The Bible is full of images about sheep and shepherds. These were common elements of life in 1st century Palestine. Jesus uses the metaphor continually to talk about our relationship to God. In the lessons for this week the image is used in a variety of ways.
Revelations 7:15-17
they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat;17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
John 10:22-30
22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 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." 25 Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; 26 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. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. 30 The Father and I are one."
I wonder if we are good sheep. Do we follow, listen, and graze well? Do we recognize the voice of our shepherd? Do we want to go to the "springs of the water of life?"
I am not sure that I want to be a sheep. Being a sheep means letting go, trusting, and vulnerability. It also means accepting the shepherd's leadership. All of this means that I have to let go of my agenda, priorities and control. There is freedom in all of this but there is also fear.
Being a sheep means being in relationship. How else are we supposed to recognize the shepherd's voice? How else can we truly depend on the one that will make our our thirst to go away, our hunger to cease and will shelter us in the "shadow of God's wings?" Relationship takes time, work, attention, and intentionality. Relationship also takes communication and trust.
Being a sheep means being in community. We graze together, drink together and get lost together. We follow together and at times hunger, thirst and suffer together. This is hard work. But as we all know any communal life takes work and it is through the work together, the work of the people of God, that we become more like Christ each day.
God wants to have a love affair with us. I have said this before but will continue to say it because I need the reminder. God loves us, wants to guide us and be in relationship with us. God wants us to be like infants who recognize their parents voice and trust that all will be well.
I pray that you encounter the resurrected savior. I pray that you fall in love with the one who gave us life.
Peace, Juan+
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Conversion
For some the word stirs images of manipulation and emotional response and for others assurance of commitment and new beginning. I for one am uncomfortable with the word although not with its connotation. See, conversion is not about manipulation, not about pure emotional response. Conversion is about a response to God, a constant, daily, response to God's grace that transforms us. Conversion means to "change direction" and "a change of character." When we respond to God's grace there is no question that the process of change begins in us.
The reading from Acts (9:1-20) and from the Gospel of John (21:1-19) are both about conversion. In Acts we have the story of Saul who persecuted Christians and encounters the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. This is the most cited example of conversion and unfortunately has been used in many instances as THE example. Yet it is only one of many in the New Testament. What is important to note is that Saul (now Paul) encounters and responds to the risen Christ and is mentored in the faith by a man named Ananias. In John, Jesus joins the disciples for breakfast at the sea side. They also encounter the risen savior and have to respond and have to be transformed. The transformation leads them to let go of the familiar and follow Jesus once more.
We are all called by God. Not all of us are called to the same thing. Not all of us are called to conversion in the same ways. But we are called. The calling to conversion is a calling to new life, to new priorities and to new ways of being. The familiar is left behind and we embark on a journey into "divine life." The journey is at times scary and obscure. Yet we trust and know that we are following the risen Savior empowered by God's Spirit.
God is calling you? Are you going to answer?
I look forward to our conversation this Sunday.
Peace, Juan+
The reading from Acts (9:1-20) and from the Gospel of John (21:1-19) are both about conversion. In Acts we have the story of Saul who persecuted Christians and encounters the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. This is the most cited example of conversion and unfortunately has been used in many instances as THE example. Yet it is only one of many in the New Testament. What is important to note is that Saul (now Paul) encounters and responds to the risen Christ and is mentored in the faith by a man named Ananias. In John, Jesus joins the disciples for breakfast at the sea side. They also encounter the risen savior and have to respond and have to be transformed. The transformation leads them to let go of the familiar and follow Jesus once more.
We are all called by God. Not all of us are called to the same thing. Not all of us are called to conversion in the same ways. But we are called. The calling to conversion is a calling to new life, to new priorities and to new ways of being. The familiar is left behind and we embark on a journey into "divine life." The journey is at times scary and obscure. Yet we trust and know that we are following the risen Savior empowered by God's Spirit.
God is calling you? Are you going to answer?
I look forward to our conversation this Sunday.
Peace, Juan+
Friday, April 13, 2007
Forgiveness
This season of the Christian year is called Easter or the Great Fifty days. It begins with the Feast of the Resurrection and it ends with the Day of Pentecost. The excitement of the resurrection story continues through this season as we hear about what it means to serve a risen Lord.
This week's readings contain familiar passages. Acts 5:27-32 contains the testimony of followers of Jesus before the Jewish council. Psalm 150 is a song of praise to God. Revelation 1:4-8 takes us to a vision of heaven were Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end.
John 20:19-31 is the most familiar of all. People refer to this passage as the one about "doubting Thomas." Although the latter part of the passage has Jesus' response to Thomas I want to concentrate on the the earlier part of the passage, especially v.22:
"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any they are retained."
Jesus' whole ministry was about forgiveness. In it we are restored to others and to God. Forgiveness allows all of us to start fresh and let go. Yet forgiveness is not easy nor should it be treated flippantly. In a recent conversation with this SS class we spoke about the importance of penance in forgiveness. When we sin, we break a covenant with God and with other people.
This break of relationship is not easy to "fix." In fact one of the important lessons of Holy week is the extent that God is willing to go in order to restore us into relationship. This restoration took deat, a painful death. Part of being forgiven is acknowledging the wrongdoing and then seeking to make it right.
Forgiveness is difficult. It is interesting to note that before Jesus empowers his Disciples to be a forgiving people he gives them the Holy Spirit. It is because of the Spirit that we can forgive for the Spirit gives us the strength to forgive others and makes us aware when we need forgiveness.
The season of Easter is about proclaiming the risen Lord and his message. The fact that our sins are forgiven is the most important proclamation that we can make.
May you experience God's forgiveness this season. Most of all may you carry the message of forgiveness to all those that God sends our way.
Peace, Juan+
This week's readings contain familiar passages. Acts 5:27-32 contains the testimony of followers of Jesus before the Jewish council. Psalm 150 is a song of praise to God. Revelation 1:4-8 takes us to a vision of heaven were Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end.
John 20:19-31 is the most familiar of all. People refer to this passage as the one about "doubting Thomas." Although the latter part of the passage has Jesus' response to Thomas I want to concentrate on the the earlier part of the passage, especially v.22:
"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any they are retained."
Jesus' whole ministry was about forgiveness. In it we are restored to others and to God. Forgiveness allows all of us to start fresh and let go. Yet forgiveness is not easy nor should it be treated flippantly. In a recent conversation with this SS class we spoke about the importance of penance in forgiveness. When we sin, we break a covenant with God and with other people.
This break of relationship is not easy to "fix." In fact one of the important lessons of Holy week is the extent that God is willing to go in order to restore us into relationship. This restoration took deat, a painful death. Part of being forgiven is acknowledging the wrongdoing and then seeking to make it right.
Forgiveness is difficult. It is interesting to note that before Jesus empowers his Disciples to be a forgiving people he gives them the Holy Spirit. It is because of the Spirit that we can forgive for the Spirit gives us the strength to forgive others and makes us aware when we need forgiveness.
The season of Easter is about proclaiming the risen Lord and his message. The fact that our sins are forgiven is the most important proclamation that we can make.
May you experience God's forgiveness this season. Most of all may you carry the message of forgiveness to all those that God sends our way.
Peace, Juan+
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Tridiuum
Three days. The holiest days in the Christian calendar. They begin on Holy Thursday evening and conclude with the Easter Vigil. These services, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil are parts of a whole. The work of salvation was not just about Jesus' death but began with his life and continues to his resurrection. Death and Life are held in tension as we walk through these days with Jesus. This is not about morbid fascination with spilled blood and gory death. Is about the extreme measures that God is willing to take in order to free us from the "slavery to sin and death." (Word and Table I, UMH 13) The acts of the Triduum are the acts of salvation not just for humanity but for all of creation.
My prayer is that all of you will join us for this commemoration. On Holy Thursday we re-member the meal of love, forgiveness and service that we call Holy Communion, on Good Friday we will gather at noon to re-member the passion of our Lord, Easter morning we gather at 8:15 and/or 10:30 am to celebrate the victory of Christ over sin and death.
Lenten has been a long but wonderful journey. As we prepare to end this season the question is: Is all going to be back to normal? or Are you going to allow the risen Christ to transform you forever?
Look forward to see you on Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Peace, Juan+
My prayer is that all of you will join us for this commemoration. On Holy Thursday we re-member the meal of love, forgiveness and service that we call Holy Communion, on Good Friday we will gather at noon to re-member the passion of our Lord, Easter morning we gather at 8:15 and/or 10:30 am to celebrate the victory of Christ over sin and death.
Lenten has been a long but wonderful journey. As we prepare to end this season the question is: Is all going to be back to normal? or Are you going to allow the risen Christ to transform you forever?
Look forward to see you on Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Peace, Juan+
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