflecting God’s own image.
God tells the humans (Adam and Eve) that they may eat the fruit of the trees with just two exceptions:
1, “the knowledge of good and evil”
2, that of “life.”
If they do this, they will be separated from God. It is important here for us to realize that the sin of Eve and Adam is not disobeying God; it is just the outer level of the symbol. The deeper message in the story is that of people trying to be gods. It is a sin of pride and arrogance. And as we know from our own lived experience, the arrogant tend to create their own punishments.
In the second lesson Paul contrasts Adam and Christ, both began whole eras in salvation history. Adam foreshadowed Christ as head of humanity. Adam disobeyed God’s direct command. Jesus, is unlike Adam:
1, Adam was condemned to separation from God but Christ brings union with God;
2, Adam’s sin allowed “death” to rule through the Devil but we let good rule our hearts through Christ;
3, Adam’s action led to the sin of many but Christ’s will lead many to godliness and “eternal life.”
In our gospel story of Jesus’ temptations we have the symbolic countering of Eve & Adam. In Mark’s version (the original version of the story) only the essential historical facts are recorded: The disciples probably knew none of the details of Jesus’ trials. Let’s face it, temptation is essentially a personal inner battle with one’s conscience.
Matthew castes the temptations of Christ as ways of sinning against the great commandment in Deuteronomy: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. We can look into each of them and see part of the not-so-attractive side of human nature. To change “stones” into bread would be to for Christ to use his power for his personal greedy benefit. Jesus says no to that and counters symbolically by asserting the importance of the word of God. Throwing himself from a pinnacle was about trying to manipulate God to Jesus’ own advantage, make himself look good. Jesus answers: testing God’s protection by unnecessarily risking life is a mockery of real sacrifices of martyrdom. Next Jesus is invited to prefer personal wealth and power over the love of God by worshiping the devil who symbolized all evil of such obsessive desires. Jesus answers: God is the only god to be worshiped and served. The details make the point that Jesus is the perfect lover of God, the ideal Israelite, the founder of a new way of being human.
As I mentioned, we have a dynamic contrast between the old era and he new one. This is symbolized in Adam & Eve’s bad choice verses Jesus’ much wiser choices. We have to be careful that we don’t read too much into this story of original sin. It is a mythic tale meant to get us thinking about human nature, especially our own ability to make choices that are self destructive. We humans can easily fool ourselves into thinking that certain possessions or pleasures, will make us all the things we are not. And it never works out that way. The point of the story is not a history of disobedience to God vs. Jesus’ obedience. It is asserting the truth that it is human choice (human agency) that brings the most genuine evil into our lives. Not God’s will or demonic forces but human action.
Jesus in contrast makes the wise choices that bring a long term happiness to life. Starting with recognizing one’s true place in the world. Turning way from greed, manipulation and unbridled power He sets his life and ministry on a wholesome and life-giving path rather than one that will inevitably lead to conflict and destruction. The final vindication of Jesus’ choices is dramatized in the stories of his resurrection.
My brothers & sisters, let us strive to choose wisely by allowing the Holy Spirit to be our guide in this life.
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