Twenty Sixth Day of lent - Lost Sheep

The Council by TJ Cunningham
Credit: cunninghamfineart.com

 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15

Yesterday I heard a tribute to the Rev Jesse Jackson who has recently died.  He was exulting a congregation, making them know that each one of them mattered.  He ran through a detailed list, "if you are prisoner, if you are young, if you live on an housing project, if you were born into a family that could not care for you."  He went on and on.  The list became a poem.  

Each one of us matters.  We matter to our creator.  

PRAYER: We are all known. We all matter to you.  We praise you and thank you that we are seen and loved.  

Twenty Fifth Day of Lent - Friends

 

Hiking c 1936 by James Walker Tucker
Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle Upon Tyne

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Matthew 10

My saying is that you only need one good friend, and all the others are a bonus.  Jesus has 12 chosen male friends.  He asked his friends to work with him.  Freely receive, freely give.  We are also called friends, and take part in the experiencing experience of wonder and discovery.  With Jesus anything is possible. 

PRAYER:  May I aways know that with you, anything is possible. 

Twenty Fourth Day of Lent - Mary

 

 "Nagara Māryām"
Credit: British Museum Oriental Department. 

Both gender and race appear to be a problem for us humans.  Jesus is born into this world.  But his mother has been chosen.  Mary is someone who appears to have incredible insight and fortitude.  She is aware of the how crazy it is that she is the one foretold.  She is aware that the answer to the problems of Israel (and the world) comes in humility, vulnerability and poverty.  

Jesus is the one to turn the whole world upside down.  

47 “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.     For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,     and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him     from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm;     he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones     and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things,     and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel,     in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers,     to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” Luke 1

PRAYER: We rejoice that you came to us in such humility. 

May we never abuse the trust you have put in us.

Twenty Third Day of lent - The Wedding

 

The outdoor wedding dance by Pieter Brueghel the younger
Credit: Sotheby's (for sale - £800,000-1200000)

Things go wrong.  Things go right.  It's hard to make sense of it.  Why in 2010, were 32 Chilian miners rescued, when the next week at Pike River, 29 miners died in New Zealand/Aotearoa?

But amazing things do happen, and the story below brought a bit of peace and joy for an instant in time to one couple and more importantly their families.

2 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”  6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.[a] 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2 1-12

PRAYER:  Thank you for the joyful experiences of the everyday.

Fourth Sunday in the Feast of Lent - The Path Less Trod

 

The Wilderness in Israel

Jesus shows us that the powerful status quo of our age can be resisted, both as a community, but also by individuals. He is tempted to enjoy the great power and wealth he possesses.  How difficult it must have been when his Council John sent a message asking him if he was the promised saviour, to not then ensure his cousin's safety from the hands of Herold.  But Jesus has come as 'The Lamb of God', He was to take the same hard path into the wilderness first taken by John.  He to was to be murdered brutally. He invites us to follow this path.  Gulp, let's go.

PRAYER:  Give me everything I need, and cannot get for myself. 

Twenty Second Day of lent - Childhood

 

By Rose Datoc Dall Credit: altusfineart.com

Are children innocent?  When do they become guilty?  All people are not equal, and some have massive disadvantages over others.  We are born guilty.  It was all stacked up against us.  Yet if we have the desire in our hearts to be good, we can be.  It is the spirit of the living Creator in us that makes us good (or holy). 

We believe that Jesus was fully filled with the spirit of the Creator from birth.  He is the human embodiment of the Creator here on earth.  Was this like King Henry V, walking incognito amongst his soldiers before Agincourt, getting an  impression of their mood?  Not one bit.  It was King Hal, leading from the front, but as a child, not a superhero. 

Here is Jesus, as a child, aware of how things are, and what has to be done.

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”  49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Luke 2:41-49

PRAYER:  I come to you as a child.  I bow before you as the kings did.

Twenty First Day of Lent - Birth

Credit: Laurenjturnerfineart.com

So much of the gospel is based on things which our modern day culture says is myth.  This is made plain because it is impossible.  Repeat the story enough, and people will believe it.  Like a well trodden path, it becomes a thorofare, and no one questions it. 

Not true.  It has constantly been questioned, and perhaps no more so than in this present age.  Other faiths make funny faces, just as we do about their epic stories.  One famous doubter called Thomas said he would need to meet Jesus, and feel his physical pain.  He did,  For me, this is what I need too.  Reality.  An experience I can look back to and recall, and recount. So what of a virgin birth?  Well meet Jesus and see what you think then.

 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

PRAYER:  All I know is that my relationship with you is real. That is all that matters.