Tuesday, April 16, 2019

APRIL ADORATION

Here is a sermon given on the Monday of Holy Week.

              It's a very sacred week for Christians as we walk with Jesus from Bethany into Jerusalem, down the Via Dolorosa and out to his crucifixion.  Only then can we understand the divine glory of the resurrection of Jesus, the Christ.
                         Life with Christ: Extravagant
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany. 
Imagine following Him there.
Imagine yourself among the ‘inner’  circle . . .  one of those who followed Jesus as often as possible, especially to this home in Bethany.  
Are you in awe that you are following this prophet, this priest, this King of the Jews, as some might call Him?  

Here we are, once again, at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary, as we have been many times when we’ve heard that Jesus was staying with them.  
You’ve observed the resurrection miracle with Lazarus and the unbelievable administrative skills of Martha.  Mary is unique unto herself as she openly shares her story and her experience regarding the time Jesus miraculously healed her.  

Let’s linger a moment as we reflect on the times and ways Jesus is healing us . . . body, mind, and soul.  Has your healing been through scripture reading, Holy Eucharist, time with the prayer team or others who have walked with you and laid hands on you as Jesus did with His followers?

Now let’s picture this extravagant scene.  Food is piled on the table as men linger in conversation.  Lazarus and
Jesus and those in Jesus’ intimate circle are kibitzing back and forth as if they’d all grown up together.  The simplicity of it all seems so extravagant.  It’s like they mingle together in the same way the very poor gather around the fire to keep warm at night.

Yet, out of the corner of my eye I see Mary, the one who lived an extravagantly sin-filled life at one time.  I see her bringing an extra-ordinary alabaster jar into this intimate space. 
Let’s stop for a moment. 
Picture your life before you met Jesus. 
I mean, really met Him.  
Can you remember your turning point?  
Can you remember falling down in thanksgiving for discovering the Truth in Jesus Christ . . . the full presence of God working through you as you say ‘yes’ to Jesus, perhaps for the first time?  
Was there some ‘aha’ moment when you understood the extravagant gift of love and new life that Jesus gave you?  
Was your whole heart exploding with gratitude . . . I mean exploding . . .  like it was about to pound out of your chest?  
Can you think of at least one time that you mentally understood Jesus’ forgiveness but still cannot drop the feeling that you do not deserve this extravagant, unchallenged, intimate, go-for-broke love that Jesus wants to give us?   
It’s not a question of deserving.  
It’s a question of receiving and giving back to Jesus that same love He has given us.  . . . just like Mary did in this scene.  
Mary did not know how Jesus was going to die or even when.  
All she knew was that her heart was exploding in love for
the one who saved her from eternal torment. Jesus saved her from her demon-filled life and showed her pure, self-giving love that she’d not understood before.
Can you put yourself in Mary’s shoes?  
Can you simply say, “yes”, I receive your extravagant gift of Truth, love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, healing, understanding, His presence in the Holy Eucharist and so much more?  

Now, Picture your quiet time place.  
Where are you sitting?  
Where is Jesus in relation to where you are?  
Is He close?  
If not, why not?  
Jesus could squeeze right into that chair with you if you want.   
Talk to the Lord about this in your next quiet time.

Now think of Mary’s extravagant gift. 
Did she get close to Jesus, get into his intimate space?  
After all, this is like family sitting around the table.
It’s as if Mary knew she might not be with Jesus if he were cut down instantly by His foes and hauled away.   
All Mary knew was “it is time.”  
This expensive nard, imported from the Himalayas, was not needed for her brother.    

He was resurrected from the dead.
OK,  but we might ask ourselves, “Why so much nard . . . a whole pound?”  
That’s like us spending a fortune on a treasure and handing it right over to someone else.
Mary knows, deep in her spirit . . .  “This is the time, the place, the person . . . it’s time.”
Not on Jesus’ head but on His feet.
Mary rubbed this fragrant oil into the cracks and crevices of Jesus’ well trod feet, the places where nails
would all too soon pierce this tender area of his body.
Letting her long hair down, even in this intimate group, was unusual but this too was a sign. 
She was giving her ‘all’ to Jesus. 
“Here I am, I’m all yours, my hair is like my very clothing, given to wipe your wounds.”  
It’s like Mary is saying, “I give myself and all I have, all that means anything to me . . . I give it to you.”
 Can we say that?   
What is the most vulnerable part of yourself that you can hand over to Jesus?  
What treasure can we give in repayment for what Jesus has given us?
Jesus wants nothing but our entire life from us, just as He expected nothing more from Mary.

When Mary was chided by Judas, Jesus reminded him
that Mary is doing exactly as she should.
Mary’s heart of thanksgiving, eucharisto, was freely given to our Lord.
Can we give our heart, mind, will, emotion, all that we have, to God in Christ?
God has always blessed those who bestow upon him the fragrant perfume of sacrifice.
AMEN





Monday, April 1, 2019

MARCHING TOWARD HOLINESS

There is something to be said about obeying traditions that draw us more deeply into God’s presence.  

Regarding Ash Wednesday, ashes on the forehead, few dig into the theological reasoning behind receiving ashes that the whole world will see. 
Yet, those who are brave enough to receive ashes and not rub them off all day must have some reason for doing so.

On the very first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, we are tempted either to ‘forget it’ or to rub the ashes off before attending the meeting or event that evening.  Temptation begins the instant we step into a deeper commitment of faith.  Any time we partake of a tradition that brings us closer to God, who knows what will happen.  

So, how do we think we would do if we walked into the desert alone, only with the knowledge that the Holy Spirit beckoned us onto this empty space?  
Jesus was not beckoned by the Holy Spirit for his sake alone, but knew that his purpose was to be as human as his Father called him to be in the most extreme cases possible.  
The desert experience was at the very beginning of his ministry to the Jews, first, and then to the Gentiles.

And so it is for us.  
Are we ready to walk into empty space, unhindered by the clutter of our needy lives?  
Are we ready to wait upon the Lord?  
Are we ready to listen  only to God’s voice?  
Do we even know the voice that will direct our path as we walk more deeply into God’s presence? 
Only when we become comfortable with silence can we learn to listen.
Only when we choose to digest God’s Word can we know
the Shepherd’s voice.
Only when we know the Shepherd’s voice can we follow according to God’s will.

40 days of digesting God’s words of scripture will open our hearts to God’s voice.
40 days of waiting in silence for God to speak through those words will guide us deeper into God’s presence.
40 days of taking daily moments with God is powerful.
40 days seeking God’s best for us through His Son, Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit is a game changer.
Just 40 days, with Sundays off to celebrate resurrected life, will amaze us.

Journal through these 40 days asking yourself.
  1. What did God’s voice say in my scripture reading today?
  2. How do these words apply to my own life?
  3. What can I ask of my Shepherd, Jesus, that will draw me more deeply into His presence?
  4. What is blocking my progress or tempting me away from this daily desert time?
  5. What are my next steps?

What possibly could be healing about walking into the desert?
I can see Jesus now, getting sun burned, beginning to have hunger pangs after at least the first day.  
Yet, was He?  
The Holy Spirit drew Jesus into a space Jesus would all too soon crave . . . a space to pray, to listen, to regroup, to drink in the task that His Father is setting before Him.
This desert time will be the only time, for the rest of his short life, that he won’t be pressed to minister to people, especially his disciples.