Mark 3:19b-35

Then [Jesus] went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, 'He has gone out of his mind.' And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, 'He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.' And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, 'How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. 'Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin'— for they had said, 'He has an unclean spirit.' Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, 'Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.' And he replied, 'Who are my mother and my brothers?' And looking at those who sat around him, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.'

The phrase that stands out to me today is, "if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." To me, our pericope today describes the division that is felt throughout society up to and including the church. It is heart-wrenching to see the divisions and hatred expressed in society, government, and churches. Divisions that are primarily based on fear or ignorance.

The scribes ridicule Jesus because they feel threatened and don't understand him, so they accuse him of having a demon. Jesus straightens out their thinking and asks them, "how can Satan cast out Satan?" explaining that a divided kingdom is a weak kingdom that will fall. 

The family of Jesus is worried. So much that they go out to try to stop him. It is interesting to me that Jesus summarizes this teaching with an alternative view of what it means to be family. Family is the closest of relationships that share blood and kin. Some people hold the family bond as an unconditional bond that cannot be divided or broken. After being told that his mother, brothers, and sisters are there, Jesus says that the ones seated there learning from him are his mother, brothers, and sisters. I don't think he's saying that he has replaced his mother, brothers, and sisters.

Jesus advocates for a close relationship with his followers who do the "will of God." A relationship that is as close as family. A strong relationship that cannot be simply broken by the evils of this world. I hear the call to strong relationships nurtured by the love and forgiveness we experience from Jesus as we strive to bring about his kingdom on earth.

Mark 3:7-19b

Jesus departed with his disciples to the lake, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, 'You are the Son of God!' But he sternly ordered them not to make him known. He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then he went home;

Apostles... Those who are sent out to proclaim the message. Jesus has gained some notoriety and a considerable following. So much that the scriptures say the disciples had a boat ready for him. I think that this could be an escape route for Jesus. The sick and possessed were "pressing in on him" so that they could touch him. After the crowd scene, Jesus takes his disciples up a mountain, and he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles). The apostles were "sent out" and given authority to proclaim, heal, and cast out demons.

The twelve that he called apostles were sent out. The word "apostle" literally means to be sent. It's also essential that the ones closest to Jesus were those he sent. The scriptures even name them. It might be good to note that they will also become witnesses to Jesus' resurrection and glorious ascension, making them the first apostolic witnesses. So they are witnesses with authority sent by Jesus himself. 

In the church, we have a tradition that recognizes this apostolic authority in the office of the bishop. Through the "overseers" (Episkopos), apostolic authority is passed down in succession from a group of bishops (3) to new bishops. This action can be traced back to Simon (whom Jesus called Peter), the one to whom Jesus gave the "keys to the kingdom." ‎(Matthew 16:19 · ‎John 20:23). Through this apostolic authority, bishops exercise oversite of the church's work in their jurisdiction. 

Our challenge today is in reading this with modern eyes and trying to figure out the intent of Jesus. My thought is that bishops today should represent the mission of Christ that continues until his coming again. They are "sent out" to proclaim the power of Jesus to all corners of the earth to heal and cast out the demons of this world. That may have been Jesus' intent. Doing that is a way to further Christ and his mission to reconcile the world to God. When we are reconciling the world to God, we are doing the apostolic work and living in witness to the risen Christ. 

Mark 2:13-22

Jesus went out again beside the lake; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed him.

And as he sat at dinner in Levi's house, many tax-collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax-collectors, they said to his disciples, 'Why does he eat with tax-collectors and sinners?' When Jesus heard this, he said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.'

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, 'Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?' Jesus said to them, 'The wedding-guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.

'No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.' (NRSV)

The Pharisees are at it again, criticizing Jesus for every move they consider apart from their teaching. Jesus eating with "tax collectors" and other "sinners" seem to have set them off this time. They are quick to point out the social faux paux to Jesus. Jesus takes the opportunity to clarify that his mission is to help those that society thinks are lost. 

Evidently, the eating arrangement gets even more convoluted when they point out that John's disciples are fasting. This is possibly a religious fasting period for them. People of the time linked fasting to mourning. Jesus uses the opportunity again to teach that they are not mourning because he is there with them. The time for mourning will be when he is gone.

Jesus is here to do something completely new. He is the "new wine." The Pharisees are critical of Jesus because they try to look at what he is doing through the lens of the old regulations and expectations (aka "wineskins"). If you put new wine in old wineskins, the seams would break because the skins would have already stretched out. Because we don't put wine in skins, this metaphor seems foreign to us but understandable. 

Today I'm thinking of being Church. Of how church is and how church evaluates itself. We refer to the church as the 'body of Christ.' We often look at church through the lens of old regulations and expectations, "old wineskins," when quite clearly God is up to something entirely new. How can we be fresh receivers, "new wineskins," of what God is doing through Jesus Movement in this world? God is redeeming the world through Jesus. Jesus doesn't fit the old expectations. We shouldn't expect things to be the same as they've always been. How can we look at what God is doing in this world through fresh eyes?

Mark 2:1-12

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.' Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 'Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?' At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, 'Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven", or to say, "Stand up and take your mat and walk"? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins'—he said to the paralytic— 'I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.' And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!'

Every time I hear this story, I think of the Bible picture book that I had as a child. We can picture the scene: a house full of people, pressing in on one another, and at the center of the room was Jesus. The roof is being taken off the house to lower the paralyzed man down to Jesus. I find the scene is busy and confusing, especially for a kid to understand. 

Jesus recognizes their actions as a display of great faith, trusting that Jesus has the power to heal the man. However, Jesus goes a step further and pronounces forgiveness of the man's of the man. The scribes who were there start freaking out, accusing Jesus of blasphemy. Jesus knew they associated the man's paralysis with some sin he must have committed. Therefore, by pronouncing forgiveness the man was relieved of his burden and got up, took up his mat and went home. Everyone was amazed and the scripture tells us that they glorified God saying, "we have never seen anything like this."

The scene's picture is in my head. The mat with the man being lowered down through the roof. This makes me think of the lengths we will go to in order to get what we think we need. I'm sure that the man had heard of Jesus' healing powers. His friends were tenacious in their efforts to get him to Jesus. I wonder what they expected. I'm pretty sure that they didn't expect his sins to be forgiven. He probably just wanted to be healed, but Jesus ended up doing so much more.

We need to remember that God always gives us what we need, but rarely do we see it as something we want. It usually works out as so much more. The man was lowered down wanting to be healed, and had his sins forgiven. The paralyzed man didn't ask for anything, but had his sins forgiven and his paralysis healed. In lent, we focus on sin and forgiveness, wanting to be restored to right relationship with God as we approach Easter, needing to be healed of all the ways we come up short. We take time to look for paces in our lives that need to be evaluated; sickness, relationships, moods, anxieties, and then ask Jesus to interceed for us and forgive our sins, heal us, restore us, and reconcile us to God.

Mark 1:29-45

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 sunset, 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 neighbouring 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.

Here we are at the end of the first chapter of the Gospel according to Mark. Jesus is on the move, teaching, healing, and casting out demons. Jesus has accomplished so much he is getting noticed. The word throughout the region is spreading quickly. Today, I am drawn to the directness of Jesus as he performs the tasks before him. Mark has Jesus jumping from one task to another, almost without allowing the reader to take a breath. As the reader, it feels that Mark's story is taken from one gear to another without putting in the clutch.

Jesus starts out in the house of Simon and Andrew and cures Simon's mother-in-law, and restores her to resume her usual hospitality tasks of serving them. Evidently, word travels fast in Galilee, and a multitude showed up at the door expecting Jesus to heal them also. Jesus completes all the tasks in front of him. Then, after he is drained, Jesus goes off by himself to pray. When found by Simon and the others, Jesus took them throughout Galilee, preaching, teaching, and casting out demons. 

Jesus continues to be direct, going to where the people are, teaching them, and healing them. He is constantly on the move but takes time to pray and recharge. At this point, Jesus has quite the following. There were so many people after Jesus that he could not go to town openly, so the people came out to him in the country. 

In ministry, we get so bogged down sometimes we forget to model Jesus' pattern... Be on the move! Be about the work God has given us to do! But, always remember to take time to pray and recharge. This Wednesday, these are helpful words in the first whole week of Lent. Prayer should not be a chore or something else to put on our schedule. Prayer should be part of who we are and how we live. Prayer should be ingrained so much into our routine that it is our natural response to our work. 

Mark 1:14-28

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 lake—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, throwing him into convulsions 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. (NRSV)

Mark doesn't waste any time and gets on with the story of Jesus' call to the first disciples and his first acts of teaching and casting out demons. The thing that stands out for me today is that the "unclean spirit" knows who Jesus is and it knows that Jesus has authority over it and will destroy it. Jesus doesn't waste any time and does just that. He casts out the unclean spirit from the man. This causes the man to convulse and cry out and the scriptures say that all were amazed. The crowd had not seen anything like Jesus. They had never seen anyone that had authority over unclean spirits. The word of his teaching spread fast.

To me, this makes me consider Jesus' ministry and actions a little closer. In Mark's gospel account, Jesus is very much "on the move" and goes about teaching and preaching where the people are, where the hurt is, where the demons are. As we are being taught to "fish for people," we should go out to where the people are, show them that they are loved by God, and help them cast out the demons in their lives that control them.

It is shocking to me how much the "modern church" doesn't look like a fellowship of Jesus' followers that is working to fish for people who need their love. It looks more like an institution or organization that mostly worships together. People constantly speak of the decline in the modern church and fail to see that the fish just need to be fed. In order to feed the fish, we need to go to them instead of expecting them to swim to us. I pray that we continue to become more of the body of Christ, reaching out to the world in love and reconciliation.

Mark 1:1-13

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 for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

It's interesting to me that Mark begins his gospel story with the baptism of Jesus. There is no account of Jesus in the story until he comes to John at the Jordan River to be baptized. No birth narrative, no stories of teen Jesus in the temple, no Joseph and Mary, nothing prior to the baptism. Before Jesus arrives, John tells the people "I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." To me, this is the most significant statement in today's passage. John's prophetic message and recognition of who Jesus is, helps us understand everything that follows.

When Jesus came out of the water, the scripture tells us that the Spirit descended on him. The spirit in the form of a dove and then a voice boomed from heaven. I don't know about you, but if I were there, I would have freaked out. If you think about it, it's a pretty scary scene.

I have been scared before, and I have heard sounds from the sky that boom like thunder. I've also seen birds land on people before. Combine all those elements and mix them with John's prophetic message, I still don't think we have the entirety of the scene. 

John says that baptism with the Holy Spirit goes beyond baptism with water; there's more to it. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we are renewed, restored, and born again as a new creation. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we follow the teachings of a man who embodied pure unconditional love for all of humanity who bids us do the same. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we are Christ's own forever, and nothing on earth can break that bond. 

The question for us today, as we are in the wilderness of Lent, is do we know this? If we are baptized and are brought into the life of Jesus, don't we know that we are recipients of such awesome power and responsibility? Don't we know that we are responsible for showing others who Jesus is by our life and action? As we prepare for the paschal feast, before we start to examine where we have come up short, we first need to remember who we are as baptized recipients of the Holy Spirit. We are beloved of God, we are agents of the Holy Spirit, and we belong to Christ Jesus. 

John 17:9-19

John 17:9-19

I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. (NRSV)

"I sent them into the world." We have been "sent into the world" sanctified in truth by Jesus. As his prayer continues today, I can't help but think about the mission he was on and how he invites us to participate in his mission. He prays for protection as we navigate the horror of this life. 

This near the end of the longest prayer that Jesus offers and one can't help but notice the angst in his tone. Not that he hasn't prepared his followers, but that he loves them and doesn't want harm to come to them. As a parent this evokes feelings of concern that I have for my children. I want them to be successful in what they set out to do. I hope and trust that I taught them the difference between right and wrong and how to make good decisions. Like Jesus, feel that I have but there is that lingering worry that hangs over us rooted in love for the ones entrusted to us.

Our joy is in knowing that we have a loving God who like a parent has tended us with care and nurtures us to continue on our life of love. It's the truth with which we are sanctified. Our response is to follow in the way of Jesus and go into the world and care for others like we are taught.

John 17:1-8

John 17:1-8

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. (NRSV)

I can't imagine the stress that Jesus is under. This is a prayer offered by Jesus near the time prior to his arrest and crucifixion. This is the first part of the longest prayer that Jesus offers. To me, I hear his humanity coming through, and it is heart wrenching. We can't ignore that the word "glory" in different forms is used over and over again. Jesus longs for God to show the world who God is through him. In the prayer, Jesus recounts the ways that he has made God known to his disciples, showing them the "Father" through the "Son." For Jesus, this has been an undoubtably difficult task.

It makes me wonder. How often have I been into something and then I wish it was already finished. Through his prayer, I think Jesus conveys similar feelings. To me it seems like a prayer of desperation, mixed with frustration and conciliation. This is a tired Jesus that is getting close to the end of his time on earth. He is very conscious of his weariness and is ready do be done.

I feel a call to patience today. Patience with purpose, patience with understanding. I'm not good at being patient. When we think we are done, we are done. It takes real effort to keep going and finally (faithfully)  finish. Being patient takes dedication. Today I pray for patience and strength to be able to do the things that God has given me to do.

Luke 18:9-14

Luke 18:9-14

[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."

"God, be merciful to me, a sinner." These words resonate with me as I feel more "broken" than usual this year. The COVID virus trudges on, life is different, and I am tired. Today, in the context of this Ash Wednesday 2022, we are confronted with Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Both are broken in their own right. The difference between them is that the Tax collector knows he is broken. 

Tax collectors were the scoundrels of society that "took a little off the top" of the taxes they levied. It was even considered worse because they were often defrauding their own people. On the other hand, Pharisees were considered the "religious elite" with strict observance of the law (Torah). They often felt they were superior to or "holier than" others.

How we pray makes a difference. During the season of Lent, we are encouraged to look down deep into our brokenness, ask for forgiveness, and begin to let God heal us. With humble hearts and sometimes tears, we come before God looking for answers to the hurts in our life, hoping somehow to be restored and told everything will be ok. The scriptures assure us that God hears our cries for mercy and helps us. Eventually, everything turns out well.

Second Monday in Lent

John 4:27-42 (NRSV)

Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you want?’ or, ‘Why are you speaking with her?’ Then the woman left her water-jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?’ They left the city and were on their way to him.

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Surely no one has brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, “Four months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour.’

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Saviour of the world.’

"Come and see a man who has told me everything that I have ever done!" That could be good and bad. Obviously, for the Samaritan woman with a sordid life, this encounter was probably quite embarrassing. Nonetheless, she was so excited that Jesus might be the messiah, she ran back to town and told everyone about him.

We pick up the story from Saturday's reading and learn that regardless of what Jesus told her, she invited the whole town out to meet him. John uses the time the woman has gone to the city for the disciples to encounter Jesus and ask him if he has been able to eat something. We should remember that they are in Samaria, and Samaritans do not share things with Jews and vice versa. Jesus takes the opportunity to explain to his disciples about the place they are in and how there is ample opportunity to share the message that "the fields are ripe for harvesting."  

The passage tells us that many in that city believed in Jesus because of the woman's testimony. After that, the Samaritans, who don't share things in common with Jews, invited Jesus to stay with them. Many more came to believe by spending time with Jesus, and they proclaimed him, "savior of the world." 

I would be a little freaked out if a man came up to me and told me "all that I have ever done." Especially if I was trying to hide it in some way. We should realize that God knows it all, our good and our bad. During the season of Lent, it's our opportunity to admit the sin in our lives and turn to God for forgiveness. We are to go deep and go to God will ALL our demons, not just the ones that are evident to the world. Yes, even the hidden things that we are afraid of even admitting to God. It's ok; God forgives. God cannot save us unless we acknowledge that we need to be saved.

Second Sunday in Lent

Mark 3:31-4:9

Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.’ And he replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’

Again he began to teach beside the lake. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the lake on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching, he said to them: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’ And he said, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’

Mark doesn't waste any time changing gears. It feels like he forgot to put in the clutch as he quickly goes from questioning who is in the familial relationship to how Jesus' teaching is propagated. I think there is a correlation here, but it's going to take some reflective gymnastics to get there.

Jesus says, whoever does God's will is my family (my mother, brothers, and sisters). So the more profound question is, "how do people know God's will without being taught or without listening so closely that we hear it?" So, Jesus teaches them that folks only hear what they want to hear. That some with ears don't even listen, so how can they hear and respond to God's word, let alone become Jesus' family?

I've always loved the parable of the sower so much because I think it tells us not to worry too much about where you cast the seed. Some seeds will fall on good soil and grow up to be healthy plants that produce good fruit. This plant grown on good ground will also increase the yield and help others grow good fruit. While the cultivation of good soil is essential in agriculture, that's not the point. Jesus shares this teaching to show us our responsibility is to cast the seed! Share the message! Nurture the relationship and become the family!

The gap between Jesus explaining who has been grafted into his family is not far-fetched from those who scatter and grow seed. If we listen to God, we are then supposed to go out and propagate God's message. The message of forgiveness and reconciliation. The message of becoming family and among those who do the will of God. 

It's not an easy task. In fact, it takes us being indiscriminate about who we invite (where we scatter our seed). It's about us not getting a say in who is in and who is out of God's family, just because we don't think their soil is good enough. So, what are the implications for us this Lenten season? One of the questions we could use for self-examination is, "do we feel like we are a connected part of God's family in Jesus?" If we don't, then "how might we listen a little more closely and scatter seed a little more recklessly?" If we do, then "what might we do to grow closer to Jesus to carry out his mission of reconciliation?" 

Remember that we are children of God, and our purpose is to live the message of love and reconciliation of in Jesus... and we listen closely so that we can live as part of his family that follows God's will with our message and our actions.

First Saturday in Lent

John 4:1-26 (NRSV)

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, “Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John” —although it was not Jesus himself but his disciples who baptized— he left Judea and started back to Galilee.

But he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.”

"Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep." The Samaritan woman and Jesus have a conversation at Jacob's well. Jesus is obviously out of his territory, in Sychar, a city in Samaria. Even though Jesus is not a Samaritan and the woman is not a Jew, Jesus crosses many social barriers to speak to the woman at the well. 

One social barrier is that there is such a difference between the Samaritans and Jews that they didn't even talk to one another, let alone share anything in common. Jews (inhabitants of Judah, which is the southern kingdom) thought Samaritans (part of the northern kingdom) were dogs, and the same thought was reciprocated by the Samaritans. Arguing over the proper place to worship was just the tip of the iceberg. Samaritans worshipped and made sacrifices on the mountain, and Jews worshipped and made sacrifices in the temple. The evangelist, John, saying that "Jews do not share things in common with the Samaritans" is an understatement. The Samaritans were half Jew and half gentile and came about after the northern kingdom was in captivity in 721 BCE. 

Another social barrier that Jesus crosses is sexual. Jesus is a man and is openly speaking to an unaccompanied woman in public. This is a little beyond a simple faux pa but goes directly in the face of cultural practice. By Jesus doing this, he puts himself in grave danger if anyone wanted to go after him for violating a social norm. I am struck by her curtness of "sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep!" reply to his request for water. But, understanding the dichotomy between them, her response makes sense.

Jesus did not commit a sin by crossing the social barriers. Jesus decides not to follow the prejudiced attitudes of his day regarding gender and ethnicity. And by doing so, the Samaritan woman and Jesus have an in-depth theological exchange. She learned the good news, and through her, the entire village came to believe. More on that part of the story Monday (John 4:27-42).

This is the most extensive conversation of this type in the Gospel, according to John. It is an important story that tells how Jesus is reaching others to reconcile them to God. It is essential to point out that he and the woman didn't quibble over the right way or wrong way to worship (something Christian brothers and sisters could learn), but he says that true worshippers will worship God in spirit and truth.

In reflecting through this passage, what might be some questions we could use for this season of Lent? One that comes to mind is; "do we let the social norms keep us from engaging those who need a drink of water (or anything else for that matter)?" Another might be; "what are the barriers that exist in our lives that prevent us from having meaningful relationships and discussions with those that differ from us? In the recent political and racial turmoil, these might be good self-reflections this lent.

First Friday in Lent

 John 3:22-36 (NRSV)

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized— John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.

Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.’ John answered, ‘No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, “I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.” He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.’

The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." To me, this is the most significant phrase in this pericope. I've written about John before and his efforts to point to Jesus with everything that he does. This is another prime example of John playing a good second chair. John must decrease so that Jesus can increase.

Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside and were across from where John was baptizing. The scripture says that Jesus and his disciples were baptizing. John's disciples were obviously thinking that Jesus was trying to take John's followers. So, they rushed to John and told him that Jesus is baptizing and "all are going to him."

John is quick to remind them that Jesus was first and will always be first. He reminds them that he was sent ahead so that he might prepare the way. John compares what he is doing to "the friend of the bridegroom," (John) who rejoices at the bridegroom's (Jesus) arrival. And now that the time has come, John tells them that Jesus must increase, but he must decrease. John must do his part, and in all things John does, get out of the way of the mission that Jesus has.

Today's scene is mesmerizing to the point of watching John, who is highly regarded by his followers, give up his power and position to Jesus. John knows that this is his purpose, and it doesn't worry him that people are going out to be baptized by Jesus. He knows that Jesus offers them life beyond life, in the presence and in connection with the creator. 

John is a model for us today of what it means to give glory to God. In his case, his followers seem to see Jesus as a threat, but not John. John sees it as an opportunity to point others toward God's grace and glory. Today, my lenten questions are: how often do we give up our glory for the glory of God? Do we see ourselves as loved by God so much that we want to share that love with others? Do we think we will lose something if we point others in a direction away from ourselves and toward God? How do we decrease so that Jesus can increase?

 

First Thursday in Lent

John 3:16-21 (NRSV)

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’

Why is it that we see these signs with John 3:16 at sporting events and on yard signs? Do folks believe that someone will see that sign, know instantly that it refers to a bible verse, and run out, look it up, read it, believe, and start living differently? I'm not sure it works that way. Maybe that's why, even as a priest, I'm turned off at these hollow public displays of faith. 

Let's dig into the practice a little. I understand that it started in Boston in the 1970s as a way for evangelical Christians to propagate the Gospel. Their idea was to put John 3:16 on a sign and hold it up at a game. If the game is televised, more people would learn salvation and everlasting life through Jesus. The verse, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life," seems to display the complete message, or does it? The question that I have is, "is eternal life" the ultimate goal? I don't mean to be cynical here, but what is it that were are striving for? 

Or, are we striving for a life more connected to God in this life? Are we living to be closer to our creator? In doing so, are we becoming more responsible to those around us (our neighbor) and the environment (God's creation)? Are we loving God and loving our neighbor like God's only Son asks? Some would say that belief is enough... if you believe, you are in, like it's some sort of club for eternal life. That's partly why I cringe at isolated scripture texts without some context. 

John 3:16 is part of a more extensive explanation of who Jesus is. Yes, Jesus is the one that reconciles the world to God and Jesus is the one that provides us a way to have an eternal presence with our creator after this earthly life is over. However, Jesus is also the one who is the light that shows us the way to be and live in a relationship with God and with one another. A relationship that needs to be nurtured with practice. Not that we can do anything to earn God's love, but that we act out of and in response to God's love.

I'm not sure what, if any, converts to the faith these signs bring. But I do know, for me, it lacks context for those who are not familiar with the Holy Scriptures. If you asked someone on the street what John 3:16 was, they would say it was a Bible verse but wouldn't know what it said or meant. 

During the lent season, we are encouraged to engage in practices that draw us closer to God. If holding up a sign at a game does it for you, then rock on. I'm not condemning the practice. But, be ready to respond to the question, "why are you doing that?" by offering the story of Jesus calling us into a life of love and relationship. 

First Wednesday in Lent 2021

John 2:23-3:15 (NRSV)

When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

The Pharisee, Nicodemus, came to Jesus "by night." I am sure that he was afraid of what others might think if he openly endorsed this itinerant teacher from Nazareth. Nicodemus believed in Jesus and his teaching and wanted to know more. He had already experienced the miraculous acts or "signs" that Jesus did. So, without telling his fellow Pharisees, Nicodemus sneaks out for a one on one with Jesus.

The encounter is intimate and life-giving. Jesus and Nicodemus are sitting there in the evening chatting about theological concepts. You can feel the energy building in the text as Jesus reveals to Nicodemus what it is to experience the Kingdom of God after being born anew. As a Pharisaic teacher, Nicodemus should have known more about the spiritual nature of re-birth. After Jesus explains it, Nicodemus is astonished. His only response was, "how can these things be."

I've heard many over the years about being "born-again" or "reborn" or "born from above." I'm not sure that neither they nor I understand the complexity of what it means to be "born anew." I think that the faith rebirth comes from knowing and living for God rather than for the world or self. I feel that comes from caring for those that God cares for and comes from knowing that you are forgiven and have the chance to right the wrongs. 

Nicodemus was probably not a coward but saw his meeting with Jesus as controversial enough to keep it a secret. This makes me think... How often do we "hide our faith" for fear of ridicule? And if we do, are we really living like we have been born anew? If being born again means knowing and living for God, how might we respond more fully with a faith-filled life? The world waits for signs that God is real. However, those reborn in God are doing very little to show the world who God is.

First Tuesday in Lent 2021

John 2:13-22 (NRSV)

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Folks that like to think of Jesus as "meek and mild" are disturbed by the thought of him making a whip of cords and thrashing around, turning over tables, and running people out of the temple. We like to think that a loving, forgiving, reconciling Jesus would use some other way to get his point across. However, in the second chapter of John, here we have it that he is driving out the sheep and cattle from the temple portico.

There is some confusion about this passage. Money changing wasn't unusual. Sometimes people making the pilgrimage to Jerusalem were not able to carry their sacrificial animal with them. Therefore, they would purchase one when they arrived. Another thing is that the Roman coin wasn't allowed to be used to pay the temple tax. The "changers" would be exchanging the Roman denarii to the Jewish shekel. However, the money changers were known to skim off the exchange rate and defraud the people. Whatever the reason, Jesus was not happy with the way things were going and lost it.

My first thought is that this plays a part in the larger story of fulfilling the prophecy "zeal for your house will consume me." Jesus needed to do this to live into what he was called to do. Also, this act is the turning point of his journey to the cross. It all goes downhill from here. The Pharisees and scribes begin to draw closer and closer to trip Jesus up in their pursuit to get him to commit some sort of offense that will allow them to get rid of him. Jesus almost says, "bring it on." By telling them that they will destroy the temple and he will rebuild it in three days.

Anger is something that we all deal with from time to time. It's a very human emotion that, if not controlled, controls us. I've heard this passage referred to as righteous anger, that Jesus was within his right to toss the tables. To me, it seems that his humanity has reached its breaking point. The result is a fit of rage that does nothing but provoke the authorities to action. Jesus obviously saw this as a last resort and fully knew what it would lead to. He took responsibility for his actions.

In the Lenten season of self-reflection, we might ask ourselves, "do we let ourselves get to the point of rage when we are upset about something?" Another thing we could ask is, "how might we respond to things that upset us that build up rather than destroy?" The answer should never get to us turning over tables.

First Monday in Lent 2021

John 2:1-12 (NRSV)

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there for a few days.

"They have no wine!" Now that's something you don't want to hear at a party, especially a wedding. In this story of Jesus and his disciple's attendance at the wedding, we don't even know who is getting married because that's not the point. Jesus' presence and his action are. This is held up as Jesus' first miracle, the one that revealed his power and glory, and the scripture tells us that when his followers saw, they believed.

There is an old joke among those denominations that didn't subscribe to the temperance movement. It goes something like, "our lord knew how to have a good party; his first miracle was making wine out of water." I'm not bashing those who wish to abstain from alcohol. However, those who want to forgo shouldn't tell those who partake every now and then that they do something religiously wrong. But this story is about more than that.

This account of the revealing of Jesus' power and glory sets the stage for John's gospel, letting us in on some of the miraculous things that we shall see as it unfolds. Something that we wouldn't expect. Things like restoration, healing, prophecy, and casting out demons. Jesus is on the move, but first, he and his followers are at a party with their friends. A party for a wedding that lasted 7 days in the Jewish tradition. No wonder they were out of wine.

This Lent is a time for self-evaluation and reflection on our relationship with God. How do we live more fully into a relationship with God? How might we acknowledge the power and glory in the life of Jesus with our actions? How will we help others enjoy the party?

First Sunday in Lent 2021

Mark 2:18-22 (NRSV)

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and people came and said to him, ‘Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. ‘No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.’

On Sundays, the daily lectionary takes a detour from the passages in John that we were looking at this past week. For some reason, this passage makes me think of the song Auld Lang Syne. Maybe the Scottish song that we sing at the beginning of the new year begging us to remember the old times has merit. I'm not sure. This passage has people coming to Jesus and chastising him about not keeping the ritual practice of fasting observed by John's disciples and the Pharisees. Jesus sets them straight by explaining that a new way of understanding is coming.

Jesus compares the practice to a wedding feast, where the bridegroom is present, and the party continues. He also compares it to sewing a new piece of cloth (unshrunk) on an old garment and new wine into old wineskins. Some say this simply means, "out with the old and in with the new." But I feel it's more complicated than that.

To understand Jesus' new teaching with authority, one must receive it with fresh ears. Some old preconceived notions of the messiah's coming needed to be abandoned to embrace Jesus as Lord. Jesus was different than anything they expected. He lived out the law's intent and taught and healed and set right some of the things that the people were misunderstanding. 

Fasting is a well know practice. Even today, people fast for many reasons; some religious. However, fasting is appropriate for some and not others. If one has an eating disorder or another issue such as diabetes or hypoglycemia, one probably shouldn't fast, even for religious reasons. Fasting helps us in our connection with God and each other. When we abstain from eating specific foods or even all food, our hunger pangs may remind us of how God provides for us and how privileged we are in having enough to each in a world where not everyone does. 

Lent is a fasting period for the church. The faithful are encouraged to give up something to help us draw closer to God. This may not be appropriate for some. In some cases, taking on a discipline is more encouraged. This discipline may include journaling, reflecting on scripture, or other practices that help us grow closer to God. 

Looking for new ways of engagement is always important. Sometimes the older methods don't work. Sometimes we need something more or something else. If we catch ourselves "putting new wine in old wineskins," we may make a mess. 

This Lent, I am encouraged to look for new ways to engage some of the old practices. The pandemic has definitely pushed us in that direction. Nothing is what was expected. It is all becoming different. However, we must remember that God is still God, and God continues to guide and strengthen us in ways that we may not realize.

Last Saturday after the Epiphany 2021

John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’

Today we hear of Jesus calling Philip (who was a contemporary of Andrew and Peter who we met yesterday), from Bethsaida, a small fishing village on the shore of the sea of Galilee. It was there that Jesus told Philip, “follow me,” and Philip then found Nathanial. Nathanial comes off as uninterested in this man Jesus from Nazareth, and even asks Philip, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” 

In our reading context matters! Culturally, those familiar with the time and place would know that Nazareth was considered the equivalent to being on the “wrong side of the tracks.” Surely this would not a place for a messianic teacher to be from. But Philip’s invitation was simple “come & see.” This was the invitation that Jesus extended to Andrew in yesterday's reading.

Nonetheless, possibly reluctantly, Nathaniel goes to Jesus, and Jesus identifies him immediately as an “Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” In turn, Nathanial immediately identifies Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel. Jesus then tells Nathaniel, something of the equivalent, "you haven’t seen anything yet."

In this interaction, Jesus calls Philip and Philip turns around and calls or invites Nathaniel. It reminds us again that sometimes, in our travels, we depend on others to help show us the way. Over the past couple of days, we've revisited the call stories of the first disciples from the gospel according to John. John seems to be stressing invitation and response and makes a big deal about those who Jesus calls indirectly that seem to play a big part in the story. 

Andrew called Simeon (called Peter or Cephas) and Jesus declared Peter to be a person of strength. Philip calls Nathaniel and Jesus declares that he is of good character. The call to action that I see today is Jesus/God doing the evaluation. Not us. It's often said that God doesn't call the qualified, God qualifies the called. Our job is to invite into the way of Jesus and let Jesus do the qualifying. When we do, we will see greater things than these.