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

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.

FEBRUARY- LOVE BACK

Luke 6:27-38  

tells us to listen, love, bless and pray for our enemies.

We are to love back, to be more than accepting of bad things done to us. 

 If you’d like to be treated a certain way, do so with your enemies.

Love, do good, give without accepting anything in return. 

 “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.  Forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

We read these words and say, “For real?”

But, God,  you don’t understand!

That person tore my heart out with words that sliced through me.

I tried to forgive but words that struck me like arrows hurt deep.

How am I to turn the other cheek?

I listen hard.

I try to identify with the other person’s situation.

Multiple stories of my own come to mind but they are only moments . . . specks of time.

God has done miracles in my own life even if it took years.

Each time we are pressed into a situation where another is hurting us, what do we do?

Can you think of a circumstance where words seemed to pierce your soul like arrows?

Do you turn the other cheek so those arrows hit you in more places?

Or, do you flee to a safe distance and remain distant?

When the Lord tells us, as in this scripture, to turn the other cheek . . . or treat the other better than we would expect to be treated, what does this mean?

Think of Jesus.

Everywhere he spoke, the Pharisees flung accusations at him in hopes that Jesus would flee or hurl his own accusations back at them.

Each time the Pharisees confronted Jesus with a trick question, they expected Jesus would step into their trap and be caught in heresy.

Why did that not happen?

Because Jesus was ‘one with the Father' and their communication was faster than 5G.

It was non-stop because Father and Son are ONE.

God, the Father, gave Jesus word-puzzles and stories with

hidden meaning, which pompous, ego-driven Pharisees could not understand.

Jesus only needed to apply what was given to him by God. 

Jesus always had a choice to accept precepts from the Father or not.  

Jesus’ total obedience is sometimes incomprehensible for us.  

Yet, Jesus always said, “Yes” to the Father.  

Jesus knew that every millisecond of his life was directed by the Father and, if Jesus kept saying, “yes,” his life-purpose would be carried out exactly as the Father orchestrated.

God sent his only begotten son for us because He loves us unconditionally.

When we say  “yes” to God upon confirming our Christian faith, we say "yes" to all God expects of us.

In doing so, we receive the full power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

We can choose to access God’s full power through the Holy Spirit or not.

We can choose to live life God’s way or our way.

God weeps when we choose our own way instead of His way but God still loves us.

Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit when he went to be with the Father: The same Holy Spirit who guided every single Apostle. . . 

the same Holy Spirit who drew the Apostle Paul into the arms of Jesus,

the same Holy Spirit whom we can call upon at any moment to lead us, guide us, give us insight, and help us with those who are against us.

The same Holy Spirit within us gives us powerful words of love and kindness and affirmation when we don’t feel like doing so.

The same Holy Spirit tells us to ‘turn the other cheek’  

or give more than we think we should even when others take from us what they do not deserve.

Is this passage in Luke easy to follow?

No

Are the precepts in God’s Word easy to follow?

No

Is being a Christian easy?

No

This is a tough road we follow . . .  the way of the Cross.

As we wind down into the quiet weeks of Lent, think of this

passage.

Remember the power of the Holy Spirit whom we can call upon instantaneously.

Remember that the Holy Spirit resides in us and is able to do all we ask . . .  

but we must ask.

Ask the Lord to help you . . . 

LOVE BACK

listen . . . love . . .  bless . . .  pray . . . 

for those whose words and actions pierce your soul.

It's amazing what happens after a week of calling upon the Holy Spirit for help.

Recollect daily, what happens each time you ask the Holy Spirit to help you listen, love, bless another and pray for those who sting your soul.

Try it.

See what happens.

Find out how you can Love Back!

A helpful addition:

Psalms are like balm for the soul.

Ps.37:3 “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness 

 :4 Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  

 :5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and he will do it. . . .

:7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. 

JANUARY EPIPHANIES

I often reflect on the numerous ‘epiphanies’ in my life, from as far back as I can remember.
Those ‘aha’ moments I recall have been turning points in my life.

From an early age I pivoted my thoughts and actions according to various epiphanies or ‘aha’ moments.

I recall my first epiphany in grade school.  I was slogging through long division, thinking it to be cumbersome.

Then my father taught me a ‘shortcut.’

Freedom!

I thought I was so clever.

After all, some of these ‘problems’ could be solved in my head or at least far more quickly than with loooooong division.

One problem.  

The teacher was not pleased.  She wanted me to understand the ‘deeper complexities’ of numbers. 

Oh well.

On to the next epiphany.

Throughout my life I considered my thinking to be slow, methodical. 

I tend to evaluate, to examine a challenge from every angel, sort of like the turning of a Rubik’s Cube as the colors are progressively worked to match on each of its six sides.

This tendency to deeply examine conundrums, questions, challenges eventually drew me into the arms of Jesus Christ.

Who is this person so many of my friends were telling me about?

Why did I not understand this during the years of Sunday school I attended?

Why did I reject God completely when I was ten years old?

What drew me back into the Lord’s precious presence as an adult?

Religious epiphanies began in college.  Christian movies caught my heart.   I visited a few churches but was unimpressed. 
 I think it was one Easter when I ventured into a church only to hear that ‘hypocrites’ are those who go to church only on Easter and Christmas.  “OK”, my soul said to me, “ Since I’m a hypocrite, I guess I’ll stay away from church.”

And so I did for about a decade.

That experience did not keep my soul from wondering, from seeking answers.  My “question bank” was getting pretty full.

Tiny epiphanies of faith, hope and love were embedded in my soul, like tiny golden arrows that carried diamond-tough gems of understanding.

Little Epiphanies, small ‘aha’ experiences, silent nods of affirmation from God . . . sent through acquaintances, friends and relatives continued to envelope me.

Read, ask questions, explore, seek, dig hard, ask more questions . . . 

An invitation to a lovely luncheon was a wonder-filled epiphany for me.

The women, all flight attendants like myself, were beautiful, joy-filled, loving, affirming and delight-full.

Old hymns I’d heard in church as a child filled my soul.

Invitations for lunch or conversation from these new friends were plentiful.

One of these women became a trusted friend.  Even though her schedule was beyond busy with her new husband and her Master degree studies, she took time to answer my myriad of questions at all hours of the day and night.  She took me to interesting seminars and Christian gatherings that filled my soul with new ‘epiphanies’. 

 She invited. 

I said “yes.” 

 Nothing further was asked of me.

You’d think I would jump at the chance to become a Christian but the weekly meetings with a gracious group of flight attendants simply enhanced my methodical, evaluative seeking. . . for several months. 

One day my girlfriend had her own epiphany.  

It was time.  

Even though she had to study for an exam the next day, she was determined to move me forward to accept Jesus Christ as God.  

She shared the ‘Four Spiritual Laws, from a tiny little pamphlet, that could guide me through the process of saying “yes” to Christ.

1. God loves you and created you to know Him personally
2. Man is sinful and separated from God so we cannot know God personally or experience His love.
3. Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for man’s sin.  Through Him alone we can know God personally experience God’s love.
4. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know God personally and experience His love.     4laws.com 

I listened intently and then was dumbstruck.  Not once in hours of reading scripture did I see the words, “Jesus Christ is God.”  

I stopped cold.

"That statement needs deep evaluation," said my brain.

She then asked if I could accept the ‘theory’ that Jesus is God and the ‘theory’ that the Holy Spirit comes from God.  Indeed, that is why Christians believe the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I chose to accept the theory because I was curious.  If I could accept this ‘theory’, not fact, that Jesus is God, trusting that, if this were true, the Holy Spirit could guide me, I felt I’d have a little soul-help to turn this ‘theory’ into my own personal truth.  

Epiphany!

Too often we accept theories as truth.  

I was a mathematical person.

A theory is a theory until it is proven that it is a ‘truth.’

Indeed, after slogging through scripture and asking God to show me what I must see to believe in the Truth, that Jesus Christ is God, I had a very quiet epiphany while sitting at the table studying.

Just me and God.  

Nothing wild and crazy.

Just a deep-in-my-soul aha moment.

A quiet knowing . . .  peace in my heart.

Nice.

I phoned my step-mom who had been praying for nine years that I’d come to know Christ Jesus in a personal way.

Her quiet voice said, “That’s very nice.  How did this happen?”  

I gave her a two minute run-down of my six month adventure and that was that.  She expected nothing more.

Little did she know how profoundly this epiphany would

grab my mind, heart, will, soul, entire self.

It’s been forty years since this great epiphany and further epiphanies, turning points, have not ceased.

First, I simply sharing my story with those who had been praying for me.  They directed me to more opportunities to learn . . .  more epiphanies.

I continued in my current occupation, traveling all over the world, experiencing myriad epiphanies as I met Christians from Kenya to Sydney.  

The world got bigger for me.  

Epiphanies, too numerous to count, bloomed in front of me.

My career has changed many times and moved me into software development, then marriage and then into full time ministry.

Now, as I slow down a bit, others’ epiphanies open my heart and mind as I listen to their stories . . .  their journey.

The season of Epiphany in January does not end this

month.

Nor does ‘epiphany’ end when we begin the season of Lent.

Epiphanies, aha moments leading to turning points, will continue throughout the rest of my life as I seek daily understanding of how God is directing me . . .  into the next . . . 

Epiphany!

Aha moment

Turning point

Love it!