What are we up to?

(This is one reflection in a daily series for Holy Week on my blog.)

Tomorrow I would like to reflect on the final meal that Jesus shares with His disciples prior to His death. We speak of this as when Jesus “instituted” the Lord’s Supper - an odd way to speak of this event I think.

In any case, for now I simply want to point out an aside that happens during the meal that really has nothing at all to do with the purpose of the story. If this detail were not there, the story would still be the same. It jumps off the page, though, as saying something about the disciples’ understanding of the heart of Jesus.

In John 13 we have the “Last Supper” taking place. Jesus has just told them that one of them would betray Him, and they are each claiming personal innocence. Jesus then looks at Judas and says, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” Of course no one but Judas knows what Jesus it talking about. But the disciples have a few guesses as to what is going on.

They either think Judas, their treasurer, was supposed to buy something for the meal or give some money to the poor. The former guess is an obvious one based on immediate contextual clues (they were eating a meal at the time!). The latter is an assumption based upon nothing else but the character of Jesus. Naturally, the assume, Jesus is making sure the poor are being taken care of.

John Perkins, in his book With Justice For All, wrote, “Our response to the poor is a crucial test of our faithfulness to the gospel.” (88)

Ouch.

If we are followers of Jesus, if we are continually being formed into His image, if we are deliberately seeking to be less ourselves and more Him, then should not others look on us with the assumption that we are caring for the poor?

When people see us hurriedly going about our responsibilities, I wonder what they assume we are up to. When they look in from the outside on our conversations and activities, I wonder what they think we are trying to accomplish.

I would like to think that we are so intimately involved in God’s redemptive mission in the world that their best guess would be the similar to the disciples’ assumption about Jesus. I fear this may not be the case - not about me at least.

Jesus expressed absolute solidarity with the poor (Matt 25). Jesus defined His whole reason for walking around on this earth as bringing good news to the poor (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus said that the Kingdom of God belongs to the poor (Luke 6:20). The prophet Isaiah said that if we want our lights to shine and God to be with us, then we must spend ourselves on behalf of the poor (Isaiah 58). The wise teacher told us that as soon as our ears are closed to the poor, God’s are closed to us (Proverbs 21:13).

“O Christ of the poor and the yearning, kindle in my heart a flame of love for my neighbor, for my foe, for my friend, for my kindred all. From the humblest thing that lives to the Name that is highest of all, kindle in my heart within a flame of love.” (Celtic Prayers from Iona)

Shawn

Love Undivided

Bev Stroud offers this insightful word from Mother Teresa.  It is an inscription in a Bible given to Princess Diana by Mother Teresa:

Idealism Lost

Submitted by Ralph McCluggage:


Readings:  Isaiah 49:1-6;  John 13:21-38

Scripture:
Jesus said to [Judas], "What you are going to do, do quickly.". . .
Jesus answered [Peter],. . .
"Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times"
(John 13,27,38)

Reflection:  They were both part of Jeus' group of twelve.
   One was an idealist.   He found the charismatic Jesus a compelling leader and his message one of extraordinary hope and vision.  Establishing the kingdom of God in the here and now was enormously appealing to such a young, enthusiastic zealot.  But as the months stretched into years, ye lost his idealism--or he grew impatient with the lack of practical progress Jesus was making.  Shouldn't Jesus be using his considerable gifts to take on the established order and entrenched leadership to create the new kingdom he kept talking about?  Prayers and piety are one thing, but this was the time for action.  Over time, hjis unrealized hopes brought him disappointment, sadness, frustration, anger and bitterness.
   Judas the idealist had become Judas the cynic.
   The other was the headstrong leader of the group.  Whatever the issue, he charged ahead.  he would ask the hard questions and was willing to say what was on everyone's mind.  He often served as Jesus' foil.  He was the only one of the Twelve to say it:  "You are the Messiah" (Matt. 16:16).  But then Jesus the Wonder-Worker, the Rabbi, the Beloved of God, became Jesus the Accused, the Condemned, the Crucified.
   Peter's hope was trumped by fear,=.  At the sound of the crowing cock, Peter had to face the sad reality that his beliefs did not match his words.
   The stories of Judas and Peter are stories of enthusiasm athat fade over time, hope that deteriorates in the wake of constant disappointment, idealism that shatters in the face of hard reality.  Both men are unable to understand that the journey to Easter is by the way of the cross.
   Their experience in the Holy Week gospel is not unlike ours.  To experience the new life of the Easter Christ demands our passing over with him from the death of self to the re-creating of the heart in the compassion of God.

Meditation:  What beliefs or principles have you lost faith in or have you become cynical about?

Prayer:  Gracious God, do not let us lose hope in the possibilities of your compassion and mercy in our own time and place.  May your grace sustain our hope in  your life conquering death, your spirit of reconciliation healing estrangement, your justice reigning over all peoples and nations.


from Daily Reflections for Lent by Jay Cormier

Exalted

In reading Philippians 2 last week, I came to a realization about what it means to be exalted, or lifted up.  In John, Jesus speaks of how he will be "lifted up" just as the serpent was lifted up by Moses in the desert.  This lifting up has a duel meaning.  It refers to both the crucifixion he will suffer as a result of being lifted up by men, but it also refers to the fact that it is through this radical act of self-sacrifice that he will be exalted among the nations.  This is a lifting up accomplished by God, for God alone can turn the symbol of painful death that is the cross into a symbol of victory over death.  In reading Philippians 2, I realized that when it says that Jesus will be highly exalted by God, exalted is a slightly different form of the same word used in John 2.  What a difference there is between being exalted by man and being exalted by God!  Oh that I could find the strength to empty myself as Christ was willing to empty Himself, that the spirit of God might be made more manifest in my life.  As we look to the resurrection of Jesus, may we all find strength not in ourselves, but in the emptying of ourselves.  May we all find fulfillment not in our exaltation by men, but in the finding of our true identity and purpose in Christ.  As I was reading the prayer for Monday in the congregational prayer guide, I was struck by the power of this simple prayer in light of Philippians 2.  It is my hope that it will encourage you as much as it has encouraged me:  

O Lord, let me not from this day forward desire health or life, except to spend them for You, with You, and in You.  You alone know what is good for me; do therefore, what seems best to you.  Give to me, or take from me; conform my will to Yours; and grant that, with humble and perfect submission, and in holy confidence, I may receive the orders of Your eternal will; and may equally adore all that comes to me from You, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

--
Justin L. Simmons

Weaned Spirituality

"...to the weaned child his mother is his comfort though she has denied him comfort. It is a blessed mark of growth our of spiritual infancy when we forgo the joys which once appeared to be essential, and can find our solace in Him who denies them to us."

The above is Eugene Peterson is quoting Charles Spurgeon in "Long Obedience in the Same Direction." He is commenting on Psalm 131 and talking about the need for God to wean us off of those comforts and blessings that we at one point depended on for our spiritual health. God does this so we can move toward spiritual maturity. The metaphor held in parallel is the John 15 discussion on pruning.

If we are going to grow up God is going to have to wean us off infantile comforts and the securities of the weak. It was once appropriate for Julian to drink from a bottle before he grew teeth. It is highly inappropriate for Lucas, now 4, to drink out of a bottle.

Do we want to grow and use our teeth or not?

Do we want to be stretched, grown, matured? Do we want to go through the painful, frustrating process of being weaned? Sadly we God begin to prune us we too often think the cutting is the result of God's absence or God's punishment for our wrongdoing.

The mother does not wean the child to punish it. The gardner does not prune to mutilate an unruly rose bush. These are done that growth may occur.

That is why Lent is so important. We fast. We pray. We repent. We wean ourselves off those things we have for too long depended on. We put down the milk, pick up a fork, and begin to sink our teeth into something of substance.

So, what are you depending on for peace, security, comfort, identity, etc. that is no longer appropriate for a Christian of your age? In what ways is God cutting you back so that your roots can grow deeper and great fruit may be produced in you and through you?

Shawn

Resurrection

THAT'S EASTER - DEATH TO LIFE short film from Full Measure Films on Vimeo.

If a picture is worth a thousand words...

A recent safe driving video, Embrace Life, beautifully illustrates the power that images have in our imaginations and lives.

How do you envision what God does for us through the death and resurrection of Christ?