Packing a Lunch

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. John 6:1-15

As a mom, I have packed quite a few lunches in my day. I tried hard to put nutritious and tasty food in my daughters' lunches. I also remembered, from my own childhood, the amazing ability of children to swap and trade lunches in a hurried frenzy. The smartest and fastest kids would end up with all the good treat and eat nothing healthy at all. And many a packed lunch ended up tosses in the bushes on the way to school. No matter how hard we try, our kids are going to do what they want when out of sight and unsupervised.

I imagine that the mom who sent the little boy to hear Jesus also warned the little boy to eat everything she had given him. She wanted him strong and healthy. What did he do? He shared all that he had with the disciples, who quickly turned it over to Jesus. I also imagine that he tried to tell his mom about the miracle. And Mom probably didn't believe him. Our gospel tells us that if we share the small amounts we have, God will bless and multiply. God will use our small offerings to make great things happen. People might not take us seriously, but God does.

As the rains pours down, I ask God to bless the small drops of faith that we have today. May the little offerings we make today be blessed by God and increased. May our tasks be blessed so that the world might be fed, clothed and brought to warm shelter. May all that we do bring glory to God who has looked with favor on the meek and lowly and miraculously increased the gifts of love and compassion.

Steadfast

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
the LORD answered me and set me free.
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The LORD is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
All nations surrounded me;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
They surrounded me like bees;
they went out like a fire among thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
Glad songs of salvation
are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
the right hand of the LORD exalts,
the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”
I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the LORD.
The LORD has disciplined me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD's doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we pray, O LORD!
O LORD, we pray, give us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God,
and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
up to the horns of the altar!
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 118

The Cape May Point Lighthouse has been part of my history my whole life. It defines the visual landscape, it announces safety to boats coming to harbor and it signals coming home for me. I never remember a time when it was not lit, day or night, despite the changes in time and paint color. Many people have come and gone but it is steadfast and continuous, a silent beacon of hope in all weathers, all seasons and for residents and visitors alike.

Today we hear this psalm of David, this poem set to music, in which he reminds himself of God's constancy in the face of wars, violence, jealousy and rage. It rings loud and clear of God's love for all of us, God's protection for everyone, and the true safe harbor that is the love of God. We are humbled as we sing, reminded that, deserving or not, God is constant and faithful in a very unfaithful and often hateful world. We are invited to be grateful and humble sharing the love and confidence we have been given, despite circumstances great and frightening, with the people around us.

As we travel home today, I ask God to cover our steps and the miles between here and home, with safety and compassion. May we not fear the road ahead, nor the twists and turns, knowing God goes with us each step of the way. May we all sing loud the praises of the One who holds us tenderly, shields us from the terrors of our days and nights, and who brings us home in light and safety. And may we who sing, also reach out in love to those who are perishing in fear and anxiety, knowing love is most visible as it is given away.

Passing Through

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment." John 5:19-29

We spent a beautiful afternoon yesterday, walking around Harvard Square with our daughter Phoebe. She was born here in Boston while I was in seminary and now she lives here. We walked around and reminisced about the three years we lived here and the places we liked to stop and window shop. We stopped into an stationers store which in 20 plus years moved and moved back to its original location. I was reminded how permanent those days seemed then, and how fleeting they truly were. We were just passing through. We were there for a time, and we have wonderful stories to remember, but life moved on, and we moved on.

Jesus begins to share with his disciples the nature of his relationship with the father. Although his corporeal time on this earth was fleeting, his station was permanent, and his role was the one who brought people from death into life, beyond judgement, beyond having to stand in judgement. No matter how many times I read this passage I am never sure I understand completely. John's Gospel is always a bit of a mystery, and is often full of poetry and implication. But it points to a very deep truth, that relationship is everything, and God is at the center of all relationships. Even if we are passing through a time or place, love is permanent, and Jesus brings us beyond judgement and captivity into freedom and life.

Today I ask God to help me enjoy the day, to feast completely on the wonders and gifts of relationship, and to trust that the coming days are in God's hands. We are to trust the the way ahead is made clear by love, and we are to travel the road ahead with confidence and joy. May we all know that the love we have is eternal, and no matter where we find ourselves on the journey, we are passing through, and held closely in a loving relationship with a truly compassionate and forgiving God.

Lying by the Pool

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. John 5:1-18

When I served in Middletown years ago, our neighbor was the senior warden and also a generous friend. Beth and Tom had an in-ground pool which they made freely available to us. We often found ourselves on sweltering afternoons hanging around the pool, and even some sticky summer nights found us bringing our supper and sharing stories sitting in their back yard as the kids splashed about. They were kind and generous and made room for our rowdy bunch. The water took away the fierceness of summer, washed away all of the extra energy of childhood and absorbed the competition of three girls. I always dreamed of having a pool of our own. Because of their generosity, they made us feel right at home and welcomed always.

The pool where Jesus found the man was not like a backyard summer fun spot. It was surrounded by folks in terrible need and in terrible pain. If you were poor and had no help, you were likely never to get in the water. And yet this man was healed, by Jesus, who took pity on him, saw his need and touched him with healing. It was an amazing thing, a transforming event, the gift of a completely new life. And Jesus made the man feel part of the beloved family, forgiving him and setting him free from the illness that bound him and held him down. And God promises to be there for us also, at the point where we cannot move, where we are immobilized by pain, when we have given up home of ever finding a new life.

Today, I ask God to help me remember that Jesus is never far off, but always drawing close to us, taking us in his arms and transforming us through love and compassion. To those who need healing this day may we take heart. For the ones who have been transformed, may we reach out in love. And may we all wait with patient hope knowing that God is always more ready to stir the pool than we are to jump in.

A Parent's Worry

After the two days he departed for Galilee. (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. John 4:43-54

You can't stop us, we worry. As a parent you cannot help but worry when your kids are sick or facing a big challenge. Our granddaughter had a high fever this week, and although it was finally just from teething, she caused her parents great worry. Even though our daughters are grown, I still worry about them. I ache for them to be happy and every day, I pray and put them in God's hands. And everyday I still find myself thinking and wondering, especially when they are sick.

An official comes to Jesus and the man is beside himself with worry. His child was near death and in those times, there was little medicine that would fix the boy. Death was inevitable. I am sure the man had prayed and racked himself with grief and worry. He was a good parent and he could not help himself. To this aching man, Jesus responds with comfort and immediate healing. He sends the man running home with joy and hopefulness, something that had been missing from this man for all too long. We hear from our gospel today that that which has been missing for all too long, is just around the corner. Jesus aches for the worried parent, the anxious child and all of us in between. And the answer, the healing is coming for God's desire is for us to run home with joy and hopefulness.

Today, I ask God to help me trust and continue to ask for the healing and answers we need. May the signs of God's love for us be so evident today that none of us can miss the promise and the hope we have. May we all run home with joy knowing that God is supplying the need before we can ask, and God is aching with us for solution and resolution.

Gone Fishing

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. Mark 1:14-20

We've Gone Fishing

We've gone fishing in different waters
far from port far from home
we are sailing on the rising tide
following the rising sun following
the one who will teach us how
to spread God's love world wide.

We've left familiar waters dark nights
surround the shores strangers and aliens
voices with foreign accents and customs
we have drifted out beyond
anything we've ever known.

We've gone fishing in different waters
far from port far from home
we are sailing on the rising tide
following the rising sun following
the one who will teach us how
to spread God's love world wide.

We've rushed into this without thinking
moving with our hearts ablaze
there wasn't time to cry or worry
no time to pack and save
we left it all behind
for the one who give us everything.

We've gone fishing in different waters
far from port far from home
we are sailing on the rising tide
following the rising sun following
the one who will teach us how
to spread God's love world wide.

When we're done we'll tell the stories
other ones will write them down
then thousands of years later on
some one will hear and join our mission
some one will jump up and follow him.

We've gone fishing in different waters
far from port far from home
we are sailing on the rising tide
following the rising sun following
the one who will teach us how
to spread God's love world wide.

Mothers and Fathers don't be sad
don't be sad we're sailing with the tide
we're learning how to be fishers of men
we're learning how to love one another
we're finding out that all are equal
and all are near the heart of God.

We've gone fishing in different waters
far from port far from home
we are sailing on the rising tide
following the rising sun following
the one who will teach us how
to spread God's love world wide.



The Collect
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Across Borders

Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him.
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” John 4:27-42

In the past few years, immigration reform, and stricter laws governing illegals has been a very hot topic. Since 911 we have become more fearful and more protective. Having been to many border locations in this country, I am amazed at who the agents flag through and who they search. I am always curious about what makes a threatening stranger and what makes a trusted welcomed person. We set up all sorts of barriers and borders, not just by country but by groups and individuals. People seem to need to separate themselves from others, to define who the enemy is, and draw the wagons tight, in order to feel safe. And yet, God is always inviting us to do the opposite, it seems.

The disciples are horrified that Jesus is talking to a woman, and even worse, talking to a woman from the enemy camp. They are horrified by his behavior, and maybe a bit frightened. They know who is safe and who isn't. Then Jesus is invited by the Samaritan people to come and stay with them, and he goes with them and takes the disciples with him. They stayed together in the strangers homes and ate in the enemy camp. I can't imagine the discomfort of the disciples or of the Samaritans who didn't go out to the well. This story about the early ministry of Jesus is told to us so that we understand that God refuses to define anyone as too far away, too strange or too broken. God loves those who we call enemies and aliens, and God calls us to seek them out, living as friends and neighbors with those we once thought of as the enemy.

Today I ask God to help me dismantle any barriers and borders I might have set up. Help my heart, Lord, to make room for the stranger, enemy and alien I encounter to day. Keep my feet from turning away, and my hands from seeking a defense. May my words and my actions be welcome and love. For once we were all strangers and aliens of God in our own understanding. And yet God sought us out and stayed with us. May we seek out the stranger today and accept the invitations we are given.