Second Sunday "Get up and Walk"

'Surprised!' by Henri Rousseau -National Gallery, London

He said that he would prefer not to know the source of the Nile, and that there should be some unknown regions preserved as hunting-grounds  for the poetic imagination.  

G. Eliot - Middlemarch.

Perhaps it is easier not to know some things.  But somethings are to be known, like your name, and your parentage.  Not knowing is foolishness.  And by the way, why not know?  What's the problem?  

Paul's letter to the Roman's Chapter Nine

With Jesus as my witness, I earnestly desire every word I write to be true. I am deeply grieved that so few of people within my own community accept Jesus. I would willingly undergo any torture if this would make a difference. These are the people who have been privileged to hear the message spelt out to them across the ages. They have had a box seat. The Creator has honoured this special relationship, Which has been a great blessing for which we are thankful, So has the Creator failed to deliver on promises to my people? No, indeed, for membership of the community is not to be taken for granted. An example of this was when Isaac, the great father of the nation, had two sons. Convention was flouted, because the younger son picked up the mantel of leadership, not the elder son.  The Creator knew in advance who was open to the way, and who not. Another example was when the king of Egypt was harsh on my people. The Creator knew that this would bring about the wonderful purpose in store. The hard heart of the king was part of the chain of events leading the birth of Jesus. Is it fair that some people are open and therefore chosen, some closed and miss out? We are all different, but originally made from the same clay. The Creator who knows our desires and actions even before we do, And all eventualities are used to bring about this story of redemption. The Creator shows equal mercy, justice and compassion to all people across time. Those with an open heart find the path of restitution and forgiveness. As has been said by wise people of old, "People from outside our community are called." And also, "You who are not from our culture, are called to become children of the Creator." And for people born into my culture it is said, "The same rules apply to all equally. Don't think that you will get away with evil just because of your birth." This is the paradox. "The people who have no idea about the Creator's great plan are drawn in and transformed. The people on the inside, given special privileges, miss the point, tying themselves up in knots of confusion." Also we know the saying, "There will be a stone place in the centre of Jerusalem. To some it will become their foundation stone. For others they will crash into it and fall. Those who put their trust in Jesus will stand firm."

PRAYER: All you have given me provides me with the courage I need to live to the full.

Lent Ten "Get up and Walk"

 

Dancer Misty Copeland recreates Degas' painting 

He that lives in hope danceth without musick- 

George Herbert (1593 - 1633)

There is a wonderful story of the imprisoned Richard Wurmbrand, a Romanian Baptist minister,  who in freezing solitary confinement.  He calculates that it this day was Christmas, and he pulls himself up onto his feet and danced for joy around his cell.  This is the same hope that is offered to us.  It is a hope that is based on believing that Jesus has seen how things turn out.  It's a bit like when Margaret and I watched Spike Lee's film 'The Black Klans Man' for the second time we were not nearly so nervous.  We knew that the key innocent people were not lynched. It's very comforting.

Paul's letter to the Romans Chapter Five

Our trusting relationship with Jesus has brought us into peace with our Creator. What Jesus has done gives us complete assurance that we share royal privileges! We are ready for trials and endurance tests. These reveal the character, confidence and hope that grows within us. Our hope will strengthen because we have the presence of Jesus, filling us with the knowledge that we are dearly loved. Now, few people would be willing to die for a good person. Perhaps some to save an extra special person. But we know that Jesus chose to sacrifice himself for us when we, as a race, hated and despised him. Jesus has stood in for us to take the Creator's judgement. What a wonderful thing it is to now be in union with the Creator and designer of all thing! The very first person on earth was given the choice to honour the Creator or not. Choosing to hurt the Creator, the relationship was marred, followed by separation, which led to death. Stepping in to rescue this first person, and all others to follow, is Jesus. With the first person came alienation, divorce and death. With Jesus come restitution, forgiveness and life. Even when what is honouring to the Creator was spelt out in words, it made no difference. People continued to do things that destroyed the vital link. The Creator knew this would happen, and with the love of a parent for a disobedient child, made a way for the relationship to be restored so that we can return to the original plan; that is, to live in close harmony with our maker, with Jesus, forever. 

PRAYER: May you be praised in all things.  May I honour you today.

Lent Nine "Get up and Walk"

 

Dutch Master

I got me flowers to stew Thy way,

I got me boughs off many a tree;

But Thou wast up by break of day,

And brought’st Thy sweets along with Thee. 

 Easter Song- George Herbert.

Everything has been thought of.  Everything considered.  As we walk around the shops; this person and that. All are of equal concern to the one who made them.  Here is a story to illustrate.  The outsiders understood the paradox, whereas the insiders were caught by a false assumption..

 Do We Do Greek? (From John's Gospel Chapter Twelve)

Andrew:           What about Greek?  Do we do Greek?

Jesus    :           Who's asking?

Andrew:           Philip's asking, he's chatting to some Greek tourists.

Jesus    :           Does Philip speak Greek?

Andrew:           I should think so. He's got a Greek name.

Jesus    :           Yes, then he can translate.  This is for everyone.

 

My record of what Jesus says…

 The people listened intently, with knitted brows and concentrating hard.

 "I am now standing on the edge.  I can stay back, or step forward."

 "Just one grain of wheat must be buried in the ground and 'die' in order for it to become a plant to provide a 100 grains, and feed many."

 "The paradox: if you love your life so much that you grasp hold of it to keep it, it will be crushed, and you will lose it.  If you hold it lightly, willing for it to be of benefit to all, you receive the priceless gift of life eternal.  Are you willing to 'step' with me?"

 "Yes, I feel this is terrifying- not easy.  But there is no going back.  I am committed to glorifying my father."

  {And then everyone heard a loud, powerful voice saying, "I have done so, and I will again."}

 People there were astonished.  “I think it's an angel helping him to be strong”, said one.

 "Not for me, but for you - right now, you need strength."

 "This is when evil will be driven out; my body will be lifted up, exalted." 

 He looked across at the crowd.  The Greeks understood that they were included.  They understood the double meaning - the paradox.

 "Hang on!" someone shouted out. "You can't be the 'Messenger for all time', and also the one whose 'body is exalted'?  The Bible does not allow it."

 {Audible sigh} "Now is when all this stuff is clear and plain to sort out.  Soon you will have to figure it out on your own." 

 He left us with all these bewildered people.  I recall that we've been warned that, despite making it 'barn door' obvious, 'people coming alive' for instance, many will not put two-and-two together.  I could see that quite a number had been affected however, even those with considerable power and influence, although there is no way they would admit it. For goodness sake, he made it blindingly obvious what he meant.  Any fool could understand him it they were so inclined.   

PRAYER:  It might not always make sense, but I know I experience the joy you have put within me. 

Lent Eight "Get up and Walk"

The Potato Eaters - Vincent Van Gogh
Van Gogh Museum- Amsterdam

To lift up hands in prayer gives God glory, but a man with a dungfork in his hand, a woman with a slopepail, gives him glory too.  He is so great that all things give him glory if you mean they should.

Gerard Manley Hopkins, Sermons.  'On the Principle or foundation.' 1881-1882

These words bring security.  A fruit tree will not fail to produce fruit.  It is in its nature.  Those with the Spirit of their Creator in them will not fail to praise and honour the Creator in all they do.  They will bear fruit.

Hebrews Chapter Thirteen 

So priorities: 

Love each other, 

Care for strangers, 

Remember prisoners and those being mistreated. Honour marriage, 

Don’t love money, Jesus will help you when you are in need. 

Remember your leaders who care about you - follow their example. 

Jesus is constant and with never fail you. 

Your strength comes from your Creator, not from codes or magic. 

The old system was a revelation of the new. 

Put Jesus first in everything, with your eyes fixed on the final goal. 

Doing good and sharing with the needy; this is the Creator’s desire. 

Honour your spiritual leaders. 

Pray for me, ask Jesus to enable me to come back to you. 

Now may the author of peace, who raised Jesus from the dead, 

Our guide who risked all for us, Give us all we need to fulfil his will. 

All wonder and power be to the Creator forever more. 

Please note everything said in this letter. Timothy has been released for prison. If he comes to me, I will bring him with me to see you. I greet your leaders and all believers Greeting too from the faithful in Italy. Be filled with perfect grace.

PRAYER: May I be so aware of your presence that I see the stranger, and understand the need.

Lent Seven "Get up and Walk"

If I was a nightingale I would sing like a nightingale; if a swan, like a swan.  But since I am a rational creature my role is to praise God.    Epictetus, Discourses, 2nd Century.

Were we designed to praise and honour the Creator?  What do people do who do not know the Creator in this way?  We marvel at the beauty of creation.  We marvel at the experience of love.  We marvel that there is something to live for.

Habakkuk Chapter Three

I hear what you are saying. I know that you what you have done is amazing. But in this time of our great need, remember what you did for us in the past. And in your anger against our failings, remember mercy. 

I see the Creator moving across the desert. The whole earth is lifting up arms in praise. The Creator comes in the brilliance of the rising sun. Rays flash across the sky. The enormity of the Creator’s power is hidden. Pestilence sweeps the earth. It shakes and trembles. Permanent mountains of certainty and shattered. They tumble into nothing. I see people suffering; in terror. Are you angry and displeased? 

Your actions bring salvation. You split dry land and rivers pour forth. Your anger is against wickedness and injustice. Those intent on destroying Israel fall victim to their own weapons. I am trembling inside. My legs are giving way beneath me. I am waiting patiently for the day when justice will come to our land. 

Even though all the flowers on the fruit trees fail, and no grapes appear on the vine; the cattle in the fields die; and our barns have nothing to show; yet I will rejoice in my Creator, and be joyful in my saviour. 

The Creator is my strength. The Creator keeps my feet from slipping, and makes me as sure-footed as a deer, scaling rocky crags.

PRAYER:  From the moment I awake, I praise you, to the going down of the sun.  I even praise you in my dreams.

Lent Six "Get up and Walk"

 

"The Acorn and the Pumpkin" by Sebastien-Lepage.
Art Institute Chicago.

A man cannot become an atheist merely by wishing it.  

Napoleon, Maxims, early 19th century.

Perhaps we forget that we do not live in a vacuum.  Our lives are full of beliefs and assumptions.  We are fish in the goldfish bowl examining the nature of water, and wondering if it really exists.  Just as we imagine ourselves to be self-supporting.  We are all as dependent on the systems around us as much as people living on state benefits.  We do not realise how much our beliefs are subconscious.  We are free, but we must take up our freedom and apply it.

Acts Chapter Twelve

At this time the Jewish king Herod used his troops to persecute the followers of Jesus. He had James beheaded, and when he saw how pleased this made the Jewish leaders, he had Peter arrested. It was the festival time so the courts were closed. Peter was put in prison with a very strong guard. Peter’s friends were very worried for him and stayed up through the night seeking the Creator’s help. In the night, with guards physically chained to him, a messenger from the Creator appeared in the cell. The messenger woke Peter saying ”get dressed, time to go”. The chains fell from his wrists as the guards slept. They walked straight out of the prison past guard posts, and out through the main gates. When it was safe, the messenger disappeared. Peter was amazed and knew that the Creator has authority over everything. He ran through the dark streets to when his friends had gathered. He knocked as quietly as he could. A young girl called Rhoda came to the door. Instead of opening it she was so over joyed she raced back upstairs to tell the others. The others assumed she had gone delirious because they knew the Peter was not going to get out of that prison. Peter was forced to knock harder, and eventually he was let in. He explained everything that had happened to him. Meanwhile as dawn broke, there was chaos in the prison. Herod was furious and many innocent guards’ lives were forfeited that day. Herod was so disgusted he left the city and went to the Roman port of Kingston. There he decided to extend his kingdom into Tyre and Sidon. This he did with careful pressure. On the day he marched into the cities as the new ruler, he became ill, and died a painful death. He, like the other rulers, was not a follower of the Creator. 

PRAYER: May I be conscious of my choice to live life to the full every day.

Lent Five "Get up and Walk"

 

Lewis Chessmen

Heathen, n.  A benighted creature who has the folly to worship something that he can see and feel.  

Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary, 1906

There is compelling evidence that humans roamed the earth for may thousands of years before judo-christian religions were invented.  What did human's believe?  What might we hold in common?  Interestingly, only 'this present time' actually exists.  What is happening right now is of infinite significance.  Let us treasure the present moment.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 5

Let your words be few, as you enter a holy place. Come with reverence. Keep your commitments. Don’t think these things are inconsequential. Where there is power there is misuse of power. Those who serve money will always be slaves. Wealth does not equal happiness, Though honest hard work does equal a good night’s sleep. Enjoying what you have, with good health, food and drink; This is the greatest gift from above. People who focus on the good received today. Have no time to brood on the injustice of the past.

PRAYER:  I believe in the meaning you have put in me, and in my people for today.