Lent 5A - First Thoughts

Lent 5A

Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 130
Romans 8:6-11
John 11:1-45

I am seriously behind the eight-ball this week. Not only did the new Church computer arrive Tuesday, but I spent the week moving my office to the sunny side of the church building (All of my books are currently in pews in the Sanctuary). In addition, we had a major snowstorm on Tuesday/Wednesday, which caused the cancellation of a Board Meeting and a setback on the moving process.

But, Sunday's just around the corner, and I need to start solidifying some thoughts. This is the last week of our Lenten lessons from John, and so I may draw some connections between the various lessons. Each week we've seen a different image or theme presented in the encounters with Jesus. I'm going to suggest that each image has ultimately been a reflection or foreshadowing of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Spiritual rebirth, living water, sight/light of the world, and resurrection are all images that we find represented in the eschatalogical pictures found in Revelation. I will begin to tie these together, to show that while those narratives can all be understood practically, they all operate on a deeper level which points to the Heavenly Kingdom.

The raising of Lazarus is the most amazing of Jesus' miracles. By the fourth day, Lazarus was truly considered dead, not just asleep. All hope was lost at this point, but Jesus responds with a miracle that is completely unheard of.

And yet, as far as we know, Lazarus died again. I certainly don't know of any 2000-year-old men walking around, and there's no record of him being whisked away to heaven like Enoch or Elijah. As amazing as this miracle is, it is really just a foretaste of the miracle of new and eternal life offered at teh resurrection of the dead.

Grace and Peace,

PastorJon

Faith in the Clubhouse

While it's not lectionary related, another news story caught my interest and I feel prompted to post it. Sox Credit Faith for Inner Strength was in today's Portland Press Herald. Author Kevin Thomas offers his assessment of how faith interacts with sports, in particularly in the Red Sox Clubhouse.

I'm not typically a fan of public figures and pop-stars giving lip-service to God when they receive their five minutes of fame. While I'm sure that many of them are very sincere in their desire to give glory to God, it seems that many others are simply giving a canned response which is not reflected in their career or lifestyle.

At the same time, there are the occassional figures who not only appear to be extremely sincere with their thanksgivings, but also seem to live a life which is consistent with their words. Curt Schilling is one athlete who seems to fit in this category, and I appreciate that this was recognized by members of the media.

When Schilling spoke of his faith after that game, one reporter who did not edit Schilling's comments was Peter Gammons of ESPN. Gammons has heard plenty of those "I-thank-God" introductions, but he knew Schilling was not just giving a line.

"He said it differently," Gammons remembered. "Some guys don't mean to, but they make it sound as if God is cheering for them.

"I thought 'Schill' really defined what it is to be a Christian. You're not asking God to pick you over the other guy. You ask Him for the strength to go out and do whatever you can."

There's a great lesson about prayer here. Too often our prayers are "make the problem go away" or "Lord, please make this happen." The example given here is that perhaps our prayers shoudl be "Lord, give me the grace to get through this and do my best. Please guide my every step."

Somehow, my sense is that even had the Sox lost that game, Schilling could have still said, "God is good, and He helped me through the night."

Perhaps God is less about winning and losing, and more about helping us to grow.

Grace and Peace,

PastorJon

Lent 4A - First Thoughts

Lent 4A

1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm 23
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41

In my initial read of these lessons, the strongest connection is between the Gospel lesson and the Epistle lesson. Themes of light and darkness are important to John, and are evident in this narrative of the blind man. Paul reflects those themes in his letter to the Ephesians.

1 Samuel 16:1-13
This narrative connects with the Gospel lesson on the point of sight. Samuel is reminded that "the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

In this narrative, we are confronted with the notion that God knows better than we do. He does something unexpected, choosing the least likely to fulfill His purposes. The story is told in such a way that we experience Samuel's surprise as each brother is dismissed from the anointing. The lesson that Samuel learns is the lesson that we are to learn.

Among other things, we learn that we are not to judge others. We lack the vision that God has, and are unable to see the heart. Our vision is impaired, for we only see the outward appearance. There is a sense that we are somewhat blind, unable to truly see, as though there was a cloud or fog obscuring our vision. God's ways are higher than our ways, and He alone truly sees the heart.

Psalm 23
I imagine that this Psalm was chosen for this lectionary entry because David references his own anointing. This Psalm is full of lessons which are often overlooked due to its (over)use as a funeral psalm. Some year I'm going to preach on this passage when it comes around, so that we can explore it outside the context of a funeral. In addition to David's anointing, there are lessons here on: discipline and correction, guidance, sabbath rest, and provision. Furthermore, the lessons of comfort during grief may be more easily learned when we are not in the midst of grief.

Ephesians 5:8-14
Out of darkness into His glorious light!

What a radical transformation we undergo when we come into the light of Jesus. The cloud over our vision is at least partially removed, and we are able to see. No longer do we live in darkness, but in light. Paul goes further to suggest that we are now part of the light (perhaps reflecting God's light) and that we are now responsible to shine that light into the darkest corners, exposing the unfruitful works of darkness.

John 9:1-41
It was common belief at the time that physical infirmities were a result of sin, either on the part of the individual or his parents. And yet, this belief reflects the confusion that Samuel had in our Old Testament lesson. Even the disciples made a judgment based upon the outward appearance. The Pharisees saw a physical infirmity and assumed something about the heart.

The narrative concludes with this perplexing interchange:

9:39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind."

9:40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?"

9:41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.

Jesus seems to have moved from a discussion on physical blindness to a hard teaching about spiritual blindness. The blind see, but the seeing become blind. Upon hearing this, the Pharisees appear to commit a sin of pride, assuming that they are the ones who can see. Jesus' cryptic response seems to chastise those who lack the integrity to admit their sin.

This theme is highlighted again in First John 1:7-9 -

⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.

⁸If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

May we be reminded of our blindness when we attempt to judge others. May we confess our blindness that we might receive sight. May we confess our sins that we might be purified. May we walk in the light, as He is in the light!

Grace and Peace,

PastorJon