Out of all the Gospels St. John colors a unique picture of Jesus.
This is a Jesus that liberates!
At the wedding of Cana Jesus doesn’t just turn a few stone water pots into wine – Jesus turns six into wine – so we may know the abundance God gives.
Jesus at the well offers living water – so we may never thirst again.
Jesus was sent by God as bread from heaven – so we may never hunger.
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead – so may know God is not limited by our mortality.
Jesus is the light of the world – so we may never walk in darkness.
All of these are unique to the Gospel of John.
Truth! Freedom!
The harsh reality is that we are slaves to sin. And what is Jesus response?
John 8: 31-36 “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free... So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed!”
As John colors a unique picture of a Jesus who liberates… I can’t help but go back to the days I used to color.
I think of a little child with their crayons and coloring book. They are given a variety of colors and are taught to color in the lines.
A little child maybe given tons of colors, but they pick one. The coloring book may have a picture on it, but they see the whole page not the lines. They put gusto into their coloring and it goes all over the page. Then the child walks up to you and say’s, "Here is my picture!" With the biggest brightest eyes, "I colored this just for you."
How do you respond? I mean you could look at the child and say, "Ummm… didn’t you notice that there are lines to help you color this horse. And didn’t you realize that you have more than just red… there is brown (which is actually the color of the horse) and blue for the sky, green for the grass…"
NO! We don’t say that because we don’t look at the details of the picture we look at the love put into the picture.
We take the picture out of their hands with a huge smile and meaningfully say, "That is beautiful!"
We are coloring a picture for God with our lives. This picture we draw is often outside of the lines. We are good at making a mess. We might have used to much red. We didn’t even realize it was a horse that we were supposed to draw. But with big bright eyes we open our hands to God and say here I am. Here is my life and I drew this for you.
And God says, "That is beautiful!" As God gives us the ultimate grace.
Sure God will occationally show us a new color of life that we may have not noticed or used before, but we pick up the new crayon and try again.
You are loved. You are God’s. And the picture you’re drawing daily maybe imperfect, but you have been made free!
Free from sin, through the divine activity centered in Christ’s death and brought into right relationship with God!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Liturgy
Rituals give us a way to experience the Holy. We often think of the church as a place rich with ritual. Most Lutheran services start with confession and forgiveness, a cross is processed forward, and the candles are lit. We have communion every Sunday, the elements are uncovered during offering and we end our service saying, “Thanks be to God.” We come to worship knowing we will experience these rituals and be fed to live as disciples in the world.
If we step foot in a new church we will notice a difference in rituals. Maybe they don’t process a cross before the service or have communion every Sunday. Often it is in these small ways that we experience a disruption in our worship. We may think, “Wait we don’t do it that way.” However, no matter what Christian church you worship with there are two things that are steadfast, communion and baptism. Sure we may do those rituals differently – some immerse, some sprinkle water – but the truth is we baptize.
The Eucharist and Baptism are liturgy at the core. The creeds, theories, text and prayers were formed to help worshipers understand baptism, not baptism being created to help understand the creeds and prayers. It was the community’s regular act of Eucharist and Baptism (liturgy) that brought about a theology to help understand and reflect on these encounters with the living God.
In the Lutheran tradition it is foundational to say that we leave the ritual space transformed and renewed through liturgy. The Church does not bring about liturgy, but liturgy that brings about the Church. It is a communal act not an individual act. Christians do not worship because they believe nor do they believe because they worship at least in a sense that liturgy is a machine that will produce faith.
It is a presence that draws us to liturgy and a revelation experienced. Liturgy transforms the community into something they were not before the event began. It was a presence not faith that drew Moses to the burning bush. It was a presence not faith that drew the disciples to Jesus and revelation that they found. Since then we too have been drawn into assembly by the same presence. The assembly is transformed through liturgy becoming different from what they were before the act happened. Rituals give us a way to experience the Holy. Liturgy transforms us.
If we step foot in a new church we will notice a difference in rituals. Maybe they don’t process a cross before the service or have communion every Sunday. Often it is in these small ways that we experience a disruption in our worship. We may think, “Wait we don’t do it that way.” However, no matter what Christian church you worship with there are two things that are steadfast, communion and baptism. Sure we may do those rituals differently – some immerse, some sprinkle water – but the truth is we baptize.
The Eucharist and Baptism are liturgy at the core. The creeds, theories, text and prayers were formed to help worshipers understand baptism, not baptism being created to help understand the creeds and prayers. It was the community’s regular act of Eucharist and Baptism (liturgy) that brought about a theology to help understand and reflect on these encounters with the living God.
In the Lutheran tradition it is foundational to say that we leave the ritual space transformed and renewed through liturgy. The Church does not bring about liturgy, but liturgy that brings about the Church. It is a communal act not an individual act. Christians do not worship because they believe nor do they believe because they worship at least in a sense that liturgy is a machine that will produce faith.
It is a presence that draws us to liturgy and a revelation experienced. Liturgy transforms the community into something they were not before the event began. It was a presence not faith that drew Moses to the burning bush. It was a presence not faith that drew the disciples to Jesus and revelation that they found. Since then we too have been drawn into assembly by the same presence. The assembly is transformed through liturgy becoming different from what they were before the act happened. Rituals give us a way to experience the Holy. Liturgy transforms us.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Feet
Where have your feet taken you?
Look back on your life – think of all the places you’ve lived, worked, played, visited, cried, sang, danced… Where have your feet taken you?
This past week my feet took me to San Francisco, CA. It is a part of the country I had not seen, smelled, or experienced before. I got to breathe in the rich smell of the redwood forest, the creatively made wines and admittedly the stench of the sea lions. I got to see the beauty of the vineyards, redwoods, Pacific Ocean, and the hilly city.
Each of these new experiences made me realize how much I have yet to see in this world. I have traveled quite a bit in my life, but there is still so much more to experience. God created a world so rich how can we not want to experience it all?
It is easy to want to experience the world around us. Yet, it can be difficult for us to experience God. I mean how do we experience a supreme being – not of earthly laws – who loves us even when we don’t love. Who longs for our devotion when we’re busy worshiping the things God has created instead of God.
Our feet may take us many beautiful places here on earth. However, the most precious place they can take us is a little disturbing – it’s not a place we would expect. The most precious place is when our feet stand at the foot of the cross. It is in this unexpected place that we can experience God.
It is natural to expect a supreme being – not of earthly laws – to be sitting in that high glorious throne waving a judging gavel at us. Yet, at the foot of the cross we see a God who suffers so we don’t have to suffer. A God who is not high on a throne but a God who is willing to go to the most vulnerable of places so we can know how much we are loved.
Where have your feet taken you?
Look back on your life – think of all the places you’ve lived, worked, played, visited, cried, sang, danced… Where have your feet taken you?
This past week my feet took me to San Francisco, CA. It is a part of the country I had not seen, smelled, or experienced before. I got to breathe in the rich smell of the redwood forest, the creatively made wines and admittedly the stench of the sea lions. I got to see the beauty of the vineyards, redwoods, Pacific Ocean, and the hilly city.
Each of these new experiences made me realize how much I have yet to see in this world. I have traveled quite a bit in my life, but there is still so much more to experience. God created a world so rich how can we not want to experience it all?
It is easy to want to experience the world around us. Yet, it can be difficult for us to experience God. I mean how do we experience a supreme being – not of earthly laws – who loves us even when we don’t love. Who longs for our devotion when we’re busy worshiping the things God has created instead of God.
Our feet may take us many beautiful places here on earth. However, the most precious place they can take us is a little disturbing – it’s not a place we would expect. The most precious place is when our feet stand at the foot of the cross. It is in this unexpected place that we can experience God.
It is natural to expect a supreme being – not of earthly laws – to be sitting in that high glorious throne waving a judging gavel at us. Yet, at the foot of the cross we see a God who suffers so we don’t have to suffer. A God who is not high on a throne but a God who is willing to go to the most vulnerable of places so we can know how much we are loved.
Where have your feet taken you?
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Selfishness and Seinfeld
By Johanna Johnson
[The man said], “I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” 20But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” 21So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’ (Luke 12:18-21)
My family and I are big Seinfeld fans. For those of you who don’t know, Seinfeld is a show starring the comedian Jerry Seinfeld, and the premise of the show is: nothing. It is a show about nothing. But what it becomes is a show about four extremely selfish people trying to lead “normal” lives in New York City. Their constant concern only for themselves and their needs is comical, and gets them into ridiculous situations, which they attempt to solve with yet more selfish antics. It’s hilarious, because it reflects some of the worst qualities we see in people from day to day, qualities we hope we don’t have, or at least, that no one will see in us.
I think of Seinfeld when I read this text from Luke, about a man who rejoices in his abundance by selfishly hoarding it away. He could have fed the hungry with that surplus, or even invited people to his home for a party. At the very least, he could have thanked God for it – nowhere in the text is any thanksgiving offered, but rather, he pats himself on the back. In one episode of Seinfeld, one of the character’s parents realize that they have a fortune in the bank that they have never spent. So they buy a condo in Florida, where the cost of living is higher than Queens, NY, so they can burn through the money as quickly as possible. This is somewhat the opposite of the man from the story, in that rather than hoarding it away for no one to see, they flaunt the money by burning through it quickly. Their approach, however, is no less selfish.
What is the best way to respond to abundance? In Thanksgiving! And what is thanksgiving? I’d like to think of the word less as “thanksgiving,” and more as “thanks, giving.” Certainly, offering joyful thanks and praise to the God who provides is warranted. But let us not forget about the second part of the word – the “giving” part. God has blessed us in so many ways. What can you give? Surely from a God whose very identity is one of abundance, any given person has more gifts than one person can use alone. Hoarding them away doesn’t help anyone. Sow the seeds of God’s gifts so that they may grow and reach more abundance in more people. In the words of a song my mom sings with her kindergarten students, “Love is like a magic penny: hold it tight, you won’t have any. Lend it, spend it, you’ll have so many!”
[The man said], “I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” 20But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” 21So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’ (Luke 12:18-21)
My family and I are big Seinfeld fans. For those of you who don’t know, Seinfeld is a show starring the comedian Jerry Seinfeld, and the premise of the show is: nothing. It is a show about nothing. But what it becomes is a show about four extremely selfish people trying to lead “normal” lives in New York City. Their constant concern only for themselves and their needs is comical, and gets them into ridiculous situations, which they attempt to solve with yet more selfish antics. It’s hilarious, because it reflects some of the worst qualities we see in people from day to day, qualities we hope we don’t have, or at least, that no one will see in us.
I think of Seinfeld when I read this text from Luke, about a man who rejoices in his abundance by selfishly hoarding it away. He could have fed the hungry with that surplus, or even invited people to his home for a party. At the very least, he could have thanked God for it – nowhere in the text is any thanksgiving offered, but rather, he pats himself on the back. In one episode of Seinfeld, one of the character’s parents realize that they have a fortune in the bank that they have never spent. So they buy a condo in Florida, where the cost of living is higher than Queens, NY, so they can burn through the money as quickly as possible. This is somewhat the opposite of the man from the story, in that rather than hoarding it away for no one to see, they flaunt the money by burning through it quickly. Their approach, however, is no less selfish.
What is the best way to respond to abundance? In Thanksgiving! And what is thanksgiving? I’d like to think of the word less as “thanksgiving,” and more as “thanks, giving.” Certainly, offering joyful thanks and praise to the God who provides is warranted. But let us not forget about the second part of the word – the “giving” part. God has blessed us in so many ways. What can you give? Surely from a God whose very identity is one of abundance, any given person has more gifts than one person can use alone. Hoarding them away doesn’t help anyone. Sow the seeds of God’s gifts so that they may grow and reach more abundance in more people. In the words of a song my mom sings with her kindergarten students, “Love is like a magic penny: hold it tight, you won’t have any. Lend it, spend it, you’ll have so many!”
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Spiritual Snorkeling
by Johanna Johnson
Matthew 16.25: "For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it."
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about salt. This started especially on a recent trip I took to the Florida Keys (my first!), on which my boyfriend and I went snorkeling. I was really looking forward to diving down deep and seeing this beautiful and mysterious world right up close. He instructed me how to do this: take a breath, and then keep some of the air for when I come back up, so I could get a good strong blow through the snorkel to get the water out. Gearing myself up, I took my breath and broke the surface. It was as beautiful as I’d hoped… for about 8 seconds, when I suddenly realized I had gone quite a few feet below and now feared I wouldn’t get back. In my surprise, I blew out all my air and scurried frantically to the surface, now with no more air to blow through the snorkel. I spit out my snorkel, coughing and gagging at the extremely salty taste now in my mouth. I floated there for a few moments, catching my breath, remembering the fear of thinking I would not make it back to the life-sustaining oxygen. But how glorious that first breath was!
It occurred to me that this isn’t unlike baptism. Some traditions, particularly in the historic Church, baptize in such a way that a person is held beneath the water until they really feel the fear of death, then are lifted up once again into life. This is reminiscent of Jesus’ own death and resurrection – in entering the watery tomb of baptism, then being lifted out once again, we are baptized into Jesus’ death and life. We are given the new life for which Jesus died.
Also in some baptismal rites, salt is placed on the lips or tongue of the one being baptized – salt in fact has significant spiritual implications. Salt, for example, preserves, purifies, cleanses, provides nourishment, and heals – all functions we find also in our baptism. Once one has come up from the watery tomb of baptism, one has been cleansed of sin and purified, preserved by the cross of Christ, nourished in faith, and healed of the work of the devil. And to feel that brief albeit very real fear of death under the water, then to take that first life-giving breath of air, and to taste the residual saltiness on my lips, preserving me in the safety I find only in Christ’s own resurrection… Quite a stunning transformation – not unlike baptism – that happened upon my terrifying but redemptive emergence from the salty waters off the Florida Keys.
Matthew 16.25: "For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it."
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about salt. This started especially on a recent trip I took to the Florida Keys (my first!), on which my boyfriend and I went snorkeling. I was really looking forward to diving down deep and seeing this beautiful and mysterious world right up close. He instructed me how to do this: take a breath, and then keep some of the air for when I come back up, so I could get a good strong blow through the snorkel to get the water out. Gearing myself up, I took my breath and broke the surface. It was as beautiful as I’d hoped… for about 8 seconds, when I suddenly realized I had gone quite a few feet below and now feared I wouldn’t get back. In my surprise, I blew out all my air and scurried frantically to the surface, now with no more air to blow through the snorkel. I spit out my snorkel, coughing and gagging at the extremely salty taste now in my mouth. I floated there for a few moments, catching my breath, remembering the fear of thinking I would not make it back to the life-sustaining oxygen. But how glorious that first breath was!
It occurred to me that this isn’t unlike baptism. Some traditions, particularly in the historic Church, baptize in such a way that a person is held beneath the water until they really feel the fear of death, then are lifted up once again into life. This is reminiscent of Jesus’ own death and resurrection – in entering the watery tomb of baptism, then being lifted out once again, we are baptized into Jesus’ death and life. We are given the new life for which Jesus died.
Also in some baptismal rites, salt is placed on the lips or tongue of the one being baptized – salt in fact has significant spiritual implications. Salt, for example, preserves, purifies, cleanses, provides nourishment, and heals – all functions we find also in our baptism. Once one has come up from the watery tomb of baptism, one has been cleansed of sin and purified, preserved by the cross of Christ, nourished in faith, and healed of the work of the devil. And to feel that brief albeit very real fear of death under the water, then to take that first life-giving breath of air, and to taste the residual saltiness on my lips, preserving me in the safety I find only in Christ’s own resurrection… Quite a stunning transformation – not unlike baptism – that happened upon my terrifying but redemptive emergence from the salty waters off the Florida Keys.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Oh... to be a child again!
Mark 10:13-16
Sometimes we need permission, or at least reminders, to be like a child. Children have a different way of looking at the world. As adults, our minds become so complex it is healthy to step back and let the innocence and uninhibited passions of the child within us shine. When life changes in unexpected ways – that alter the reality we know – looking at things as a child can widen our perspective on life.
I wonder how does a child receive the kingdom of God?
People were bringing little children to Jesus in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Sometimes we need permission, or at least reminders, to be like a child. Children have a different way of looking at the world. As adults, our minds become so complex it is healthy to step back and let the innocence and uninhibited passions of the child within us shine. When life changes in unexpected ways – that alter the reality we know – looking at things as a child can widen our perspective on life.
I wonder how does a child receive the kingdom of God?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
God doesn't fit in a box!
Scripture tells us a story of a Canaanite woman, a woman on the outskirts, a woman who has no chance of finishing first (Matthew 15:22). She comes to Jesus and cries, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.”
And what does Jesus do? Jesus doesn’t do a thing – he says nothing at all! This is not the Jesus we know. Jesus offers healing all the time. The disciples urge Jesus to send her away, to rid them of this Canaanite woman shouting at them. She’s loud, she’s annoying – please get rid of her. And then Jesus explains to her: “Listen – it is not fair to take the good food from the Israelites and give it to the dogs – to you, a Canaanite woman.” She stands up to Jesus and says, “Remember that even the dogs can eat the crumbs that fall from the Master’s table.” (vs. 27)
Jesus hears her cry and admires her faith. She is able to say to Jesus, “Even I am worthy your love.” Jesus heals her daughter.
This story is out of the norm. It can make us reread asking, “Did this woman just change Jesus mind?” “Is that REALLY possible?” I mean, throughout scripture there are numerous stories of people doubting God and saying, “Really, you are going to use me?” Moses, Jeremiah, Job, Jonah, the fisherman… but there are not as many stories of the outcast saying to Jesus, “But remember, even I am worthy your love.” This story provides a twist that can stop us in our tracks. It is a disruption that can make us think.
Disruption can be difficult for us in the church. I can’t think of the number of times I’ve heard comments on my blog description. If you haven’t noticed, I use the pronoun “her” for God. If you’ve questioned it – that’s the point. If it stopped you in your tracks and made you pause – that’s the point. Sometimes we need a little jolt out of our norms. Our God – The Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is beyond gender. God’s love is for both the Israelites and the Canaanites. God’s love seeps outside of our ideas of worthiness.
I am thankful for the Canaanite woman’s story. It can be a reminder that the moment we have God figured out and in a perfect pretty box, God rips a hole in the box and gushes out, revealing a love even more powerful than we can imagine.
And what does Jesus do? Jesus doesn’t do a thing – he says nothing at all! This is not the Jesus we know. Jesus offers healing all the time. The disciples urge Jesus to send her away, to rid them of this Canaanite woman shouting at them. She’s loud, she’s annoying – please get rid of her. And then Jesus explains to her: “Listen – it is not fair to take the good food from the Israelites and give it to the dogs – to you, a Canaanite woman.” She stands up to Jesus and says, “Remember that even the dogs can eat the crumbs that fall from the Master’s table.” (vs. 27)
Jesus hears her cry and admires her faith. She is able to say to Jesus, “Even I am worthy your love.” Jesus heals her daughter.
This story is out of the norm. It can make us reread asking, “Did this woman just change Jesus mind?” “Is that REALLY possible?” I mean, throughout scripture there are numerous stories of people doubting God and saying, “Really, you are going to use me?” Moses, Jeremiah, Job, Jonah, the fisherman… but there are not as many stories of the outcast saying to Jesus, “But remember, even I am worthy your love.” This story provides a twist that can stop us in our tracks. It is a disruption that can make us think.
Disruption can be difficult for us in the church. I can’t think of the number of times I’ve heard comments on my blog description. If you haven’t noticed, I use the pronoun “her” for God. If you’ve questioned it – that’s the point. If it stopped you in your tracks and made you pause – that’s the point. Sometimes we need a little jolt out of our norms. Our God – The Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is beyond gender. God’s love is for both the Israelites and the Canaanites. God’s love seeps outside of our ideas of worthiness.
I am thankful for the Canaanite woman’s story. It can be a reminder that the moment we have God figured out and in a perfect pretty box, God rips a hole in the box and gushes out, revealing a love even more powerful than we can imagine.
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