Lectionary Notebook. "The Fractured Body of Christ." Homily for Matthew 18:15-20

Homily for September 4, 2011, Year A. Matthew 18:15-20. 

(See Text below)

Today's Lectionary Gospel reading calls for honesty, humility and confession. It reads as a deeply troubling text which breaks open a festering wound within the body of Christ, a wound not easily addressed or healed. 

Here we are confronted by the words of Jesus, who is deeply concerned with how we treat each other and how conflict is to be resolved within the church.

This text also confronts us with the truth that following Jesus, as we have said over and over again, is supremely something to be done, not just something to be thought or studied.

Who Knows Where the Time Goes?

I spent last week with my mon and my sister at my dad's hospital bedside. He had serious surgery. As we were there in intensive care this Nina Simone song kept coming to me. I thought I would share it with you:

(the song begins about 2:10 into the video)


WHO KNOWS WHERE THE TIME GOES
(1966) Sandy Denny

Across the evening sky, all the birds are leaving
But how can they know it's time for them to go?
Before the winter fire, I will still be dreaming
I have no thought of time

For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

Sad, deserted shore, your fickle friends are leaving
Ah, but then you know it's time for them to go
But I will still be here, I have no thought of leaving
I do not count the time

For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

And I am not alone while my love is near me
I know it will be so until it's time to go
So come the storms of winter and then the birds in spring again
I have no fear of time

For who knows how my love grows?
And who knows where the time goes? 

Michele Bachmann Jokes, is GOD listening?

First, a disclaimer. This is not a political blog; it never has been. To be honest, I see very little worth my time within the political quagmire of either side.

So, I ask you to believe me when I say this is not a post against Michele Bachmann. 

Having said that, apparently, if the Washington Post can be trusted, Michele Bachmann said that God sent the recent hurricane and earthquake to get Washington's attention, but they are not listening. Someone on her team said this was a joke and I think we should take her at her word.

Enough said? Perhaps not...

The Hush of Grace

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God, while we look forward to that wonderful event when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. (Titus 2:11-13 NLT)

What a dense teaching here presented by St. Paul, there are so many moving parts to this text.

WE could say that GOD's grace has been revealed in the Christ, who instructs us by his words and works to turn from the self-life and to turn toward GOD in devotion, and to turn toward ourselves in circumspection (to be mindful of the consequences).

WE could say that the life we now live in the flesh we are to live with one eye poised upon Jesus of Nazareth and the other poised upon the living, risen Christ.

Or, we could say that what the Christ began when his grace appeared -- the bringing of salvation to all people, he will complete when he is re-revealed at the end, when all things will be settled and the creation renewed in the image of GOD.

The idea that GOD has not washed his hands of this planet still seems shocking to me. So dastardly are we -- so diabolical in our willingness to destroy the planet and in our unusual ability to allow fellow human beings to suffer and die (often at our own hands) -- it causes me to wonder why he hasn't tossed us out with the rubbish and moved on to a more profitable project.

The only answer seems to be grace. GOD's grace seems to be what ties him to us, what holds his heart and affectionate actions toward us.

Grace revealed in the appearing of the Son displays the power of the incarnational love of GOD. Grace revealed in the face of Golgotha's violence displays the power of his redemptive love. But, the promise of his future revealing, this is a grace that endures our hate and brutality age upon age, this is the power of long-suffering love.

There is a hush here; I am silenced before this grace. 


"Even so, come LORD Jesus." 

Lectionary Notebook. "Counting the Cost." Homily for Matthew 16:21-27

Homily for August 28, 2011, Year A. Matthew 16:21-27. 

(See Text below)

The Gospel reading for today continues the transition began in last week's lectionary reading. We are now in the movement of Jesus, both in emphasis and location, from his time of ministry -- the proclamation of the Good News through his words and his works, to the time of his passion -- the accomplishment of the Good News through his death and resurrection.

Before us today is a seminal text. Because it is the first of his passion announcements (Matthew records three), and because it is the hinge moment (Matthew Hare) of Jesus' ministry, we can say that as far as his disciples are concerned, this is the turning point in their relationship with Jesus. It is at this point when the intentions of his ministry come to the surface most clearly, which confronts them (and us) with a decision.

Here, they face Isaiah's suffering servant motif, which Jesus has chosen to guide his world-view as Messiah. Here they are invited to join him in his good news view that involves the very real experience of suffering and death prior to resurrection and victory. Here they must decide to let loose of their own Messiah understanding in favor of his, or not.

In fact, a good way into the text is to notice the two invitations Jesus puts before his disciples, and by extension, to us:

1. An Invitation to UNDERSTAND what GOD is really doing in the Christ -- this involves a new way of thinking 
2. An Invitation to FOLLOW the Christ, actions which involve loss and gain -- this involves a new way of living 

Before I begin, I should warn you that this is a brutal text, one that, if we are honest with ourselves, will leave all of us cut and bleeding on the side of the road. She or he who has ears to hear, let them hear. 

Heart Openness To The Presence of GOD's Spirit -- taking action in a fallen world

Cultivating a heart-openness to the presence of the ever-present Spirit of GOD might seem an easy task, but it is not. 


Time and again I am wooed by the Spirit to draw closer to the fire found in the Almighty. Yet more often than not I resist this pull, knowing that proximity to GOD means a different choice and a different practiced lifestyle.


Now, it would be important at this point to note that I am not here referring to some sort of cultural taboo taught by a middle class morality -- "We don't smoke and we don't chew and we don't go with girls who do." 


This is decidedly not what I have in mind.


Instead, I am thinking of the great world challenges that I face as part of the global community, much of it environmental (go here and here, for example), which I easily overlook because I take a view of the world that I am powerless to help.


Am I powerless? Not really. I can act. I can pray, and I can put feet to my prayers. I can give a damn. I can do something!


Think for a moment of the current acute and devastating famine in the Horn of Africa. What can I do? I can pray that the fall rains come. I can give for famine relief.


Is this enough? Of course not. But, believe me, if it comes down to all or nothing, then it will be nothing. I must choose to live beyone the all or nothing. I must choose to daily, even moment by moment, respond to the promptings of GOD's Spirit.  Then, and only then, can I in some sense call myself a follower of the Christ.

Forgiveness In The Real World

Under the Word,
Video Devotion

Matthew 15:21-28
(running time 8:03)

Lectionary Notebook. Homily for MATTHEW 16:13-20

Homily for August 21, 2011, Year A
(See TEXT below -- MATTHEW 16:13-20)

The Gospel Lectionary reading for today brings to a fine point what it means to follow Jesus. This text is the hinge moment in the ministry of Jesus according to St. Matthew’s rendering. After this Jesus heads toward Jerusalem and the inevitable conclusion in his clash with the rulers and powers of the age. 

But, what of his disciples? What of his work just birthed and still so weak? Jesus now begins to solidify in the minds (if not yet in the practice) of his followers who he is and what they will do after his Jerusalem journey ends his life. 

Faith & Doubt Within the Human Condition

It is important to remember that nowhere are we promised that the brokenness of this world -- the pain and crushing blows of the human condition -- will not break believers as well. We are, all of us, subject to the cruelty and ugliness found in this life (as well as its beauty and truth). 


In the face of life's body-blows it is easy to doubt GOD's care (Jesus did), or even the Almighty's existence. This is OK, even normal, and presumably GOD can take. 

Doubt is the natural flip-side of faith and both often reside in the same heart (they do in mine). Faith is a risk: "I might be wrong." The important question becomes therefore, is faith worth the risk?


Ultimately, faith is a matter of choice. In the face of the suffering all around me, and especially my own, will I believe in a reality behind the movement of the universe, or will I chose unbelief (which, remember is not the same thing as doubt)?

Peter Rollins & Rob Bell talk (not about hell)

Interesting post/conversation between Peter Rollins & Rob Bell


Changing the Structure from Peter Rollins on Vimeo.



for Rollins' website go here

Lectionary Notebook. Homily for MATTHEW 15:21-28

Homily for August 14, 2011, Year A

(See TEXT below --  Matthew 15:21-28)

The Gospel Lectionary reading for today brings to us the plight of the Canaanite woman, a misfit to Jesus and his crowd if there ever was one, and yet somehow, strangely, she and the Master connect. 

Bourbon Street, Remix

Treme Band, N.O. Sachmo Festival, 2011

Vacation is over. We spent the final two days of it tramping about New Orleans. We enjoyed a wonderful experience, immersing ourselves in a world unlike our own. Not many places offer such eateries, such spontaneity in street musicians and such wonderful music. (if you ever go there be sure to visit Sung Harbor) To be sure, these things can be found elsewhere, but not in such quantity and not with such exuberance.

As part of our adventure we walked Bourbon Street. I had been there before, pre-Katrina, and there was a difference. Before, there seemed to be a energetic naughtiness to the scene -- all the barker "come-on's" and the painted ladies in various stages of undress. This time, there was a washed-away feeling, a sad futility to it all. I saw several young women in club doorways with weary looking smiles. It reminded me of the text, "the way of the transgressor is hard." I know it certainly has been for me.

Vacation 2011, Friday

Started the day off right -- beignets & chickory coffee @ the Cafe Du Monde; then off to the French Market and shopping, shopping shopping. We lunched @ the Market Cafe --Red beans & rice, sweet. Then back to hotel for a quick nap and shower before tonights festival, and more food.

Vacation 2011, Thursday, Midnight

Just got in for the evening. Saw Devell Crawford play old time N.O. jazz on the piano. What a great show, which ended a great day.

Vacation 2011, Thursday Evening

Great fun @ dinner -- jazz and pork tenderloin @ Arnaud's. The trumpeter played with Sachmo himself. Cool, huh? Then we caught a fun brass street band @ Canal & Burbon -- they stopped traffic. Very sweet stuff. (I'll include the sound file when I get to my Mac & home.) We're not done; headed now to Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro with more music in the offing. Then tomorrow evening it's the Louis Armstrong birthday celebration & jazz festival.

Vacation 2011, Thursday afternoon

Checked into the Hotel Monteleone. Great digs. Just ate gumbo ya ya @ Mr. B's Bistro. Amazing. Now we're ready to explore!

Vacation 2011, Thursday

On to New Orleans. Here is a gift:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?pv=pjvgv2bCvzQ&sns=em

Vacation 2011, Wednesday

Seeing the blue, endless gulf as it bleeds into the blue, endless sky I am reminded of my finiteness; how quickly I am here and gone. Relentless time, like the tide, burrows deeper through the heart leaving so much nostalgia in it's wake. Enjoy the day, brother.

"Time it was, and what a time...
It was...
A time of innocence,
A time of confidences
Long ago, it must be
I have a photograph,
Preserve your memories
There all that's left you..."

Vacation 2011

Sitting @ the beach; resting with my family. I realize how much I have missed for the sake of the work (or with the excuse of work). I am both sad and grateful.