Fourth Sunday "Get up and Walk"

 

Night Forest by Simon Garden - Catto Gallery, London

Wandering in a vast forest at night, I have only a faint light to guide me.  A stranger appears and says to me:  ‘My friend, you should blow out your candle in order to find your way more clearly.’  This stranger is a theologian.  

Denis Diderot, Addition aux Pensées philosophiquea, circa 1762

Are we not presented with a mass of conundrums?  The truth mixed with the benign, ridiculous and dangerous.  I am reminded of a discussion I had in an ecumenical forum when we discussed what we knew united all Christians, even if we did not share a common language.  A participant said 'joy', we discover that we share the same joy.  I thought that it was an excellent answer, and hence I remember it now.  

Gospel according to John Chapter Seventeen (b)

"Ok, I'll spell it out again.  I'm warning you that soon I will leave you, and it will be awful.  You will be devastated (though others may be pleased).  However, I will return in joy…"

 "…It's going to be like when a mother gives birth.  She knows the process will be extremely painful, but it will be worthwhile, because the baby comes with joy…

 "…When I come back from the creator, you will have all you need, and the joy will take this present suffering away…"

 "…Then you will ask in my name; but there will be no need, because you will ask the creator directly.  It will be the same thing.  I am simply going back to my origin with the creator…"

 "We are slowly getting it", reassured Jesus’ friends. "You and the creator are one."

 "Yes, you are believing me. Look, soon you are all going to be dispersed, and you will leave me alone.  But I won't be alone, because I am one with the creator."

 "I'm telling you this to prepare you, so that it won't come as a shock, and trouble you. Be encouraged.  All things are to be set right.”

PRAYER:  Thanks you for the Joy you have put in my heart.

Lent Twenty Two "Get up and Walk"

 

A Dutch Girl at Breakfast 
 Jean-Etienne Liotard Rijksmuseum

Enthusiasm, mysticism, play no great part in religious communities.  The virtues jog quietly along a humdrum path.  Spirituality is worldly-wise and takes a material form so far as it can, and the possibilities in this direction are far greater than is commonly supposed.  

Anatole France, The Garden of Epicurus, 1894

Is this a complement?  I like this quote because to me it speaks of the normality of life with our Creator.  There is no need for great 'razzmatazz'.  This is the 'normal' walk of life, and therefore does not require an extra flourish.  Indeed, if you see it, perhaps be suspicious.  It's a bit like when names are give for extra emphasis, such as 'One Leicester', the council's promotional campaign.  To me this indicates we are needing to say this to make it happen.  Same again with Great Britain and  United Kingdom. There names are hopeful perhaps.  

I think of an elderly couple who you see sitting together on a park bench.  They are very comfortable together.  They don't need to speak.  They've probably said everything.  They look content.  This is the nature of our religion.  But there is room for us to be excited- not a bad thing, and to be stirred up, and for the humdrum to quickened in pace.  But this is important again for all relationships.

Acts of the Apostles Chapter Two 

It was a special day in Jerusalem. Hundreds of Jewish people were gathering. Together, in a first floor room, the believers waited. Suddenly the wind whipped up and flames of fire could be seen in a storm cloud. Eventually these separated out until individual flames alighted on the heads of each of those present. Everyone was filled with the presence of the Creator and began calling out in honour to the Creator, each using a different language. The commotion was tremendous and the tourists in the city were greatly affected. “I recognise my language” they marvelled, “and such words of wonder!” But others said, “Disgraceful! They have been drinking, and so early in the day!” 2 Peter heard this, and stood up above the crowd. He shouted out, “Fellow believers, be clear none of these people are drunk. No, this is the fulfilment of what the ancient teacher Joel said would happen. My presence will come upon you, women and men. Young people will see visions, the old will dream dreams. I will cause wonders to happen. The sun will become dark, and the moon turn blood red. Everyone who calls on the name of the Creator will know they are safe.” “Remember, this man called Jesus who was publically endorsed by the Creator. He did good and marvellous things with authority over nature. What happened was predicted in our history. Our people, with assistance from the colonial powers, executed Jesus for no valid reason. But the Creator did not allow death to prevail, and he was brought back to life after three days.” “Jesus is the person our ancient king spoke about when he said ‘I am never alone, the person of the Creator is beside me. This is what feels me with complete joy, and makes me sing. I see that you have not allowed death and the grave to be the end. Your righteous one is alive, and fills me with your perfect presence’.” “We know that our king David was not talking about himself, because he surely died, and anyone can visit his grave. David was speaking about things that would happen in the future; about how the person foretold would not remain dead.” “So Jesus was brought back to life, and we met with him many times. He is with the Creator, and it is his ‘Spirit’ that is with us now. This is what you now witness.” “David said of this person, ‘Be at my side, while I humble your enemies, and bring them to honour you. ‘ This Jesus, who you chose to be executed, is the one spoken of as our saviour.” Many people were transfixed and gasped in horror. They asked ‘what is to be done?’ Peter said ‘apologies to the Creator, and turn your direction to Jesus. Make a solemn commitment to follow him. Receive the presence of his Spirit in your life. This is available to all, even those who know nothing of these things. Many people there listened were believed in what Peter said. They chose to follow Jesus and turned their lives around. Jesus’ friends were able to teach and explain about the life of Jesus. The people shared food together, remembering how Jesus had shown them that just as food and drink is essential to life, so living by Jesus’ life and strength is essential. It was a very special time, with many wonderful things happening. There was a ‘oneness’ and trust amongst them. They lived a simple life of sharing, and honouring the Creator in joyful songs. Many people joined them every day. 

PRAYER:  Thank you that we are so relax together.  May I both take this for granted, and not, at the same time.

Lent Twenty One "Get up and Walk"

 

Breaking the Silence by Scott Denholm.

I like the silent church before the service begins, better than any preaching.  Emerson, ‘Self-Reliance’, essays, first series, 1841.

Margaret visited a local church recently to support a colleague who was going to be preaching.  She sat in a pew near a man.  They spoke a bit, and then as the service began, he got up and left, saying he came only for the silence at the beginning.  Ralph Waldo Emerson, and American thinker and transcendentalist, recognised the thought that  I have pondered, that we can conceive of times when humanity had to 'make it up'.  Imagine being stranded on a desert island.  Life begins again.  Faith, belief and wisdom begin again.  There is one simple flaw in this approach.  The Creator is the one consistent factor in all eternity.  And we believe the Creator relates to all of the creation, across time.  We are not alone.

Isaiah Chapter Six

It was in the year that King Uzziah died that I saw the creator,

Seated on a high throne, with billowing robes filling the chamber.

In attendance were mighty and strange figures; people with six wings.

Two wings covered their face, two their feet, and they flew with the third.

Together they sung an awesome song of praise to the creator.

“Great, Mighty, Perfect is the creator,

Every part of the earth is filled with this glory.”

As they spoke, the building shook terribly and from its foundations smoke rose up.

I cried out

“my life is over, I have seen perfection, and I am wretched and contaminated.

I am from a people who do wrong.  Surely I cannot see the creator and live?”

 

Then one of the strange beasts flew to the centre of the room to a great fire of burning coals. 

The beast took tongs and picked up a coal,

Coming over to me and gently touched the coal to my lips.

I then hear say:

“See this coal; it has touched your lips.  Now your imperfections are removed. 

You are made clean as new.”

 

The creator surveyed the whole world and asked,

“Who can I send as a messenger to these people in their need?”

 

And I stood up and said

“Here I am, Send me.”

And the creator replied,

“yes, you go, but be aware, these people will hear, but they will not understand.

They will watch, but learn nothing.

They will see with their eyes, but turn away from healing.”

Continue until all their towns are empty, their houses deserted.

The land turned to waste.

But a remnant will endure, a stump, a terebinth.

This is the hope that remains.”

PRAYER:  Thank you that I am worth to be the one who is chosen to live as you.

Lent Twenty "Get up and Walk"

 

The Lute Player- Unknown Artist Rijksmuseum

A man who has faith must be prepared not only to be a martyr, but to be a fool. 

G.K. Chesterton.  Heretics, 1905

This morning I was listening to the radio which featured a well known author relating his experience of living through covid times. I liked his advice to listen to the news while using a running machine.  He found the shots of adrenaline associated with the fear emanating from the news to aid his running.  I listened to his first book on his experience of poor mental health where he spoke honestly about his fear of faith, and the 'certainty' emanating from people of faith.  I found this fascinating, because I have met people who are 'turned off' by the experience of collective hope they see in Christian gatherings.  It's very interesting that such a thing should be unattractive.  I also read a review in the Guardian Newspaper of the Christian radio station Premier Christian Radio, which started by criticising its range of 'grimly upbeat' music.  The reporter said she thought 'Oh God', something she had done in about ten years.  She went on to be surprisingly interested in the depth of intellectual discussion, which she put on a par with Radio 4's spiritual broadcasting.  I thought 'it's ok to deride the Christian Radio station is it?

I am a Christian because that is the label I give to this experience of relating to my creator, and having confidence that  the Creator is in the midst of the bad news on the radio.  I may experience adrenaline; that's appropriate at times, but my fear has somewhere to go other than the running machine.

Paul's Letter to the Philippian Believers Chapter Two

What is likely to encourage me more than anything else? It’s that you live in unity and put each other’s needs before your own. This is exactly what Jesus did, which ultimately led to his death. Jesus’ brave actions lead to him being raised to life, and being given the place of greatest honour and authority. Because of his actions all people will kneel before him and acknowledge him as one with the Creator. The Creator is working in you, giving you the desire and strength to live with courage and goodness. There is no need to complain. Shine brightly as lights in the darkness. Hold onto every word received from Jesus, and expect his return. Nothing you do is in vain, because it is a gift to the Creator which fills you with joy. This is the joy we share.

PRAYER:  I keep my eyes on what pleases you, and everything else can look after itself.

Lent Nineteen "Get up and Walk"

 

The Miracle of the draught of fish
by James Thornhill.  Copy of painting by Raphael
Royal Academy  -London

If God were suddenly condemned to live the life which he has inflicted on men, He would kill Himself.  

Alexandre Dumas Fils (1824-95), Pendes d’album  

There is a wonderful irony to this quote.  Was it intended?  It reminds me of Nietzsche's question; would you choose to live your life again?  How many of us are really enjoying our lives?  For may it is soulless drudgery.  We have but one life to live.  I understand this life as the training ground for the next.  Without this life we are not eligible for the next.  The key is to experience enough of the fullness of the future life, to believe that it is possible.  I remember the exact moment that I hugged my father goodbye, after a meal in a restaurant in Oxford.  Two weeks later he was dead on the floor of his church in Libya.  I had a sense at the time that it was going to be a long time till I next saw him.  This was a message from the Creator to me.  Unlike a dream, the message has not faded in my mind.  The message spoke of seeing my father again.  

Gospel of John Chapter Twenty One

After a while things quietened down. Seven of us, the fishing fraternity, decided to do something. Money was getting tight, so we pushed out the boat. That wasn't the only thing that was tight. The fish didn't want to be caught. At day break we were all for giving up. There on the beach was a lone man. He seemed friendly and asked how we were doing. "Nothing of interest here", we called back. "Throw the nets over on the other side", he returned. We could hear him clearly on the off-shore breeze. We're pretty much experts, but 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'. The nets immediately hit a shoal. Latter I heard we had picked up 153 fish. Now that was quite a miracle, and it got us thinking. Must be Jesus on the shore. "I can't wait to meet him," said Peter. Typical Peter, he stripped off and was overboard in a second. By the time we'd got the nets in the boat, and made our way up onto the beach, Jesus and Peter were by a small barbecue grilling fish. We all sat in a circle, like we'd done so many times before. Jesus looked up to heaven and asked for the creator’s blessing. He then broke the fish into pieces and passed it to us. We felt alive again. Food, and his presence. A perfect combination. After we'd finished a wonderful thing happened. Jesus turned to Peter. Peter had been beating himself up over his betrayal of Jesus. Jesus made it clear, repeating three times, that he knew Peter's faith and love was rock solid. Then he asked Peter to lead us in pastoring 'his' people, The people he was now leaving. This, then, was to be our future. Of course Jesus said and did far more than I can record in these few feeble words. He even hinted to Peter that I might live for ever, until he returns. Wow, that got everyone talking. I promise I'll tell you if it happens.  Watch this space

PRAYER:  The gift of today is enough.  All you give me today I thank you for.  I also thank you for the gift of tomorrow, which is promised.

Lent Eighteen One "Get up and Walk"

 

The Destruction of Pompeii by John Martin - Tate Gallery London

The only thing that stops God sending a second flood is that the first flood was useless.  Nicolas Chamfort, Characters and Anecdotes, 1771

Nicolas Chamfort lives through the French Revolution.  He was so distressed by the crushing of freedoms during 'the terror' that he was resolved to write a suicide note and shoot himself.  The gun misfired and damaged his face.  He then tried to stab himself with a quill knife, which wasn't up to the job.  He died in agony over a six month period.  What a life!  He believed that everyone should be free to say anything.  I do too.  But there are things we choose not to say and do because we love those around us, even our enemies.  As St Augustine says "Love God, and do as you please."

Paul's Letter to the Roman Belivers Chapter Three

Is there any advantage in being born into a family of the faith? Why yes, many benefits, but it doesn't mean these people are any different? Of course not. The Creator knows who is honest and true. So does our wickedness serve the purpose of demonstrating the Creator's goodness? Well, that's no way to conduct a relationship. Ridiculous. "The more I hurt you the better it is?" Think about it. So people born into following the Creator, they are better than other? Not at all. We are all subject to the same pressures and temptations. It says time and again in the sacred writings of the Jews,  "We are all desirous to do wrong and displease our Creator." The Creator's word spells it out; without ambiguity, We know what pleases the one who created us. --- So not one of us is able to live in a way that keeps us in harmony with the Creator. The good news is that a way has been made clear how the damage can be repaired. We are made well through our relationship with Jesus. This is true for everyone, no matter what their situation might be. We are all the same and in need of the same relational restoration. And because we are loved so much by our Creator, this way has been made possible. For the Creator took on the penalty of our crimes, just as a parent pays the debt committed by their children. This involved Jesus forfeiting his own life and suffering extreme torture. Before time began, it was known that this would have to happen to restore the injury to our relationship. All of history looked to this moment, and now we look back on it, and its significance. In summary:- Can we boast that we have salvaged our relationship with the Creator? Not one bit. It's not based on our actions. Is the Creator interested in only those born into faith? Again absolutely not. We are equally loved. Given our relationship is now secure, can we please ourselves? That's ridiculous. We have a cherished relationship to protect and nurture. Pleasing our Creator is a sure sign of this. 

PRAYER:  I desire to please you in thought word and deed, and in return, I am free.

Lent Seventeen "Get up and Walk"

 

Bond (2004) By Terry Winters,
Cooley Galley, Reed College Seattle

God, who winds our sundials.  

Lichtenberg, Aphorisums, 1764-99    

I can relate to the life of Georg Lichtenberg.  He admired English writers, in particular Henry Fielding; in particular, his book 'Tom Jones'.  He attempted to emulate this writing, but only made it to the third page.  Litchenberg noticed that there is so much we take for granted.  The countless miracles happening all around us every day.  Of the enormous, powerful sun, which rotates daily round and round my sundial.  A friend of mine some time ago, told me of the thought he had when standing in a vineyard in the south of France with the rain lashing down.  He realised that he was witnessing the miracle of the water turning into wine.

The Letter to the Hebrew People Chapter Eleven

Faith brings knowledge of security about the future. There is so much we cannot see that requires faith. People from history are celebrated for the faith they displayed. Only by faith can we understand how the universe came into being. By faith people honour the Creator, giving their best, when the Creator is invisible. By faith old people continue to trust in their relationship with the Creator as they approach the inevitability of death. By faith people set out on projects they believe are right when others see them as impossible or foolhardy. By faith some people leave their communities and travel to live in other countries with other peoples. By faith people believe that they will have children when science tells them it’s impossible. All these people ‘tread lightly on the earth’ holding onto their relationship with their Creator foremost. By faith our ancestor Abraham did as he thought he was instructed, and was prepared to kill his only son, as the people of the time were doing. This was despite the Creator promising that he would be head of many peoples. Abraham knew that the Creator had an ultimate plan that would succeed. It was by faith that our forefathers trusted that our people would survive against the odds. It was by faith that our people survived their turbulent history, with the threat of extermination occurring many times. Different people knew their part and were able to help, saving lives in the nick of time. There are so many stories I could relate that illustrate this wonderful quality which is to be treasured. Many people suffered greatly, and never saw the ultimate goal of peace and justice. But they knew that their Creator was to be trusted and ultimately had control over their story. We now see what the plan was and the route made clear to restoration and completeness. 

PRAYER:  I wonder at the beauty of your creation every day.  May I see your hand in everything.