Go into the world, enjoying your “belovedness” so much that it causes people to stop, stare, and wonder what is happening.
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A new life. A new pattern. A new routine of calling the who called and continues to call today.
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The good ‘ole days are what they used to be.
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Fleming’s thoughts and comments are just as relevant today as they were four years ago. In it, she talks about what she deems the “current preaching crisis,” the desire to appear prophetic, and the call to stand under the judgment of God.
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We do not know what guise Jesus will appear in, and so we find ourselves between two Advents – knowing Christ as come and that Christ promises to come again
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A prayer for Election Day 2020
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In less than a week the man who entered the city peacefully, with no show military force, will tell his disciples to put away their swords as he was taken from a garden, arrested and then killed. The quickness with which we move into Holy Week, beginning with this procession, is a shock we experience year after year.
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Shadows created by the moonlight bouncing off the white pine trees were creepy for sure but by the end of each summer, I embraced the shadows knowing not only was there nothing to be afraid but also that the shadows revealed parts of the forest I would miss during the day.
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We have not acted and now we find ourselves beginning to retreat back into the ordinary time of the world. We assume the ordinariness of the summer life of the church gives way to kick-offs in the fall but Advent begins today! The Hope and Promise of the Incarnation push the ordinary of the world to the side as the Hope and Promise of Christ’s justice and mercy take centerstage.
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The shadow of the cross blinds us to the peace of heaven spilling over into creation. Domination through ruthlessness - Pax Roma - is no match for the justice and mercy - Pax Christi - of the Kingdom of God.
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Like the magi, we approach the manger not knowing all of the answers. We approach the manger not having all of the junk in our lives we continue to carry with us not quite figured out. We approach the light of the manger still struggling to over come the curse of sin that we fall back into no matter how many times we think we have overcome it.
The preparation John is calling for is a change in orientation, not pointing to guilt or shame, but instead facing in a new direction. A direction that allows the refiner’s fire to burn away the damage sin has done to creation and then live in the hopefully light of the coming Christ.
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When we are baptized, named and claimed as beloved by our Creator, we proclaim Christ as our Savior and promise to serve Him as Lord. That was a bold profession to make 2000 years ago and it continues to be so today. It is a declaration that Christ is Lord and everything else is secondary. Our allegiance lies with Christ, because of the promises made at our baptism which means the truth for our lives looks different from those who do not make the same proclamation.
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April 8, 2018 - Mount Olivet UMC
Year B, Easter 2
John 20:19-31
The ending of The Gospel of Mark does not fit the new life, new hope feeling we enjoy each year as we use Easter to signal the return of new life in spring. On a day when we expect to feel the overwhelming presence of the risen Christ, the ending of Mark’s Gospel is entirely underwhelming.
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