Lent is a season of remembrance. We began with Ash Wednesday where we remembered our humanity and acknowledged our need for God. Now we continue on this Baptismal journey. We now need to move from our remembrance and confession to growth in grace. The scriptures for this season help us move along this journey.
The most striking of scriptures has to be the temptation of Jesus. Just reading it makes us uncomfortable, we feel the tension in the encounter. Maybe we remember the many times that we have been tempted ourselves. I for one remember the times that I was not as successful as Jesus was. In remembrance we are able to confess where we have failed and move into grace.
In Deuteronomy 26:1-11 a phrase strikes me "[t]hen you together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house." (26:11, NRSV)
We need to remember that God's blessing and gift of forgiveness is for all people. This is not immigration policy as we know it. On this Lenten season let us reflect upon how our socio-political positions reflect our understanding of the Gospel. At times we have to be reminded and confess that we have not been kind to the stranger.
In the midst of turbulence and celebration God is there. Yet we have to beware of amnesia and always remember where we have been and the promise of where we are going.
Anamnesis is the Greek word for remembrance. For the ancient Greeks and Hebrews it meant more than just intellectual recall, it meant a bringing back into being, a re-membering of events that help us be who we are. This is the word used at the Eucharist where we re-member the sacrifice of grace that God gave us through Jesus. The Sacraments are the greatest antidotes for amnesia. Every time we eat and drink, every time we bring people to the baptismal waters we remember, confess, and are transformed.
Thanks be to God!
Peace, Juan+
Friday, February 23, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Ashes
I remember my first Ash Wednesday. The songs, scriptures, and actions reminded me that I was human. I needed that reminder. I had failed, was failing, and will fail again. In spite of all of the failure God still cared.
Coming forward prayerfully I wondered how it would feel. Then those fateful words came "remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." These were strong words for a young twenty something. The dark crusty cross on my forehead could not be ignored. I could feel it hours later. Even after I washed it off before going to bed I could still feel it. It was a constant reminder that I was human, mortal flawed. Yet I was forgiven, blessed and made new.
This was the beginning of a Lenten journey that still continues. For Lent is about Baptism about preparation for taking on the story of faith. The baptized come to remember and renew their covenant. We come to be reminded of the one who has claimed us. So I still come, I can't wait!
The last year has been full of trials and failures. God has been there the whole time. Because of God's presence and blessing it has been a year full of opportunity, joy and grace. Now I have an opportunity to start once more.
My tool belt is ready. Prayer, reflection, and service are some of the practices that will prepare me to celebrate Easter. What does your tool belt hold? Are you ready for the journey?
I invite you to come tomorrow. Eat a light meal at 5:00 in the Fellowship Hall and then enter the sacred space as if entering a 360 degree mirror. Do you see what I see? Do you see what God sees?
A crusty cross awaits to continually change us and free us. Bread and wine await to be the medicine for our soul.
See you tomorrow @ 6:00 pm, come ready for the journey!
Peace, Juan +
Coming forward prayerfully I wondered how it would feel. Then those fateful words came "remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." These were strong words for a young twenty something. The dark crusty cross on my forehead could not be ignored. I could feel it hours later. Even after I washed it off before going to bed I could still feel it. It was a constant reminder that I was human, mortal flawed. Yet I was forgiven, blessed and made new.
This was the beginning of a Lenten journey that still continues. For Lent is about Baptism about preparation for taking on the story of faith. The baptized come to remember and renew their covenant. We come to be reminded of the one who has claimed us. So I still come, I can't wait!
The last year has been full of trials and failures. God has been there the whole time. Because of God's presence and blessing it has been a year full of opportunity, joy and grace. Now I have an opportunity to start once more.
My tool belt is ready. Prayer, reflection, and service are some of the practices that will prepare me to celebrate Easter. What does your tool belt hold? Are you ready for the journey?
I invite you to come tomorrow. Eat a light meal at 5:00 in the Fellowship Hall and then enter the sacred space as if entering a 360 degree mirror. Do you see what I see? Do you see what God sees?
A crusty cross awaits to continually change us and free us. Bread and wine await to be the medicine for our soul.
See you tomorrow @ 6:00 pm, come ready for the journey!
Peace, Juan +
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
While He was praying . . .
What does prayer do? I have asked and have been asked this question many times. At first it is hard to answer. All kinds of theological and practical answers come to mind. Praying is about God and it is about us. Somehow the two come together in an interesting, yet effective way.
Prayer takes different forms. We pray at church, work , school and home. We pray kneeling, standing, sitting, driving, etc. We pray in the quietness and in the busyness. We pray and that's good!
What if something really happened when we prayed? What if people appeared to give us advice or God's voice spoke audibly when we needed it most? What if we were transformed in a really obvious way because of our prayer life?
"Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying , appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white." (Luke 9:28-29, NRSV)
Prayer changes us. We give over our burdens and those of others. Prayer is a conversation that strengthens our relationship with the divine. Having this conversation allows us to know God better and through that we are able to deepen our relationship.
In order to have a conversation we need to listen. "Then from the cloud came a voice that said, 'This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!'" (Luke 9:35, NRSV) Imagine not giving God time to speak. Yet we do that all of the time. We talk and talk and talk . . .
As we get ready for Lent let us prepare to listen. Make time to have a conversation with God daily. Reflect on scripture and sit in silence for 10-20 minutes. You will be amazed at how much God wants to say. You will be blessed by the word God has to share.
Peace, Juan
P.S. If you want to know more about listening to God's voice write me a note I would love to hear your story.
Prayer takes different forms. We pray at church, work , school and home. We pray kneeling, standing, sitting, driving, etc. We pray in the quietness and in the busyness. We pray and that's good!
What if something really happened when we prayed? What if people appeared to give us advice or God's voice spoke audibly when we needed it most? What if we were transformed in a really obvious way because of our prayer life?
"Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying , appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white." (Luke 9:28-29, NRSV)
Prayer changes us. We give over our burdens and those of others. Prayer is a conversation that strengthens our relationship with the divine. Having this conversation allows us to know God better and through that we are able to deepen our relationship.
In order to have a conversation we need to listen. "Then from the cloud came a voice that said, 'This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!'" (Luke 9:35, NRSV) Imagine not giving God time to speak. Yet we do that all of the time. We talk and talk and talk . . .
As we get ready for Lent let us prepare to listen. Make time to have a conversation with God daily. Reflect on scripture and sit in silence for 10-20 minutes. You will be amazed at how much God wants to say. You will be blessed by the word God has to share.
Peace, Juan
P.S. If you want to know more about listening to God's voice write me a note I would love to hear your story.
Friday, February 02, 2007
All Night Long!
Have you ever stayed up all night? I have many times in my life. When younger I would stay up with friends talking. Now as an adult there are times that the worries of life keep me up. Night times seems like a wonderful time for thinking and reflection.
In the scripture for Sunday (Luke 5:1-11) the disciples had stayed up all night. Their reason was not that they could not but that they would not. They stayed up working, trying to finally get a catch. Without one they would not be able to make a living.
When Jesus told them to go back out and to pull down their nets they were hesitant. "We've done that already. In fact we have spent all night attempting to get a catch and were not successful." Yet, they went out and miraculously they caught more fish than they handle.
We do the same thing. Time after time we try to do things our way and it fails. We think we have it under control. Failure comes time after time. Jesus comes and asks us again. This time is different for Jesus is asking us to trust. If we do we, like the disciples, will be surprised! The catch will be more than we can handle. It is then that we call others on the same journey for help and support. We need them and they need us as we go about being "fishers of people."
Thanks be to God!
Peace,
Juan
In the scripture for Sunday (Luke 5:1-11) the disciples had stayed up all night. Their reason was not that they could not but that they would not. They stayed up working, trying to finally get a catch. Without one they would not be able to make a living.
When Jesus told them to go back out and to pull down their nets they were hesitant. "We've done that already. In fact we have spent all night attempting to get a catch and were not successful." Yet, they went out and miraculously they caught more fish than they handle.
We do the same thing. Time after time we try to do things our way and it fails. We think we have it under control. Failure comes time after time. Jesus comes and asks us again. This time is different for Jesus is asking us to trust. If we do we, like the disciples, will be surprised! The catch will be more than we can handle. It is then that we call others on the same journey for help and support. We need them and they need us as we go about being "fishers of people."
Thanks be to God!
Peace,
Juan
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