At Jesus' Feet?

John 12:1-8, Lent 5c, March 17, 2013

How many of you like this Gospel text? (Take a minute and read it again to yourselves).

 

What do you think Mary is doing with Jesus' feet? Know – feet are often stinky. Particularly likely when feet are only shorn with sandals, trapseing through dirty streets. Traditionally when one came into a Jewish person's house of Jesus' time a bowl of water was in the entrance and that person washed his or her own feet. Or, if the host was relatively wealthy and had slaves, it would fall to the slave to wash the "guest's" feet. But here Mary washes Jesus' feet. All this happens in John's narrative only a short while before Jesus makes his final trip to Jerusalem. There, just a few hours before his false trial and death, Jesus washes his disciples' feet admonishing them to so serve others.

 

Not only does Mary wash Jesus' feet but she also anoints them with very expensive perfume. How expensive was this perfume? John tells us, 300 denarii. A denarii was the equivalent of a laborer's daily wage. So the cost of that which Mary poured over Jesus' feet was 10 months of wages for a laborer. In today's money $ 40,000 – $ 80,000. Wow! Nor was Mary' family wealthy. After all Martha is preparing the meal. So, what the heck is Mary doing with Jesus' feet? What do you think?

 

I suspect that Mary is pouring out her life's love on Jesus in a very intimate way. Firstly, such costly anointing nard may have even represented her dowry. A dowry was what a family saved up for their single daughter(s) to be married so that they could bring something to the marriage indicating that the prospective groom wouldn't have to solely support the woman. Even, if this incredibly expensive nard wasn't Mary's dowry it would represent a massive gift of all that Mary "had" specifically for Jesus.

 

Do we remember who Mary of Bethany is? She is Lazarus' sister. The very same Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead, some 4 days after Lazarus had died. Can you imagine? How deeply would you feel about a person who had raised/rescued your own son or daughter, brother or sister, mother of father, husband or wife from death?

 

Not only that – but Mary may have perceived that Jesus is nearing his end. Sometimes people have incredible intuition or are skilled at listening to what is going on around them. Here I mean, not necessarily end as in termination point – but end as in death itself. How could she then show Jesus her love? How could she help him with what he is facing? It is then that she pours out this expensive ointment, perhaps her dowry, all that she has over his feet, while she is bent down, near the floor, as close to him as she can get. As the perfume that nard flows, its sweet aroma fills the room, bridging whatever distance there may have been between Mary and Jesus.

 

In that day women wore their hair "up" – a sign of respect and decorum. But as the nard runs over Jesus' feet, Mary humbles herself in his presence and begins to wipe her feet with her hair. She totally disregards whatever others may think of her. Her respect, her love, her absolute concern for Jesus will be known by him and by any who care to see.

 

This all happens 6 days before the Passover... Now six days isn't very long. Seven days from now we will intentionally remember Jesus coming into Jerusalem for his last stay there. Then we will hear the people shout hosanna as he rides on. Yes, "Hosanna!" – God save us. Following that over the next week we will observe him being tried, suffering, dying and Hallelujah, being raised from the dead. How can that crowd goes from acclaiming him as One who can help them, to insanely being filled with anger and demanding his crucifixion?

 

It is important for us to see Mary in the midst of all that swirls around us. She sees Jesus for who He is. He is the One who brings new life to her brother and so to herself. So, she bends over and lavishly pours out herself on his feet in gratitude. He has done so much for her!

 

How about us? Do we see Jesus for who He is? Do we know him not only as the source of our lives, not only as the source of all life – but do we see Him as the One who loves us so that He wastes himself on the cross? There we are brought to new life,  being rescued from being so damn self centered – so worried about what we have or don't have, so concerned about what others think, so consumed with how long we might live, while often losing sight of the quality of our lives. Jesus does all this on the cross for us AND FOR THE WORLD.

 

Will we join Mary at Jesus feet?

 

Will we realize that Jesus' feet are no longer only the feet of a Jewish man who lived some 2000 years ago? Now Jesus' feet are the lives of people, especially those most vulnerable: the sick, the dying, the lonely,  those despairing, those convinced that life is simply or only the survival of the fittest. Do we not also realize that Jesus' feet may also be the rivers and the air that in our greed we pollute with little or no thought of what is happening to them and to the creatures and people that depend on them for life because of our action?

 

Will we in our living, in response to the grace of God in Christ like Mary approach Jesus' feet pouring ourselves out with joy and love, without paralyzing concern for what others may think?

 

Don't we know, this Jesus is the One who can, who will, who does bring us and the world to new life? God help us to be an active, willing and joyful part of God's work, for Christ's sake. Even now this "upward" call of Christ is placed upon our lives. Amen.   

             

Party On!

(Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32) Lent 4c, March 10, 2013

 

How many of you like to celebrate, dance, sing, eat and make merry? What a question!

 

I will tell you a story.

 

I knew a woman once. Over time I learned a bit about her life. She was one of 4 daughters. Three of them were doing relatively well - not that they didn't have any struggles. Being human includes struggles. But the 4^th sister lived with major struggles. Her family would hear from her for months at a time. Then in the face of all her struggles - financial, emotional and mental, she had moved to the Lower East Side of Vancouver. She didn't even have a telephone. She would rarely if ever call "home". Her family was filled with anxiety. Over the years they have tried many things. When she was much younger different members of her family would make unannounced visits. For years her parents regularly sent her money and gifts. When she demanded or politely asked for money from her parents even promising that it would be paid back, she never did. Her life continued to spiral downwards. When I last heard her family had not heard from her in a very long time. Can you imagine what it would mean for them if she were to come home, to get whatever help she may need and  allow them to become an important part of her life? What joy would flow into their lives then, particularly the life of her mother and father? Would everyone in the family then rejoice? (Pause)

 

This story pushes us into the middle of Jesus' parable. It's so familiar, almost too familiar. Do you identify with anyone in the parable – or perhaps even more than one?

 

At the parable's outset the younger son can't wait for his father to die. This young man wants everything he can have from his father not eventually but RIGHT NOW! He wants the future without waiting, freedom without responsibility, rights without sacrifice or work. Amazingly, surprisingly, (some would even say foolishly), the father gives the younger son his inheritance. This would have cost the family financially and in terms of shame (reputation).

 

Immediately the younger son leaves home. Wherever he goes, he is the life of the party spending wildly. But eventually unforeseen circumstances arise. This too is part of life: perhaps the price of housing escalates, the job market crashes, or there is a recession, a famine hits. Now the younger son needs a job. He is reduced to feeding pigs. This for any Jewish person would be the lowest of the low. Things get so bad that he is sorely tempted to eat the pig's food. In this state of despair that he "comes to his senses". He remembers his father, the life of his father's house, even for his father's servants. He decides to return home. He rehearses an apology, hoping against hope that his father might agree to employ him. There is no doubt that his father's hired hands have a much better life than his present state.  

 

The older son appears so responsible. He is a diligent worker. However, he isn't close to his father. Yet one day he will be the boss! I have to wonder if this first-born son is close to anyone , if he is capable of ever celebrating, dancing and singing, letting go? Others may respect him, but is he capable of relationship?

 

One night this older son is returning from a long day of work. Nearing the house he hears the loud sound of a HUGE PARTY. It's unusual. Curious, he asks one of his father's employees, "What's going on?" The response, "Your  'lost' brother has returned. Your father has welcomed him back. The best animal on the place has been slaughtered. Everyone has been invited. They are all dancing, singing, eating and drinking!"

 

The older son is …FURIOUS! He refuses to partake in any such party! How could his father throw a party for that other "son", that irresponsible ****** jackass?

 

It is then that the father again comes into view. When the younger son first approached him demanding his inheritance, the father had divided his "living" between his two sons. This was an extremely unusual action for a Jewish man then and there. From that point on the younger son had been lost to the father.  The father longed for him to return home. I expect that the father often glanced to the horizon hoping against hope that his son would return. How he misses his son!

 

Then one day the younger son appears on the horizon. Instantly the father forgets himself. Hiking up his long robes the father begins to run. His eyes burning, he extends his arms to his son. The younger one mumbles some confession. None of it matters. All that matters is that HIS SON, has come home. The father hurriedly makes ready a party for the entire community. Everyone will share the father's joy! His son is home.  

 

But the older son refuses to join the party.  To be sure the father loves both his sons. So he goes outside to plead with the elder. Do we hear his pleading, the ache in his voice? "Son. All that I have is yours. But now your brother who has been lost has come home. He is found. Come let's celebrate together!"…. 

 

In  so many ways the father seems to be a fool! He has given his living, his property, all that he has worked for, to his two sons before he dies. But neither of his sons appreciates their father. Neither of them lives as if they are truly sons. The younger one lives with a "gimmme, gimme, gimme" approach! Even after he returns home seeking "employment" there isn't any guarantee he has changed at all.  

 

Nor does the older son realize who he is. All that the father has is also his. But the older son chooses to see himself as a slave: a very good and faithful slave but a slave nevertheless! The older son is bitter and resentful of his father's graciousness to the younger son who continually abuses his sonship. The older son might even be wondering about the old father's mind. By the parable's end the older son refuses to acknowledge that  he has either a brother or a father. Do you hear him speaking to his father,  "That son of yours"?  It is SO SAD!

 

In these 2 son's lives there is both tragedy and hope. Neither one of them appreciates nor lives within the love that their father has for them. Tragedy!

 

But their  father doesn't give up on them even though it is unclear what will happen in his son's lives.

 

We gather around a symbol that speaks of the heart of our Father and Mother, God. This symbol is the cross of Jesus. God reaches out to all people, to all creation, to love and care for them, to restore and rescue us from our broken relationships: with God, with each other with the rest of creation.

 

We have been and probably are at many different places in our lives. Sometimes we may have attempted to live with the younger son's attitude of  "gimme, gimme, gimme". In such times we may have attempted to manipulate those who love us, including God. How tragic not to realize whose we are!

 

At other times we may have tried to live like the older son feeling pretty darn good about ourselves. Surely we deserve what we have! We work hard. We keep the law, most of the time. But then, do we ever truly experience the  joy of being loved by God, the excitement of seeing others being loved and discovering that God loves them – far beyond anything we could ever deserve or earn? 

 

Look closely! God the Father and Mother of all, is the one who gives His/Her for us. As a result we can now liv in caring relationships with God, with each other and with the rest of creation now and forever. It's not us against them.

 

Such living is not easy. It is anything but possible if left to our own devices. Examine our track record individually and collectively. There has been a whole lot of excluding, a whole lot of fear, hatred, envy, jealousy and strife happening.

 

But God, through Jesus wills to transform us. Just as the parable's father  rejoices when his son returns home, so God rejoices when any of God's children return to God, regardless of their motives. When the lost is found, when one who has been dead  experiences new life, what can any of us do but be rejoice and be glad! Do you hear it – the sound of a party! God help us. Amen.

Trust? OR Trust!

Luke 4:1-13, Lent 1c, February 17, 2013

Is trusting another person easy? Let's engage in discussion. When you first meet someone – how do you ever work towards trust?

 

And after you have known someone for a while, maybe even like them or "love" them, how do you come to trust them? How much will you trust them? Can you tell them anything about yourself – your hopes and dreams, your fears and anxieties? If not is that trust? Are their levels of trust? Would you give that person your debit card and your pin number?

 

Some of the most difficult times in our lives occur when we trust someone – and they betray or misuse our trust. We may not want to get back onto that horse again very soon.

 

But when we are unable to trust others, what happens to our lives, to our ability to love, to heartily laugh, to dance, to sing, to risk? Will all that be gone if we cannot trust? ...

 

I remember many years ago hearing of a young couple. They were both very talented in their respective professions and deeply "in love". They looked for all intents and purposes like they had a promising future. They had a number of friends and were generally respected by others. When they first met they lived in different cities. They promised the Pastor who they had invited to perform their wedding that they would do the requisite premarital work in the year before their wedding. The Pastor later learned later that they had never done that. The Pastor also learned that both of these people now engaged had a set of conditions that they asked the other to meet  before they were married: - there was to be a new large home purchased that had an intercom. He was to have a surgical procedure done to ensure that they wouldn't conceive children. And so it went...

 

Not surprisingly their marriage did not go well. After 1 year with the strong encouragement of some friends they sought counselling. The image the counsellor held up for them just a couple of sessions in was this: they were both functioning like talented singers – but only as soloists, they never seemed to be able to "sing" together. Nor could they actually listen to the other's solo. There wasn't any trust between them, allowing them to risk singing together, to risk making mistakes, to encourage one another through thick and thin, through their individual weaknesses and mistakes. (bp)

 

Can we work at trusting each other today? Dare we agree that sometimes (if not often) it is very difficult to deeply trust someone else? If that's true, then how will we ever trust someone we cannot see?  I am directing us (of course) to the question of trusting God.

 

We can't see God (at least directly) - I mean with our eyes the way that we can see other people. Nor can we touch God, at least not the way we can directly touch someone else, share the peace, have our hands held or our beings embraced. Nor can we prove God. The truth of the matter is that sometimes even when we talk with God or listen to God – we do not receive what we are asking for, or what we may feel we so desperately need. So, how can we trust God??

 

If you think that Jesus himself, the very Son of God, (whom we in the Christian tradition now call the 2^nd person of the Trinity), didn't have any difficulty trusting God, you haven't been reading Scripture. You weren't even paying attention to today's Gospel lesson.

 

On the surface we may feel detached from him. This is Jesus. Sometimes (often?) we may think of Jesus as only divine (or at least primarily divine) not human. But, remember the confession of our Church, of those who have gone before us in faith: Jesus is fully human and fully divine. So there he is, 40 days in the wilderness without food. Even if this isn't a literal 40 days but a very long time, Jesus had to have been hungry. When I'm hungry, I am more vulnerable than usual. It is from his hunger that he is tempted to not trust God. His temptation is for him to try to take things into his own hands so that he wouldn't have to be hungry or empty in any way – so that he wouldn't have to be vulnerable to or hurt by others, so that others would admire him and know that he was and is someone truly special, the VERY SON OF GOD.

 

But to do any of the things that the devil tempts Jesus with, to not trust God – to turn his back on his identity as God's own Son, to not pursue that which God was calling him towards, would be to renege all He is and all He is meant to be not only for himself, but also for the world.

 

Thanks be to God, Jesus though fully human, resists all these temptations.

 

Which returns us full circle to ourselves. We are ones who often do not resist temptations. We not only don't consistently trust God, but too often we actively disobey God, even in some of the "smaller" and "easier" things of life:  things like being gracious in word and deed, things like judging others despite our own sin, our own mistakes and blindness.

 

How can we, how will we trust God? We can gaze upon Jesus, upon what He does, not only in resisting temptation today at the beginning of his ministry, but what he does throughout his life in resisting temptation and consistently obeying God, regardless of the cost.

 

Don't be deceived. There is cost to following Jesus – in thought, word and deed. But the cost is nothing compared to what God does for us every single day, every moment of our lives!

 

At the beginning of this Lenten season be reminded of Luther's understanding of trusting God. "I cannot by my own reason or understanding come to Jesus Christ my Lord, but the Holy Spirit, calls, gathers and enlightens me."

 

May our consistent prayer be, "O God, may you continue to call, gather and enlighten us so that by your grace we may trust you and seek to obey you in thought, word and deed." The temptations to not trust will come but Christ is faithful and merciful.

 

By the grace of God may we follow Jesus into the crowded pathways of life with hope, trust and much love. Amen.