Gutsy Faith

Introduction to reading:

Our journey through the Narrative Lectionary started in September, we read from the Old testament until Christmas, then the Gospel of John, now moving into Acts, then an epistle for a couple of weeks, then Pentecost.

SUMMARY

Acts of the Apostles is written by the same person who wrote the gospel of Luke, so expect A different writing to style to John.

The Acts of the Apostles portrays Jesus' followers from their days with the risen Jesus in Jerusalem to Paul's mission in Rome. Initial chapters focus on the life of the early community of believers in Jerusalem and the work of the Holy Spirit among them. Called, inspired, and even driven by the Holy Spirit, the apostles spread the gospel throughout northern Mediterranean lands. The story of Paul's call to spread the news of Jesus is the central emphasis of the second half of Acts.[i]

Reading: Acts 8: 1-3, 9:1-19 

Proclamation: Gutsy faith[ii]

I am guessing most of you have heard the story of the dramatic experience of Saul. I have been in places where some people felt less “Christian” because they didn’t have a dramatic experience to tell about when they first met Jesus, or when they decided to follow Jesus.

Saul is changed during this experience, but to me the hero in this story is Ananias.

Before we look deeper at this story, a few comments about the passage:

·         The name of Saul/Paul. Saul was a person with Jewish background who was a Roman citizen[iii]. His name Saul, a Jewish name, and Paul, a Roman name. Like being called John or Johann [German] or Giovanni [Italian], same name, different language. Not too long ago in our history, if you were called Johann, you would change your name to John if you migrated to an English speaking country.

·         Saul was persecuting followers of the Way. The term Christians was not yet in use.
“ “The Way” is a powerful metaphor for Christian identity. Instead of being identified by a set of beliefs, these faithful communities were known by their character in the world. Christian faith was a way of life and one that impelled individuals and communities to leave the safe confines of home and church to walk on the road God had set out. “The Way” suggests that faith is a living, active way of life.” [iv]

·         Jesus asked Saul “Saul! Saul! Why are you so cruel to me?”. Persecuting followers of Jesus, was the same as persecuting Jesus himself.

·         Saul was unable to see and did not eat or drink for three days – I wonder if this is a connection or allusion to 3 days that Jonah was in the belly of the whale and three days that Jesus was in the tomb?
Jonah was another person who argued with God, though Ananias did not run away.

·         The book of Acts was written by a Christian for other Christians. This means they knew who Saul was, and the ending of the story.

That is some of the detail, but what of the experience of Saul, and of Ananias.

Firstly Ananias, all we hear of Ananias is in this passage. Basically, he is a follower of Jesus, living in Damascus. He hears a message from the Lord, and after questioning the wisdom of the request, he goes, and does as he had been told. A minor part in the overall story of the Bible. I wonder what would have happened to Saul if Ananias had said no to God.

Ananias is an example of being a disciple, sometimes that means showing mercy to those you really don’t want to show mercy to at all.  He is faithful and trusting of God and does what he is called to do.[v]

In talking the experience of Saul as a conversion experience, I think we miss the bigness of what happened. Yes, Saul was a changed person, he went persecuting the followers of Jesus, to believing in Jesus.

But this experience was more than a change of mind and heart, it was transformation, a call and a commission to spread the good news. The commission did not come in the voice from the blinding light, it wasn’t even to Saul at this point, but to Ananias: I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me.

Often when we talk about a conversion experience, it is something we have done. We have heard about the good news, about the love of God, and we have decided to follow Jesus.

But here, conversion happens to Paul. He isn’t looking for a change of heart or mind.

He isn’t convinced by the logic of the resurrection, or of his need for forgiveness. All we are told is that Ananias prayed for him, as he was instructed, the Saul regained his sight and was baptised.

“What Saul went through is something that God does.  It is not a self-improvement project. God is in the business of choosing people that most of us would never choose like Jacob who was a thief and a crook or even Moses who killed a man. By showing such extreme examples, we show that God is the one that changes us and not us.” [vi]

Change is not about learning to be a better person, but allowing God to make us better persons, persons on a mission.[vii]

Where does this leave us?

Are we like Ananias, being asked to extend grace, mercy, and forgiveness, because God called us to, not because people deserved it?[viii]

Are we being commissioned to spread the Good News:

Good News that reaches to the widest edges of the world seeking the lost?

Good News that turns to the powerful of the world and demands justice, grace, and peace.

Good News comes with a price, a price we must wonder if we are willing to embrace as Jesus’ disciples.[ix]

We won’t all have an experience like that of Saul on the Damascus Road.

We won’t all be asked to face someone we fear will kill us as Ananias was.

But we are all asked to listen for the call of God in our lives; to follow in the way of Jesus – offering grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

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[i] http://www.enterthebible.org/newtestament.aspx?rid=12

[ii] The title comes from a commentary on the Annunciation http://www.rickmorley.com/archives/1218?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gutsy-faith-greater-than-the-angels-a-reflection-on-the-annunciation

[iii] https://comesundaydoc.org/2018/04/11/sometimes-by-step-easter-3/

[iv] http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2835

[v] https://comesundaydoc.org/2018/04/11/sometimes-by-step-easter-3/

[vi] https://comesundaydoc.org/2018/04/11/sometimes-by-step-easter-3/

[vii] https://comesundaydoc.org/2018/04/11/sometimes-by-step-easter-3/

[viii] http://rev-o-lution.org/2016/04/01/worship-resources-for-april-10-2016-third-sunday-of-easter/

[ix] http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2835

Resurrection - Peace and Spirit

Thomas Introduction

I looked at all the places we read about Thomas in the Scriptures.

He is there in Matthew, Mark and Luke when they list the disciples, and again in the book of Acts he is in the list of those who with Jesus at the ascension.

Only John tells us anymore than that about Thomas. 

Back at the beginning of Lent we heard the story of Lazarus being buried, and Jesus raising him from death. But before Jesus and the disciples travel back to Bethany, there is a conversation:

 Then he [Jesus] said to his disciples, “Now we will go back to Judea.”

 “Teacher,” they said, “the people there want to stone you to death! Why do you want to go back?” John 11:7-8

Thomas, whose nickname was “Twin,” said to the other disciples, “Come on. Let’s go, so we can die with him.” John 11: 16

Thomas appears on John again in chapter 14

Jesus said to his disciples,” ……. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. You know the way to where I am going.”

Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t even know where you are going! How can we know the way?”

And then Thomas is mentioned again by John in both readings this morning.

Readings: John 20:19- 31 and John 21:1-14 

Proclamation of the Word

Last week we heard of Jesus speaking Mary’s name, and then Mary recognising who was with her in the garden.

This passage we heard this morning, starts that evening. The evening of the first resurrection Sunday, the disciples inside, the doors locked, because they feared what might happen to them. Jesus has been killed, and the tomb is empty. We don’t know what the disciples think of Mary’s report of having seen Jesus alive.

This passage is usually thought of as being about ‘doubting Thomas’, which I think is somewhat unfair. The other disciples had seen the risen crucified Jesus. Thomas hadn't. I wonder why Thomas wasn't with the disciples on the evening of the first resurrection day, maybe he needed some time on his own, or maybe he was the one who went to get food??

There is nothing wrong with having questions about God and faith and life. I mean none of us has all the answers about why some people are born into poverty, why some people live with pain, why God created mosquitoes … and I am sure there are many other questions.

But this passage is about much more than seeing, believing or questioning.

When Jesus appeared to them, he said to them, "Peace be with you."

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

And a week later: Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."

The disciples, obviously scared, not sure what to do next, and Jesus comes and says: ‘Peace be with you”

Not

•       Why don’t you understand what I told you, or

•       here is a blueprint for running a church or

•       this is the doctrinal statement you must sign to be part of the church or

•       here is the definitive list of groups to have in each congregation.

Of all the things Jesus could have said to the disciples,
he said: Peace be with you. Receive the Holy Spirit.

I have been meeting with a Spiritual Director for a bit over six months now, and in our last meeting she asked me to think about what I thought God might write in a letter to me.

My initial response is that God would tell me to pray more, read my Bible more, study more, exercise, eat better, have more energy …. , as if God is a self-help guru.
but in reading these passages I see Jesus offer peace, breathes the Holy Spirit into the disciples and later cooks them fresh fish for breakfast.

In John’s gospel we have an invitational Jesus. Early in the Gospel, in calling the disciples, he says: Come and See.

Here on a beach: Come and eat!

He invites Thomas to touch his wounds.

When have you been met by the risen Jesus?

What word does he speak to you?

[silence]

I know that my Redeemer lives - Tom Gordon Fire and Bread p 103-5

Who are you looking for?

Our long journey through the Easter story, Hosannas and foot washing, arrest and trial, humiliation and death, ends for the disciples with Jesus body being placed in a tomb.

Mary went to the tomb on Sunday morning, John doesn’t tell us why.

She finds the tomb empty and goes to tell the others. Notice in her conversation with the two disciples, ‘angels’ and ‘the gardener’, Mary shows no indication that she thinks Jesus has been raised from death, she says: They have taken the Lord from the tomb.

Mary thinks the body of Jesus has been stolen.

What if it had been?

Would it matter if there was an empty tomb, but no encounters with the risen Jesus?

What would Christianity look like without resurrection? 

I suspect it would have finished with a group of frightened disciples in the upper room, hiding from the authorities.

The religious and political leaders would have been right, you kill the leader, the whole thing falls down like a house of cards.

Resurrection means more than an empty tomb about 2000 years ago.

We can hear this story, and all the Easter story, and hear it as a historical drama.

Does this story have anything to say to us today?

Does this event have any impact on our living?

We live in a world where there is still death and despair, oppression and slavery.
We live in a world where there is still violence and betrayal.
There is still unrest in the Middle East, and it looks like we are walking into another Cold War.
We live in a world where millions of people are displaced or seeking refuge.

Closer to home, about one woman each week dies at the hands of their partner, or ex-partner;
There is still a gap between the health and education outcomes for our indigenous brothers and sisters and other Australians.

We live in a world where money speaks
We live in a world where violence and retaliation are seen as the answer We live in a world where children die from lack of food

What does resurrection have to say in this world,
in this world of hunger and greed and violence?

…….

Who are you looking for?

This is the question Jesus asked the guards as they came into the garden to arrest him: Who are you looking for?

It is the same question Jesus asks Mary at the tomb: Who are you looking for?

Mary hopes this man has some information for her, but when he says her name: Mary, life changed.

Mary knows it is Jesus.

She was looking for the body of Jesus, and now she has been found by the risen Lord.

Can you remember a time when you realised you were known, and loved?

Maybe Jesus looking like a gardener, is a link between this new creation with the first creation?[i]

Resurrection offers us new life. Not the same life over again, but a new way of living. A way of living defined by love, sacrifice, humility, liberation and forgiveness.

We don’t have to justify our existence or prove ourselves. God loves us.

………….

Maybe the answer to hunger and greed and violence, is relationship.

Relationship with each other and relationship with Jesus.

From my experience the answer to the question: Who are you looking for?
Is often ourselves, our true self, known and loved by God;  
not the persona we hide behind, so we don’t get hurt by the power plays of the world.

Who are you looking for?

Is it your true self? Come and be found in the love and grace of Jesus.

Who are you looking for?

Come to the one who knows you and calls you by name
the one who forgives you and offers you peace
the one who takes away your sin
the one who thinks you are an amazing person,
the one who heals the pain of broken relationships and betrayal
the one who offers you new life.

Come to the one who seeks you.

And then live out the resurrection life

By loving and forgiving
encouraging
seeking justice and reconciliation
living out the new life you are offered in Christ
so that others might also have life and food and peace.

This Easter I encourage you to think about your experience of resurrection, the ways in which Jesus has and is transforming your life.

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[i] Working Preacher podcast, https://www.workingpreacher.org/narrative_podcast.aspx?podcast_id=1001

Ecumenical Easter Sunrise

Today is the day, as Christians, we want to celebrate,
to sing and shout hallelujah.

But…

I think we get ahead of ourselves.

If you follow the last week through Mark’s gospel, we have heard of Jesus riding into Jerusalem to shouts of Hosanna!
cleansing the Temple;
Jesus being anointed by an unnamed woman;
the Last Supper;
prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane;
betrayal, arrest, crucifixion, death and burial.

and then the section we heard this morning:

Three women went to the tomb, to do what was necessary.
The body was buried quickly, and now they body needs to be prepared properly,

The women are carrying the spices with them and wondering how they will roll away the stone.

These women weren’t setting out to change the world that Sunday morning, my guess is they would have been disheartened. Jesus, who they thought was going to change the world is now dead and buried:
what was going to happen now?
what was the past few years all about?

They are doing what they can, going to the tomb to prepare the body, and hoping that somehow the stone can be moved.

I wonder this morning:
What are the worries we carry with us?
What stops us from living out our call from God?

In the midst of fear, in the midst of despair, at times we just carry on as best we can, putting one foot in front of the other, doing what has to be done without any enthusiasm or energy. 
Worried about the ‘what ifs’;
worried that we won’t be able to make it through the day;
worried that something else will complicate life even further. 
some days, and weeks, are like that.

I am guessing that is how the women felt.
They were friends of Jesus; executed as a criminal.
their hopes for a new world dashed.

The worry about how to move the stone, however, wasn’t enough to deter them from their task. They continued; together.

Then when they see the stone has been moved, and the tomb is empty, they are utterly amazed. To their despair is added disbelief and astonishment. After their encounter they flee from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and too frightened to say anything.

The women were faithful in going to attend to the body,
but in their shock they run away speechless.

Mark finishes the story in an unlikely place, but it allows us to write the next part of the story with our lives. We get to live the resurrection. In the midst of pain, despair, fear, or terror; we can look for the signs of God’s presence, the signs of resurrection and live into the hope we have as Christians. 

“Christianity is the only world religion that confesses a God who suffers. It is not all that popular an idea, even among Christians. We prefer a God who prevents suffering, only that is not the God we have got. What the cross teaches us is that God’s power is not the power to force human choices and end human pain. It is, instead, the power to pick up the shattered pieces and make something holy out of them – not from a distance but right close up.

…. That is the power of a suffering God, not to prevent pain but to redeem it, by going through it with us.”

[From Barbara Taylor Brown, God in Pain]

This is a story of hope in the midst of fear;
this is a story of transformation in the midst of tyranny.
In my lifetime I have seen the Berlin Wall fall and the end of Apartheid.  Both things considered impossible. People who dreamed of a new way of living and didn’t let hate or fear get in the way.  People who practised resurrection living, in the everyday. People who trusted God would act. 

  

Today is a day of celebration,
celebration of new life
celebration of hope
celebration of the power of love.

Not because there is no more suffering or pain,
not because there is no more evil
but because our God has taken the evil and the pain and the suffering of the world and lived through it and died with it and redeemed it.

We have a God who knows suffering,
who knows rejection,
who loved the world, the whole world and each individual, enough to live in our pain, to bring new life and new hope.

And we get to join in with resurrection life;
trusting that God will change the world;
participating with God in that change;
looking for where God is active and getting involved.
That may mean taking some risks,
facing our fears,
finding life in new places.

The tomb was found empty,
from death comes new life.

Where are you finding new life?

Palm Sunday Journey

three readings and 3 short reflections

Reading 1: John 11:55-12:3, 9-11 

Reflection 1

Will he turn up?

The gossip in Jerusalem was about Jesus, he had raised Lazarus from death, and now the political and religious leaders are after them both. Will he come to the Temple in Jerusalem for Passover, or give it a miss this year?

But how did we get here. In John’s gospel, Jesus travels widely, but keeps returning to Jerusalem. He is there for major festivals. Jesus has travelled from Galilee, to Cana, to Jerusalem, to Samaria and Cana again and Jerusalem again and back to the Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem and Bethany and Jerusalem… lots of travelling, but always returns to Jerusalem and the Temple.

He travels and meets with people from various parts of Israel. The edges, the centre, various parts in between, and even outside of Israel, when he met the woman at the well in Samaria.

The political and religious leaders are concerned about this traveling teacher, because he is drawing large crowds, and there is talk of him being the son of God, but to top it all off, Lazarus came back from the dead and Jesus had something to do with it, and now everyone wants to see Lazarus, and Jesus.

Jesus goes to a place of welcome and respite, and visits Lazarus and Mary and Martha. In difficult times we need familiar faces and trusted friends.

Which parts of the journey of Jesus do you most connect with: fishing, healing, food, being in the temple?

In what ways has your faith deepened?

[reflection]

Reading 2: John 12:12-17

Reflection 2

The Gospel of John is the only one which mentions palm branches. The other gospels have cloaks or tree branches, but John is the only one to mention Palms.

Palms were a symbol of victory, not just for Jewish people, but for Greeks and Romans as well. Waving the palm branches was a sign of victory.

Waving palm branches was like waving your country’s flag in a parade.[i]

The people of Israel were looking for a Saviour.

They shout Hosanna! Hosanna!  

an Aramaic word in a sea of Greek. The gospels were originally written in Greek, but here an Aramaic word is used.
A word with two meanings – ‘praise God’ and ‘save us’

The crowd made up of followers, and disciples, and the curious are shouting
Hosanna!
Praise God!
Hosanna!
Save Us!
Hosanna!

Jesus enters Jerusalem to a welcome fit for a conquering hero. 
Except he isn’t.

Not the kind they were hoping for anyway.

The people wanted a saviour that would free them from oppression and injustice. They were waiting for a saviour who would make Israel independent, free to worship God.

Jesus does bring freedom.
Jesus does allow us to worship God freely.
But not by overthrowing the worldly powers.
Jesus is not going to fight the Romans, or anyone else, by the rules of this world.
Jesus came to change the game.  

To change the game from oppression and power and fear,
to freedom and grace and love.

And the way he will change the game is by not submitting to the politics of fear, but by love, love that doesn’t give up.

Reading 3: John 12: 17-26 

Reflection 3

 Are we on a journey with Jesus, where love is supreme?
Are we on a journey with Jesus, dominated by hope?

 Remember Lent week one, we renewed the covenant:

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing, put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you or laid aside for you;
exalted for you or brought low for you;
let me be full, let me be empty;
let me have all things, let me have nothing;
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.[ii]

We have walked through the final week of the life of Jesus, then today backtracking to Palm Sunday.

People came to listen to Jesus, to see Jesus, some were disciples, giving up everything to be with Jesus, others were curious to see what all the fuss was about, and some followed while things were interesting, and then disappeared at the first sign of trouble.  

Poem:  This is Love

 ~ written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship. http://www.faithandworship.com/

Are we on a journey with Jesus, where love is supreme?

Are we on a journey with Jesus, dominated by hope?

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[i] Working Preacher Podcast

[ii] Uniting in Worship

the cost of love

Goodness is stronger than evil;
Love is stronger than hate;
Light is stronger than darkness;
Life is stronger than death;
Victory is ours through Him who loves us.

Desmond Tutu

http://godspacelight.com/2012/04/26/goodness-is-stronger-than-evil-by-desmond-tutu/

John has taken us on a journey:

·         from Jesus washing the feet of the disciples praying for the disciples the arrest of Jesus – noting that in John’s gospel, Judas doesn’t have to point Jesus out, Jesus says: here I am.

·         Jesus and the High Priest, Annas and Caiaphas

·         Peter denying that he is a follower of Jesus

·         Jesus and Pilate – we heard the first part of their encounter last week.

Then this passage which sees Jesus condemned.

This reading is gross, firstly Jesus is flogged, and Pilate was planning to let him go free.

You could flog someone before you put them on the cross. [i]

Or, you could flog someone, and then say, OK, you can go now, you are innocent. What ???

Whichever, it seems unnecessarily harsh and cruel.

But then the Romans were known for their cruelty and harshness.

Here we have Pilate trying to work out what to do with Jesus,
     this man who won’t answer his questions,
     this man who has enraged the religious leaders,
     this man that Pilate does not find guilty, at first.

But then, Pilate is spooked by the crowd. Once they question his loyalty to Caesar, he must crucify Jesus, otherwise he will be seen as not being loyal to the Emperor.

Here we see Jesus,
     Jesus willing to join with human victims
     Jesus willing to join with suffering humanity
     Jesus willing to live into his calling of incarnational love.

The Gospel of John rarely talks directly about the kingdom of heaven, but in this reading, we see the difference between the kingdom of Jesus and the kingdom of the world.

The Roman Empire, as with worldly kingdoms, uses violence, fear and threats to maintain their position and power.

And then Jesus comes along, with a different kind of kingdom, a kingdom that is built on love and grace and mercy. Not earned but lavished on us by Jesus who is the embodiment of love.

“Servants of Caesar are known by their violence. Jesus says everyone will know his servants by their love.” [ii]

John 19, we see the upside-down world clashing with the upside-down kingdom. The true Messiah and King, by his very existence, threatens those in power who crave only self-preservation and maintaining that power. Both the chief priests and Pilate want to stay in office and stay alive. So, Jesus stands condemned.^[iii]

This reading raises a lot of questions in my mind.

        Where is my primary loyalty?

What do I value?

        What compromises do I make?

When do I let others choose how I live?

What is the truth of my life?

All through the Gospel of John, encounters with Jesus discloses the truth about whoever he is encountering.[iv]

And it is the same with us. When we recognise and accept that Jesus is part of our lives, we change, and the way we see things changes. The way we see ourselves changes.

A quote from C.S. Lewis: I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.^[v]

One of the images I shared on Facebook this week asks, how we treat other people. Do we choose to think about a person in a forgiving or accusatory way?

One thing I am noticing about the people I meet in this place on a Friday is the variety of stories, but also the many stories of struggle. I meet with single parents, children with special needs, families who rely on food banks, families where work is intermittent and unreliable.

And for these people, this is a place where they are not judged. A place where they and their children are welcomed, offered food and drink, a chance to sit and chat, to engage with their children, to engage with questions of life and faith, to be taken seriously, to have their lives treated as precious.

And this all happens because we have decided as a congregation that we will be people of the kingdom of love and grace, not of threats and fear.

This passage is gross, it is terrible, the cruelty, the lies, the mocking.

But it is a story that tells us that we do not have to conform to the ways of the world
we do not need to side with power, or might,
there is another kingdom, another set of values we can live by:
   the values of Jesus, of love and forgiveness, and generosity.

This reading raises a lot of questions in my mind.

        Where is my primary loyalty?

What do I value?

        What compromises do I make?

When do I let others choose how I live?

What is the truth of my life?

What question does this reading raise for you?

[reflection time]

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross,

that all people might come within the reach of your saving embrace.

Clothe us in your Spirit, that we,

stretching out our hands in loving service for others,

may bring those who do not know you to an awareness and love of you;

who with the Father and the Holy Spirit live and reign,

One God forever! Amen!

~ C.H.Brent (1862-1929 AD)

Hymn/song TiS 341 My song is love unknown verses 1, 2, 4, 7

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[i] Working preacher podcast https://www.workingpreacher.org/narrative_podcast.aspx?podcast_id=992

[ii]  https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3408

[iii]  https://spiritandtruthpublishing.com/blog/gods-upside-down-kingdom-march-18-2018/

[iv] Working preacher podcast https://www.workingpreacher.org/narrative_podcast.aspx?podcast_id=992

[v] https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/c_s_lewis_162523