Mark 1:29-45 (NRSV)

As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once.  He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.  That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons.  And the whole city was gathered around the door.  And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.  In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.  And Simon and his companions hunted for him.  When they found him, they said to him, 'Everyone is searching for you.'  He answered, 'Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.'  And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.  A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, 'If you choose, you can make me clean.'  Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, 'I do choose. Be made clean!'  Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.  After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, 'See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.'  But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

You’ve really got to love the Gospel according to Mark.  He gets it done in record pen-strokes.  The Greek is even more concise than the English.  The phrase that stands out today is “everyone is searching for you.”

This passage contains much of Jesus' actions as he traveled around healing and casting out demons.  Jesus is busy doing the “work” of the kingdom, showing the folks that are gathering what he has come to do in ways they can understand.  He is cleansing and restoring the world through his actions, and preaching a gospel of reconnection, restoration and peace.  Toward the end of the passage, when the leper is healed, he can’t contain himself.  The leper goes about spreading the word freely.

I discern that the call today is to “restore the world.”  If the Church is Christ’s body, and we are acting as Christ’s hands in the world, then we should be going about doing the work he has given us to do.  If we are to love our neighbor fully, then we act by restoring those on the fringes of society that are lost and forgotten.  We do this by reaching out and connecting, offering them a place of comfort and community, food and shelter.  When people are touched by Jesus, then they can’t contain themselves.  They go about proclaiming it freely in the streets!

Mark 1:14-28 (NRSV)

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.' As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me and I will make you fish for people.' And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 'What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.' But Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be silent, and come out of him!' And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, 'What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.' At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

In the context of all the information in this passage, I hear the word “called.” Jesus immediately calls James and his brother John, and they left their father Zebedee and followed him. It is interesting to me that the call narrative is in the middle of Jesus returning to Galilee, and then going into the synagogue to teach and perform an exorcism.

Keeping with the fast pace at which Mark tells us the good news, Jesus is on the move. He returns with a message of good news for the people, he secures some assistance in his mission, and then proceeds to teach in the synagogue. While he is in the synagogue, he encounters an unclean spirit that knows him. He calls out the unclean spirit, and amazes the crowd with the first miracle in the Gospel of Mark. Word about him spreads as quickly as Mark’s story unfolds.

There is an urgency to Mark’s telling of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He gets to the point and teaches in high context language, meaning that the hearers would be able to put together the story very easily in their situations. Mark uses language and forms of telling the story that his hearers would understand.

The call that I hear today is “follow.” When Jesus calls, the disciples follow to see where he leads. If we follow Jesus, especially through the scriptures, we see him do some amazing things. In the season of Lent, we follow Jesus through the desert that that we can experience a wilderness period of self examination and awareness. This lets us root up and deal with our demons and reminds us of our dependence on God.

Mark 1:1-13 (NRSV)

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,"' John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.  Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.  He proclaimed, 'The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.  I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'  In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.  And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'  And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.  He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

As our Lenten fast continues past the first Sunday, we enter the first chapter of the Gospel according to Mark.  Strangely enough, part of this was the Eucharistic reading on the First Sunday in Lent (beginning with verse 9 but continuing through verse 15).  The word that jumps out today is wilderness.  I have always been intrigued by wildness places, but in the ancient world they were places of evil and death.

Mark’s gospel story opens abruptly with John, the baptizer, baptizing in the wilderness proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  People were drawn to his message (and probably his strange manner of dress).  John announced the coming of the one more powerful than he is (Jesus) who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.  The story goes directly to the introduction and baptism of Jesus and his trip to the wilderness.

The message sound almost “advent-ish,” and is used within the season of Advent, but we are in the season of Lent.  I feel that the part that makes it appropriate is the part considering the wilderness.  Our journey through Lent is meant to reenact Jesus journey of 40 days when he was tempted by Satan, when he was with wild beasts, and when angels waited on him.  Our journey, of course, was far less strenuous than His.

I feel that the call to us today is similar to my homily on Sunday.  We are to be content with our time in the wilderness, as we participate with Christ in his preparatory journey before beginning his ministry.  We all have responsibilities as baptized persons, and we are bombarded every day with challenges that want to trip us up and get us off course.  We prepare during this season by embarking on our own journey through the wilderness, abstaining in order to focus a little closer, and taking on in order to gain more depth.  We are not alone in the wilderness.  As the angels waited on Jesus and looked after His needs, we know God is there with us loving us and taking care of us because we are God’s own (assured by our baptism).

John 12:44-50 (NRSV)

Then Jesus cried aloud: 'Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me.  And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.  I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness.  I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.  The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak.  And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.'

Today is the first Sunday in Lent.  The rhythm of the daily office moves away from the prayer of Jesus in John chapter 17 back to chapter 12.  The word that surfaces today in my initial reading is judge.  Jesus says that he didn’t come to judge the world, but to save it.

Jesus’ proclaims that belief in him constitutes belief in the one who sent him (the Father).  He has come to show the way (as the light) and deliver the world to salvation.  The world that rejects Jesus, rejects the Father, and is subject to the judgment of the Father.

Everyone who believes in Jesus, as a true disciple, does not believe only in Him, but in the Father who sent Him.  Jesus displays the glory of the Father and we learn to obey, love, and trust in him.  As believers, we are freed from the darkness of ignorance, sin, and misery.  We learn that the commandment of God is everlasting life, but the same commandment will seal the fate of all who reject it, despise it, or neglect it.

If we are to follow in the way of Jesus, then we are also called not to judge.  God is the only judge, and will deal justly.  The way I read this, it seems like those who reject, despise, or neglect God have already judged themselves.

John 17:20-26 (NRSV)

'I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.  As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.  Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.  'Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me.  I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.'

This is a continuation of the prayer from Thursday 2/23.  It is interesting that we skipped versus 9 through 19 of Jesus’ prayer in chapter 17 because of the commemoration of St. Matthias on 2/24, so we ended up missing some of the prayer.  Today we pick it up at verse 20.  You can read the missing part here.

‘Know’ or to ‘make known’ is the word that stands out today.  Jesus prays for his disciples to know God more closely so that they may participate in the divine relationship.

Everything is tied together and interwoven into these verses – the Father in Jesus, Jesus in the Father, their divine glory and love.  Jesus wishes this divine unity be available to the world.  He prays for his glory to be revealed to the world so that people may believe and participate in the divine relationship of love.

This goes along with my personal theology of God.  God is a God of relationship.  God is in relationship with God’s self in the Godhead; Father, Son, & Holy Spirit – And God’s people are in relationship with each other.  The gathered people of God (the Church) are in relationship with God, and the divine love of Christ is shown forth in this relationship.  In order for people to experience God’s glory in Christ, they must be brought to the knowledge of the divine love through God’s gathered people.

I feel the call today is to be with Jesus in this divine relationship.  To know Jesus as he is made known to us, participate in his Love, and then be catalysts of that love within the world - so that the world can know Christ and be reconciled to God.

John 15:1, 6-16 (NRSV)

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower.  Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.  I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command you.  I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.  You did not choose me but I chose you.  And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.

Today is the feast day of St. Matthias, the apostle in the book of Acts that replaced Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:23-26).  This reading from John’s Gospel was selected by the church to commemorate Matthias, who was never mentioned in the Gospels.

The phrase that stands out to me is when Jesus tells his disciples to ‘bear much fruit.’  I am not sure why Jesus uses this imagery, but it stood out.  God the Father is the vine-grower, Jesus is the vine, we (as followers or disciples) are the branches.  If we think about the relationship that the scripture is telling us, it makes sense.

The vine and the branches that Jesus uses to describe the relationship between God, him and his followers represents a living thing (a vine) that intertwines within itself.  It grows and takes form and frame (the commandments).  The vine sustains the branches and nourishes them so that they are able to bear any fruit, much less good fruit.  The love flows to us through Christ (and allows us to live in the love).  If the branches are tended then the vine grows stronger.  (much good fruit)  If the branches get too thick then the vine can be choked out.  Branches that do not receive their life force from the vine wither and do not produce fruit.  However, if the branches are enriched and remain strong then the fruit produced will be ripe and plentiful.  This is the fruit that will ‘last.’

I think that in this reading, Jesus is calling us to bear much fruit.  However, not just ‘much’ fruit, but much ‘good’ fruit.  Fruit that will last, and fruit that will sustain and nourish, and allow the vine to grow strong and continue.  As a church sometimes, it seems that we are incorrectly concerned with the quantity of fruit rather than the quantity AND quality.

John 17:1-8 (NRSV)

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, 'Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.  And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.  So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.  'I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.  Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

The word today for me is glorify.  It is used throughout the passage.  These verses in the 17th chapter of John make up the longest prayer that we have of Jesus.  It is a prayer of intercession, reconciliation and sanctification as Jesus approaches the shadowy period just before his arrest and crucifixion.

In the context of the prayer, Jesus prays for glorification, and intercedes for ALL people that they receive the eternal life promised by God.  Jesus claims to have finished the work that God has given him to do, and now prays to be reunited and restored to the glorified presence within the Godhead.  Humanity is God’s creation and Jesus came to earth to show humankind the way to be reconciled to God.  As believers in Jesus, we have received the truth in our belief, and have hope in the promise of everlasting life.

This passage is pretty thick, theologically, and there are many layers of revelation to understanding God.  One could dig for hours into this prayer alone and debate everything from Christology to Trinitarian theology.  However, regardless of how much we feel is revealed, God remains that great mystery that we will continue to try to unpack throughout our lives.  It takes prayer, presence & participation in the gathered community of God’s people (the Church), study and engagement of God’s Holy Word contained in scripture, and faith that is nurtured by these elements.

The call that I hear today is receive.  God has given us a priceless, glorified gift in Jesus Christ who continues to take care of us as his own.  God continues to offer the world a way to be reconciled to each other and to God’s self through him.  The question for me in the context of the prayer is, “what does that this gift of Jesus require of us?”  The answer to us, in this prayer of Jesus, is to receive God’s precious gift.

Luke 18:9-14 (NRSV)

[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income."  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"  I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.'

Today is Ash Wednesday, and the word that comes to the forefront is contempt.  I’m not sure why the word stood out, it just did.  Jesus is talking to the folks who disapprove of, and are judgmental of the way others live their lives.  They are self righteous and think they are superior.  Jesus is speaking this parable to “some” who considered themselves righteous and regard others with contempt.

The Pharisees are a political party of religious lay persons who specialized in Torah (Jewish Law).  They were in conflict with Jesus because Jesus often used them as examples of how not to act.  The Pharisees were worried about keeping the letter of the law, and thought that keeping the law alone sanctified their daily life and would bring about the redemption of Israel.  This was in contrast to what Jesus was trying to teach people about the intent of the law, to create a framework for the right relationship between God and God’s people.  Therefore, Jesus is an obstacle for the Pharisaic influence in society and they want Jesus out of the way.

Tax collectors were the Jews who collected taxes from the people on behalf of the Roman government.  They were considered scoundrels because they took money from their own people for a foreign power.  They were often corrupt, and took money to pad their own pockets.

Jesus’ parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee creates a sharp comparison and contrast for the hearer to ponder.  The Pharisee is set up as the one who considers himself righteous and the Tax Collector as the humble repentant sinner.

In the parable, the Pharisee is not the least bit introspective in his prayer.  He does not acknowledge his own sin, but is self righteously thankful that he is “not like other people.”  In contrast, the Tax Collector is humble and asking God for mercy, knowing that he is a sinner.

At the beginning of this season of Lent, the call in this passage is humility and self-awareness.  If we are humble in our prayers and honestly bear before God our shortcomings and ask for mercy, God hears us and forgives us.  Only then are we able to grow and learn and live in right relationship with God.

John 18:28-38 (NRSV)

Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover.  So Pilate went out to them and said, 'What accusation do you bring against this man?'  They answered, 'If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.'  Pilate said to them, 'Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.' The Jews replied, 'We are not permitted to put anyone to death.' (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)  Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?'  Jesus answered, 'Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?'  Pilate replied, 'I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?'  Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not from this world.  If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.  But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.'  Pilate asked him, 'So you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.'  Pilate asked him, 'What is truth?'  After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, 'I find no case against him'

“What is truth?”  Pilate’s question is extremely profound, and jumps out at me in this reading.  I expected Jesus to answer him, but he doesn’t.  I think that the lack of answer, in itself, is an answer.  Jesus says that those who belong to the truth listens to him.  Pilate seems to be fascinated and in search of meaning for his own life.

The Jewish leaders have Jesus is taken to Pilate, the Roman Governor of the region, hoping that he will convict Jesus of a crime punishable by death.  In the reading, Pilate questions Jesus about his claims of identity and his guilt.  Jesus doesn’t deny being a king, but tells Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world.

It is interesting that the leaders have chosen this course of action.  They have accused Jesus before of blasphemy, which is punishable by stoning.  However, they tell Pilate that they are not allowed to put anyone to death.  It may be that the feelings about who Jesus is are so split that they are deadlocked about how to handle the situation further.  Not wanting to make the decision themselves forces the leaders to take Jesus to Pilate.  This would make Pilate the bad guy to the ones that thought Jesus was innocent, and would save face for the leaders that didn’t want him around.

So often we make decisions in this life based on the evidence that is presented, but often that evidence isn’t everything.  The whole story is hidden from our understanding.  Like Pilate, who is being forced into a decision between the life and death of Jesus, we search for the truth that isn’t readily accessible.

The call today for me would be to exercise caution when making decisions.  Pilate is forced into a quandary and makes the decision that Jesus is not guilty of any crime.  The only thing standing at this point is the accusations by the Jewish leaders who present him.  We know that this is not the end, but for now it seems like Pilate has made the proper decision.

John 18:15-18, 25-27 (NRSV)

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus.  Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate.  So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in.  The woman said to Peter, 'You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?' He said, 'I am not.'

Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves.  Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.  Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.  Jesus answered, 'I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together.  I have said nothing in secret.  Why do you ask me?  Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.'  When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, 'Is that how you answer the high priest?'  Jesus answered, 'If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong.  But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?'  Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.  Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself.  They asked him, 'You are not also one of his disciples, are you?'  He denied it and said, 'I am not.'  One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, 'Did I not see you in the garden with him?'  Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.

The phrase that stands out to me is, “testify to the wrong.”  We fast forward this morning in the Gospel according to John to Peter’s denial of Jesus.  I feel that this is an interesting and sharp contrast to yesterday’s reading and Peter’s bold proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah of God.

In this passage, Jesus has been arrested and taken to the high priest.  He is subjugated to more questions about his actions and his identity.  Even though they have arrested him, he still has done nothing wrong.  In fact, Jesus reminds them that he has taught openly in the synagogues and in the streets.  He is struck, and challenges the justness of the striking willing to accept it if he has done wrong.

The piece in the story that is interesting is the actions of Peter.  Peter gets to the inside of the courtyard by who he knows.  Yet, when he is there he tries to play incognito, and not be recognized.  This is a stark difference in the Peter who recently took up a sword to defend Jesus’ arrest, not to mention the Peter who was quick to announce Jesus’ identity as the holy one of God.  Peter takes an observant back seat in this reading, and does not step out on a limb.  In fact, he denies even knowing Jesus when asked.  One can argue that Jesus prophesied this would happen, and it was necessary to bring about his arrest and ultimate crucifixion.  However, it’s not in the scope of the reading and therefore will not be addressed.

What my wonder is, would we dare to be as bold as Peter was originally for the Gospel, or would we turn tail and run?  Would we stand up with Christ or would we deny that we ever knew him, fearing for our own life.  Self preservation is extremely human, and avoiding a difficult situation is even more human.

I would like to think that the Gospel calls us to be bold and not deny Christ.  However, knowing that Peter denied Jesus to save his own skin makes me think.  Are we any better than the Apostle who holds the keys to the Kingdom?  I do believe that we are called to a level of boldness that enables us to reach down deep and hold onto what we believe.  My question is, do we let it be to our demise?

Luke 9:18-27 (NRSV)

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, 'Who do the crowds say that I am?'  They answered, 'John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.'  He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'  Peter answered, 'The Messiah of God.'  He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, 'The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.'  Then he said to them all, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.  For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.  What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?  Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.  But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.'

Jesus asks, “who do you say that I am?”  Our readings today take the normal Sunday detour from the Gospel of John to the Gospel of Luke.  The story today isn’t one in the context of Jesus running from the Jews, but it is a question of Jesus’ identity.  Jesus asks his disciples about what people are saying and he gets all kinds of answers from John the Baptist to any other of the wide range of prophets.

It is Peter who steps forward in his boldness to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah of God.  Jesus is quick to put a damper on Peter’s proclamation, explaining that it’s not time yet.  Jesus makes the offer that if any want to become his followers, that they are welcome to deny themselves and take up their own cross and follow him.  He makes the claim that this self denial for his ways leads one to eternal life and the kingdom of God.

I feel that the call comes from Jesus’ direct words, “deny yourself and take up your cross daily and follow me.”  We are called to participate and learn from Jesus about the way that leads to eternal life.  We are given the chance to see the salvation of God through self denial and sacrifice to proclaim the good news.

Some have suggested that the hardships that we endure are somehow “our cross to bear.”  However, I don’t think that this is the point of Jesus’ offer.  The cross is Jesus’ fate and a symbol of his ultimate sacrifice.  Our way of participation is pure belief, self denial, and acceptance of Jesus’ way and his teaching.  Jesus is the messiah of God, and through following him we will see the kingdom of God.

John 11:1-16 (NRSV)

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.  Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill.  So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."  But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."  Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."  The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?"  Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight?  Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world.  But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them."  After saying this, he told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him."  The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right."  Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep.  Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.  For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."  Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

Glorified.  God will be glorified through Jesus in the most unexpected of situations.  Lazarus becomes a vehicle for that glorification, and the opportunity for the disciples to fall into a deeper belief.

Lazarus is the brother of Mary & Martha, and he is sick.  Jesus and his disciples don’t seem to be in a hurry to get to them after they received the message, and stayed back for 2 days.  All of a sudden, Jesus is ready to go to Judea again.  The disciples are quick to remind him that the Jews were ready to stone him the last time he was there (see yesterday’s passage).  Jesus tells his disciples that Lazarus has died, and implies that he will use this death to help them believe.

Thomas still doesn’t understand, but appears to be thinking about Jews that are ready to stone Jesus.  He tells the other disciples, “let’s go and die with him.”  Thomas is ready to go, regardless of the consequences.

Jesus has spent the past few days of readings narrowly escaping the ones that want to kill him.  Today, Jesus is ready to go back into the danger zone for the chance to use the death of his friend to glorify God.  Jesus is ready to take the risk to help his followers believe.

I feel the call today is trust.  Be trusting, like Thomas.  Thomas acts like he would follow Jesus to the ends of the earth regardless of what they ran into.  This implies a deep trust of Jesus, and a belief that he is who he has proven himself to be.  If we were to trust like this, then we may see the Christ glorified in the world.

John 10:31-42 (NRSV)

The Jews took up stones again to stone him.  Jesus replied, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?"  The Jews answered, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God."  Jesus answered, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, you are gods'?  If those to whom the word of God came were called 'gods'-and the scripture cannot be annulled-  can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, 'I am God's Son'?  If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me.  But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."  Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands.

He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there.  Many came to him, and they were saying, "John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true."  And many believed in him there.

Blasphemy…  So, the “Jews” claim that Jesus is guilty of blasphemy.  He isn’t guilty for the works he has performed, but they say he is guilty of irreverence or impiety to God.  They thought Jesus was making himself God.  Little did they know what they were up against.  Nevertheless, they once again reach for the stones.

Jesus lets the works testify to who he is, and that he does them only by the power that has been bestowed upon him by God.  He is the one that God has made holy and sent into the world, yet he is not believed by the religious powers.  Jesus reminds them of the prophets (the ones to whom the word of God came), and how the prophets were treated.

Escaping arrest, Jesus slips away across the Jordan river, to where his ministry began – where he was baptized.  People still came to him, testifying to the signs, and believing everything that John said about him.

The Pharisees and scribes (the Jews) who challenge Jesus continue to feel the pressure of their own creation.  Jesus is upsetting the apple cart, and making life difficult for them.  However, Jesus has done nothing wrong but continues to be blamed with trumped up charges and false accusations.

The call I hear today is be who you are.  Jesus is just being who he is – God.  We are not God and shouldn’t try to be God.  I feel that the leaders are challenged because they think that they have the only path to God, and therefore get to control who comes to God and how.  Jesus provides the true way to God, through belief in him.  Only if we are true to who we are can show others the way to God.

We are working hard at putting together our Lenten series at Trinity called “Outward Signs.”  In this series, small groups will discuss what it means to be an visible sign of Christ in the world.  This takes the church gathering beyond the 4 walls, and puts it in the context of the world.

John 10:19-30 (NRSV)

Again the Jews were divided because of these words.  Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?"  Others were saying, "These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"  At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem.  It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.  So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense?  If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."  Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe.  The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.  My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.  What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand.  The Father and I are one."

The word “plainly” sticks out to me like a sore thumb.  I’m not sure why.  Maybe it’s because Jesus has not only told them and told them, he has shown them, and many have testified to his great works.  However, the “Jews” still don’t believe.  (I really have a hard time with the way the writer of John uses the word Jews - please see some of my previous posts on the subject).

The Pharisees are at the point of pressuring Jesus, to the point of using the phrase, “If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”  Jesus claims to have told them and they just don’t understand because they do not yet believe.  He tells them that believers follow him and believers receive eternal life.  No one can take a true believer away from Jesus.

John is filled with more explanations to the Pharisees about who Jesus is and what he came to do.  This has gone on for a few chapters and will go on for a few more.  We have heard many calls along the way.  I feel today would be believe.  We are called to believe because it is “plain” to us that Jesus is the Lord, He is the Good Shepherd, He is God (as said in the last sentence of the passage).  We are called to believe and testify to that belief not only with our word, but with our lives.

John 10:1-18 (NRSV)

[Jesus says] "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.  The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.  The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.  They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers."  Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.  All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.   The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away-and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.  For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.”  The “Good Shepherd” imagery has always been interesting to me.  Primarily, because I know very little about keeping sheep (other than what I have learned).  I have no “first-hand” experience like those in Jesus’ audience would have.  However, the passage also says that they didn’t know what Jesus was saying to them.

That makes me ask the question, why does Jesus refer to himself as a good shepherd?  We know that shepherds are pretty special people, especially if you are a sheep.  They are not just a hardened group of typical farmers.  Shepherds protect, feed, and care for the sheep.  The sheep know and respond to the shepherd voice and they are led from the front and not driven or herded as cattle would be.  Good shepherds are willing to sacrifice themselves to save the sheep.  Jesus says that as the “Good Shepherd,” he also desires to bring the “other” sheep into his fold.  To me, these traits alone makes the good shepherd imagery a good fit for Jesus.

In this passage, Jesus also calls himself the gate for the sheep, offering “sheep” the way in to the sheepfold and the way out to find good pasture.  He refers to the ones that came before him as thieves and bandits, insinuating the they wanted to mislead the sheep to ways of destruction.

I feel, in the context of all the shepherd imagery, our call today is “follow.”  We are all called (as sheep) to where the Good Shepherd, Jesus may lead us.  We are called to tune our hear to the Good Shepherd’s voice, and go out and have good pasture and the abundant life that only the Good Shepherd offers.

John 9:18-41 (NRSV)

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind?  How then does he now see?"  His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes.  Ask him; he is of age.  He will speak for himself."  His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.  Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."  So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God!  We know that this man is a sinner."  He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner.  One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."   They said to him, "What did he do to you?  How did he open your eyes?"   He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen.  Why do you want to hear it again?  Do you also want to become his disciples?"  Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.  We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from."  The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.  Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.  If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."  They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.  Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"  He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him."  Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he."  He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him.  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."  Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?"  Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.

The phrase that immediately jumps out at me in this long passage is, “I have told you already, and you would not listen.  Why do want to hear it again?”  The continuous questioning is obviously getting on the man’s nerves.  The Pharisees are pushing the buttons again, scheming and trying to find something that Jesus has done wrong.

I have got to say that I appreciate the once blind man’s boldness with the leaders.  He answers their inquiries completely, and somewhat sarcastically.  The whole banter following the phrase, “Here is an astonishing thing…” offers the Pharisees an irrefutable explanation of the circumstances.  The leaders refute and claim that the man is trying to teach them (like they are beyond learning something new).  Maybe that’s the problem.

The encounter between Jesus and the blind man is intriguing (then again, wouldn’t an encounter with Jesus always be intriguing?).  In this meeting, Jesus gives the once blind man an opportunity to believe.  The man believes, and worships Jesus.

The leaders overheard Jesus and the man talking and then fall into the conundrum with Jesus over what it means to see.  That is where I feel that the call lies today.  We are called to see.  In order to see we need adequate light and we need to take the time to focus.  Jesus is the light.  He illuminates to dark places in our lives and allows us to see our real selves so that we can deal with it.

John 9:1-17 (NRSV)

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth.  His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"  Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him.  We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."  When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.  The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?"  Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man."  But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?"  He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight."  They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."  They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.  Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.  Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see."  Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?"  And they were divided.  So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him?  It was your eyes he opened."  He said, "He is a prophet."

“What do you say about him?”  The blind man declares Jesus a prophet, the Pharisee’s are split and his followers continue to be dazed and amazed at Jesus’ wondrous works.

We are just coming off Jesus narrowly escaping being stoned when he was preaching in the temple. (Saturday’s reading)  Jesus is on his way somewhere else and sees a blind man.  The man doesn’t ask to be healed, it is the disciples who are asking about the cause of the man’s blindness.  Jesus uses the opportunity to teach the disciples with the action of healing the man’s eyes.  In a very human, almost crude act, Jesus spits in the dirt and makes mud to apply to the man’s eyes.  Then he sends the blind man to wash.

It is an incredible miracle.  However, the Pharisee’s don’t get past the fact that Jesus may have violated the Sabbath.  Evidently, one cannot make mud from spit on the Sabbath.  The Pharisees question the man as to how his sight was restored and who did it.  The strange fact to me is the blind man did not know where Jesus was (or what he looks like), and yet the Pharisees are quick to assume there was some violation that rendered this act of healing as not from God.  The scripture tells us that they were divided over the decision.

The call I hear in the context of this reading is the one that comes from Jesus to the blind man.  Go and wash!  Be made clean!  I think I am going to refer to the gospel according to John as a gospel of participation.  Our first act of full participation in the Christian life is Holy Baptism.  It is the initiatory rite that makes us participants with Christ in his life, death, and resurrection, and it includes us as full members of Christ’s body, the church (it makes us Christian - not members of any particular denomination, but that is another argument for another day).  I feel that we are called in this scripture to be made clean in the waters of baptism, and then have our eyes opened so that Jesus can lead the way.

Mark 10:23-31 (NRSV)

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"  And the disciples were perplexed at these words.  But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."  They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?"  Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."  Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you."  Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age-houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions-and in the age to come eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

 

“Then who can be saved?!?”  That is a good question!  Jesus directly provides us with an indirect answer that perplexes his disciples, mystifies us, and makes some churches squirm.  I have been around some Christians that take the word “saved” to an astounding level, as if it were the ONLY reason to believe or go to Church…  I have often been the “smart aleck” and asked “from what” – or "yes, it happened on a Friday about 2000 years ago, but we didn't realize it till Sunday morning..."  knowing full well that it would launch a theological debate about soteriology (the doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ).  Sorry, I am about nurturing people in the faith, so I'm not into the body count for Christ.  It’s almost as if some folks think the church is about selling some sort of celestial fire insurance (sorry, I won’t rant any longer).  Regardless of what our thoughts are surrounding the subject, we all want to know, “who can be saved?”

The scripture doesn’t say that those that have wealth are out.  Neither does it say you need to be poor.  Jesus just says it will be difficult for the wealthy.  (You have got to love Peter at this point, who has literally given up everything to follow Jesus.)  Jesus does assure us that whatever we give up for the sake of the good news, we will receive a hundredfold and eternal life.  So this makes one think…  what does salvation cost?  I don’t think that we, as mortals, can put a price on it.  It is beyond our understanding and impossible for us, but not impossible for God.  That may be the point of this passage.

To me the passage is saying a lot about the complexity of salvation in a very concise way.  I feel that the passage is trying to say that the way to salvation is a very difficult process, that requires us to unload our burdens, make ourselves vulnerable and submit to a process of formation that will take us against the norms of society.  It all starts with a belief in Jesus as Lord and progresses from there.  I am not saying that it’s anything you must do, but more what must be done to you and an acceptance of what has been done for you.  Jesus is the way to eternal life…  Jesus suffered death on the cross and bore the offenses of the whole world with him (yes, including ours)…  Jesus rose again, putting an end to death…  Those who believe in this are in fact saved (this is assured by scripture in several references).  But is that it?  Is that all there is to it?  That doesn’t feel as difficult as Jesus makes it seem in this passage.  So, the question that I offer now is…  We are saved by belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, what then are we going to do with it?

I feel that the call of the gospel today is formation (not salvation, but formation).  There are many ways to engage a process of formation.  Study, reflection, worship, outreach, sharing, discipleship, whatever you call it…  it’s all participation within the context of a Christian community.  Not home alone, but participating with others who nurture each other and hold each other up as the church.  I feel the gospel calling me to continuous formation, as the living Christ forms, informs, and transforms my life.  Only then can I truly understand the complexity of my salvation, and appreciate the sacrifices Jesus made on my behalf so many years ago.