The Importance of the Wilderness Journey

Immediately following his baptism-- where Jesus received the names "Son," "Beloved," and "God's Pleasure"-- the Holy Spirit led him into the wilderness, where Jesus dwelt for forty days.
It was a time of clarification. The names he was given are wonderful, but what would they mean?In other words, what kind of person would Jesus really be?
In the wilderness he was emptied; he had nothing that he was used to relying on, other than God's loving power. After forty days without food Jesus was "famished" ( a great word meaning "really, really hungry!"--ask people who did the Thirty Hour Famine what it was like after only 24 hours). The story is asking us to consider what the different ways are that we are nourished in our lives: with food, obviously; but what about with love; knowledge; life experience; friendship; encouragement; community; purpose; direction; the promises of God? Isn't each of those things critical to our well-being and growth? What else can you think of?
In the story, a character called "the devil" embodies the ways that Jesus will be tempted to deny who he truly is. First of all, Jesus is challenged to prove himself. "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." Have you ever been challenged to "prove yourself" in some way? Jesus refuses: When we know who we are, we don't need to prove ourselves to other people; we just need to be who God made us to be! On top of that, why would Jesus waste time trying to turn stone into bread? You and I couldn't turn stone into bread any more than he did, because God never intended us to. We can, however, be the people of integrity that Jesus shows us how to be. We don't just live for ourselves. When Jesus quotes the Book of Deuteronomy (8:3), "Man does not live by bread alone," it is a way of remembering that God sustained the people of Israel by providing manna in the wilderness.
In the second temptation, the Tempter offers to give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and authority over them, if Jesus will only worship him. But the world doesn't belong to anyone but God! Such authority is not the tempter's to give. God never meant us to control the world and have authority over it. When we worship God, we live humbly, empowered by the Spirit to love as Jesus has loved. Other people are our brothers and sisters, not objects to dominate so we can get what we want. And God gives the world's resources so that all God's children may have enough to meet their need (but not our greed!). We learn ways of dedicating and sharing blessings so that all may have daily bread. We serve only God.
In the last temptation, Jesus is challenged to demonstrate his invulnerability. But God made us to be vulnerable; it is in our blessed but fragile humanity that we love the best and look out for the common good.
The one picture above represents the kinds of things that might tempt us in our lives: power, riches, desire, applause. But they are false blessings. When we make our lives about those things, we lose sight of the blessings that are most precious and God-given. When we join Jesus in his integrity, we realize the great blessings of love,self-giving, knowledge, divine purpose, direction, community, friendship, encouragement, interdependence, wholeness, among others.
Jesus helps us to realize that we are God's children; that we are beloved; and that communion with us is God's delight. And we don't need to prove any of those things. Be-ing is blessing enough. When we are "emptied" of some of life's illusions, we get to celebrate the best of what is God-given.

What Can You Tell Me About Heaven?

Last week I asked class members to tell me everything I need to know about heaven. There were many contributions:

1) Some folks talked about heaven as a place
--"The place where God and Jesus are"
--"place of exquisite beauty"
--"good place"
--"where your soul goes when you die"
--"the home of righteousness"
--"up"
2) It was suggested that heaven is a place of healing
--"Where people who are in pain go"
--"peace and harmony"
3) Images of heaven were offered
--"in the clouds"
--"angels with halos"
--"Golden gateways and angels"
-- "light, feathery, calm"
-- "everything we can imagine"
--"wars in heaven?"
4) Heaven as a Relationship
--"When you develop a stronger relationship with God"
--"eternal life"
5) "There will be a day when heaven and earth combine"
6) "You don't have to be dead to go to heaven"
7) "have to be accepted"
Some people said they had heard descriptions of "near death" experiences, where people reported seeing a bright light.
Some questions were included for inquiry: How old will we be in heaven? Who is there? Are pets included? Will we have new bodies? Spirits? Is it real?

Some of these images and concepts have roots in the Bible. Others are popular images. It will be interesting for us to explore what the stories of Jesus reveal!

Entering the Deeper Waters

The beautiful artwork above is an image of Jacopo Bassano's The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, completed in 1545. It recalls the gospel scene from Luke 5:1-11 which we discussed in our class last week.
Very early in his ministry, Jesus is being followed by a large crowd of people eager to hear the word of God. While he is standing on the lakeshore, the people press in on him so much that he climbs into one of the fishing boats there by the shore, which is empty because the fishermen are cleaning their nets after finishing work. This particular boat belongs to Simon. Jesus beckons Simon and asks him maneuver the boat away from the shore; Jesus then sits down and teaches the crowd from the boat. When he is finished he turns again to Simon, and directs him to "put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." The fisherman protests that they have been fishing all night and caught nothing; nevertheless, he will do as Jesus asks. Simon and his fishing partner (likely his brother Andrew) catch so many fish that their nets begin to break! They signal to their companions in the other boat, James and John, to join them in the deeper waters and help to receive the catch. Bassano's painting captures an overwhelmed Simon (now referred to as "Simon Peter ") kneeling before Jesus exclaiming, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" Jesus however, does not leave, instead directing Simon not be afraid, for from now on he will be "catching people." When the fishermen come to shore, they "left everything and followed him."
In Luke's gospel, this is the calling of Jesus' first disciples. Notice that at the beginning, he is preaching the word to everyone who wants to listen. But then he calls Simon in a very particular way, asking him to serve and to take risks on behalf of the good news.
(1) Every week we hear the Word of God preached. But what comes next? How does God's word speak specifically to you? And how do you respond as a disciple?
(2) Jesus calls Simon to venture into the "deep water." How will you and I explore the "deeper waters" of faith? What kinds of questions do you have that will require deeper study and thought? In what ways do you think Jesus is calling you to risk new experiences in serving him?
(3) Simon Peter confesses his sin, but that in no way disqualifies him in Jesus' eyes. Jesus will now teach him how to "catch people." What do you think Jesus means by that? How does he take talents we already have and show us how to use them in news ways, so that we can glorify God? Is this different from "work?"
At this point in the Confirmation Journey, we are entering deeper waters of growth and discipleship. With the twelve of you, this is a great blessing!

Growing With Jesus

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor."

--Luke 2:52

(This is a reflection from the 2007-08 Confirmation Class)

Tucked at the end of the second chapter of Luke's gospel, extending from the narrative of Jesus' birth, is the one account we have of Jesus growing from a child into an adult. He is twelve years old and accompanies his family on the yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. When the family returns home toward Nazareth in the north, Jesus stays in Jerusalem. Realizing his absence, his frantic parents return to the holy city and--after searching three days--they discover Jesus sitting among the teachers, "listening and asking them questions." "And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers." The anxious Mary and Joseph overflow with angry emotion (and a great deal of relief). The young Jesus responds that it shouldn't have been such a puzzle: Don't they know that he needs to be in this place of spiritual nurture ? That he is a part of God's family? His parents don't understand what he means at first, but Mary later treasures the depth of the journey and the life of her son that is unfolding.
The Jesus of Luke 2:41-52 is roughly Confirmation-age. I asked the members of the 2008 Class: What are some of ways you want to grow with Jesus? Their responses were thoughtful and sensitive: "to grow in kindness and generosity, like Jesus;" "learning to do the right thing, especially when its hard to do;" maturing in their ability to be "helpful and cooperative" with other people; to "become wiser," which will require ongoing learning.
One said that she wanted to follow Jesus the best way that she could, to learn to be like him as much as possible, but that it is hard sometimes because he is "perfect" and we are not. Giving voice to this joy and struggle of discipleship was an important contribution for her to make and provided that class with a wonderful opportunity.
We acknowledged that "perfection," in our understanding, usually means "flawless" or "unattainable." But I was able to tell the young people that the Greek word translated "perfect" in the New Testament is teleois; it means "whole" or "complete," rather than flawless. The life of Jesus offers the promise of "wholeness" and the experience of "completion," even when we have experienced brokenness in our lives.. Jesus is "fully human," and we are called to the fulfillment of our God-given humanity, in all its wonder and difficulty. The light of Jesus can illuminate wonders in our lives that we have been unaware of or have paid little attention to, and our ongoing growth throughout life becomes the promise of God full-filled!
One of the class members said that flawlessness is "not a good thing," because we "learn from our mistakes." Wow! No mistakes could equal no learning. There's some insight! Flawlessness might even be boring. (That brought an "Amen!" from the pastor). When you think of our lives as an artistic endeavor (we are God's artwork, and in a creative partnership with God) sometimes the things you didn't plan are the most interesting.
In that regard, another member of the class volunteered that she didn't see Jesus as "perfect." A "perfect" person, she thought, would be happy all of the time and would please others. The Jesus of the gospels doesn't fit the bill in either case. We even noted his troubled payer in the garden of Gethsemane. But we were able to contrast worldly notions of "perfection" with the wholeness of Jesus' life and the movement of God's ever-creative Spirit. The Jesus of the gospels does not seek to please people, but is authentic and available; he not only opens up his own humanity vulnerably to share, but he eagerly makes space to receive the humanity fo others. He is fully himself to the end, even death on the cross. Jesus lives the life of agape love completely, and makes it available to us.
I marvel and rejoice on these Wednesday evenings when the teacher becomes the student, and vice-versa. The young folks ask great questions, and move me with their understanding and inspiration. But why not? Don't I realize that they need to be in this place of spiritual nurture?
And that as they grow with Jesus, in that wisdom that God intends, they are gracious enough to invite me along. I treasure that.

The Poetry of Jesus' Coming

FIRST COMING

He did not wait till the world was ready
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine. He did not wait

until hearts were pure. In joy he came
to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh,
the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait until the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

---Madeleine L'Engle

How does L'Engle's poem give expression to the meaning of Christmas? Are there verses that hold particular meaning for you?

Her poem has several direct references to the poetry of John 1:1-18 that we read in class. Which ones do you see?

We said that Jesus shows us who God is. What does this poem say about our God?

New Life Comes into the World

The Annunciation

Last week we read stories from Luke 1 and Matthew 1, of the angel Gabriel 's visit to the startled Mary, and of the angelic visit to the frightened Joseph in a dream . Here is some artwork depicting those events. At the top left is Leonardo DaVinci's portrayal of the visit to Mary. Below is a representation of the angel speaking to the fitfully sleeping Joseph in a dream, telling him not to fear.
In our discussion of the stories, we got in touch with the overwhelming nature of the events: Mary's initial response of "How can this be?"; Joseph's inclination to leave quietly. In each case, the power of God's promises fill them; they are inspired and encouraged. As scary as this new chapter of life seems, they trust God and draw close to one another. And the world is blessed!
What are your thoughts about the artwork? If you were to put yourself in Mary or Joseph's place, how would you imagine the scene to look and feel? If you were producing an artistic representation, what would your art look like? Is there something about the experience (a feeling, a choice) that you would like to communicate? Please be descriptive.