30 March 2009
Lectionary Reflections for Palm Sunday
“I have heard the whispering of the crowd;
Fear is all around;
They put their heads together against me;
They plot to take my life.”
Psalm 31:13
I am riding on a high from what I felt was a pretty good sermon yesterday (A sermon that I delivered.) Reading the lectionary for this coming Sunday (April 5) I see some more opportunity to elaborate on what I was thinking when preparing for yesterday’s sermon (one of those “I wish I had said that!” moments).
In brief, my sermon highlighted the anxiety so many of us feel surrounding economic issues of late. I have heard all sorts of worries expressed. Some are important and painful concerns. Some (even from my own lips) are too embarrassing to name. Many of us are concerned about choices that others don’t even have available to them.
In the Gospel reading for this past Sunday Jesus declares that a grain must fall to the ground in order to bear fruit. Something has to die before there can be new growth. The things that I am so concerned about losing sometimes must be lost in order for change to come. Something has to die. Sometimes I get to choose what it is. I get choose holding on tightly or letting go for the sake of truly living.
This coming Sunday is Palm/Passion Sunday. In a brief period of time we will go from celebration to the crucifixion. As I read the lessons, the lines quoted above from Psalm 31 caught my attention. “Fear is all around” describes much of the talk I am hearing. The wealthy and the poor express some anxiety about the future. The crowd is whispering, and the noise is deafening. I would even say that some feel that there is a plot against them. What they have will be taken away. Their lives will be taken away.
While the sentiment may have been actual and apparent when written, most of us can only read this passage metaphorically. There is not a plot to put me down. I know that, but I sometimes feel the opposite. I often feel that losing all the stuff by which I define my life will certainly kill me. Somewhere in my heart I know that life isn’t founded on all the things that I put my trust in.
“But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord” the psalmist declares, and the Lord is worthy of our trust. God has a plot to forgive and heal. Christ brings life out of what is lost. That life may well be different than what we have planned, but it is real life that can’t be taken away by economic failure, sin, or even death. An impassioned prayer that reveals our honest feelings will not separate us from God either. So Psalm 31 stands as and apt prayer for these times. May we as the psalmist does in verse 15 proclaim to God our “times are in your hands.”
Fear is all around;
They put their heads together against me;
They plot to take my life.”
Psalm 31:13
I am riding on a high from what I felt was a pretty good sermon yesterday (A sermon that I delivered.) Reading the lectionary for this coming Sunday (April 5) I see some more opportunity to elaborate on what I was thinking when preparing for yesterday’s sermon (one of those “I wish I had said that!” moments).
In brief, my sermon highlighted the anxiety so many of us feel surrounding economic issues of late. I have heard all sorts of worries expressed. Some are important and painful concerns. Some (even from my own lips) are too embarrassing to name. Many of us are concerned about choices that others don’t even have available to them.
In the Gospel reading for this past Sunday Jesus declares that a grain must fall to the ground in order to bear fruit. Something has to die before there can be new growth. The things that I am so concerned about losing sometimes must be lost in order for change to come. Something has to die. Sometimes I get to choose what it is. I get choose holding on tightly or letting go for the sake of truly living.
This coming Sunday is Palm/Passion Sunday. In a brief period of time we will go from celebration to the crucifixion. As I read the lessons, the lines quoted above from Psalm 31 caught my attention. “Fear is all around” describes much of the talk I am hearing. The wealthy and the poor express some anxiety about the future. The crowd is whispering, and the noise is deafening. I would even say that some feel that there is a plot against them. What they have will be taken away. Their lives will be taken away.
While the sentiment may have been actual and apparent when written, most of us can only read this passage metaphorically. There is not a plot to put me down. I know that, but I sometimes feel the opposite. I often feel that losing all the stuff by which I define my life will certainly kill me. Somewhere in my heart I know that life isn’t founded on all the things that I put my trust in.
“But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord” the psalmist declares, and the Lord is worthy of our trust. God has a plot to forgive and heal. Christ brings life out of what is lost. That life may well be different than what we have planned, but it is real life that can’t be taken away by economic failure, sin, or even death. An impassioned prayer that reveals our honest feelings will not separate us from God either. So Psalm 31 stands as and apt prayer for these times. May we as the psalmist does in verse 15 proclaim to God our “times are in your hands.”
19 March 2009
Meeting God
Here in the study, I often encounter people sharing stories of their faith journeys. I love that part of my vocation. We all have a story, and I find that nobody has a story that is any crazier than any other story. (Some are crazier, but we all have our unique pit stops on the way.)
Recently, I listened to the story of someone desparately seeking some connection with God. They were not feeling close to God at all. As I listened I felt that this person was looking for some special revelation. I had to tell them that such experiences don't happen for everyone. I don't think they heard me.
The conversation continued with the lament that every time they came to church they left disappointed. "I don't care about the music, the sermon, or getting to know anyone. Isn't it really all about me and God?" After hearing that question several times, I just had to answer. "No. It isn't all about you and God." Community matters, and it is in community that we often meet God.
Jesus called disciples to follow, and to do his work. The followers of Christ have come together to work and worship for 2000 years. In serving others and praying together we learn what it is to love God. We may even learn what it is to be loved. I don't want to discount personal devotion. We need that as well. That devotion also needs to have a place for expression. I find that it is easiest with a community designated for the purpose of following Christ. "Easy" may not be the best description. Living in community is hard. No relationship is easy.
As to my visitor, I realized that they were meeting God, but didn't notice God's presence. They weren't meeting God in church or in meditation. They told me a couple of stories of reaching out to others. They had given money to a co-worker in need. They had bought groceries for a needy family. They were meeting God in those actions. God was working through them. They had met God in an unexpected place: themselves.
Recently, I listened to the story of someone desparately seeking some connection with God. They were not feeling close to God at all. As I listened I felt that this person was looking for some special revelation. I had to tell them that such experiences don't happen for everyone. I don't think they heard me.
The conversation continued with the lament that every time they came to church they left disappointed. "I don't care about the music, the sermon, or getting to know anyone. Isn't it really all about me and God?" After hearing that question several times, I just had to answer. "No. It isn't all about you and God." Community matters, and it is in community that we often meet God.
Jesus called disciples to follow, and to do his work. The followers of Christ have come together to work and worship for 2000 years. In serving others and praying together we learn what it is to love God. We may even learn what it is to be loved. I don't want to discount personal devotion. We need that as well. That devotion also needs to have a place for expression. I find that it is easiest with a community designated for the purpose of following Christ. "Easy" may not be the best description. Living in community is hard. No relationship is easy.
As to my visitor, I realized that they were meeting God, but didn't notice God's presence. They weren't meeting God in church or in meditation. They told me a couple of stories of reaching out to others. They had given money to a co-worker in need. They had bought groceries for a needy family. They were meeting God in those actions. God was working through them. They had met God in an unexpected place: themselves.
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