A Child's Lunch

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread 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 among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus 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. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”

When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. John 6:1-15 (NRSV)

A Child's Lunch

It was an everyday lunch
packed by a loving parent
anticipated by a hungry child
as he sat with the dusty throng
listening to one amazing teacher.

He might have fallen asleep
found shade from the hot sun
held off as long as he could
tried to listen as he drowsed
dust and noise swirling around.

It was an everyday lunch
until he overheard the disciples
when he was moved to share
to go hungry, to be generous
despite his growling stomach.

The disciples may have winced
may have thought the gift too small
thought it was a foolish offer which
reluctanly carried to the teacher
thinking they could do no more.

It may have been a child's lunch
yet it was transformed into many
food enough for the crowd's fill
sustanence enough for the journey
a miracle story oft repeated.

We may have only small change
a simple lunch or a cup of tea
our humble offerings all can become
the sustenance for others to thrive
blessed and shared for all the world.

Prodigal

                                  Fourth Sunday in Lent - March 31st, 2019

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the

 scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So Jesus told them this parable:

"There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the 

share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days

 later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he

 squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took

 place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to 

one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly 

have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But 

when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and 

to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him,

"Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your 

son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was

 still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around 

him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before 

you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly,

 bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and 

is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.

"Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music 

and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother

 has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' 

Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 

But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, 

and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so 

that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured 

your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, 

'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, 

because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'" 

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

It happens. We wander off, thinking we need to get some air, and then we keep going. When we are

young and headstrong, we think we can do so much better than our parents. We think we might be

suffocating in their seemingly small and circumspect world. We realize all too quickly how hard it

is to be on our own. Our pride keeps us from crying out or calling for help, Yet. as we wise up, we

can return to be embraced by love that has never diminished, no matter how far we wandered.

Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders who do not like the company he keeps. Jesus responds

by telling a story to which everyone can relate. The prodigal son invites us to see ourselves as 

parent, child and siblings. We are wrapped in love and do not see it fully until we walk away or

are confronted by the dancing and celebrations for another. Our honesty and jealousy gets all

mixed together. And the only real answer to our twisting and struggling is to embrace fully the

love that is always, always waiting.

Today I ask God to help me have compassion for all, the parent, the child, the siblings and the 

prodigals. God's love surrounds us all, and we are called to return and find the ground of our

beings in that love which binds us all together.

Collect

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which

 gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who

 lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Children of God

The Pharisees answered Jesus, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.”

They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are indeed doing what your father does.” They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

“Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.” John 8:33-47 

Child of God

Stubborn and self-righteous
proud and full of arguments
pushing away from love
yet all are children of God.

We punish the sad and broken 
shun the ones needing shelter
lock up the innocent children
yet we are desired by our Creator.

A loving parent never turns away
even when a heart is full of fear
never willing to lose hope
always praying for new life.

We are children of God despite
our cruelty, selfishness and greed
our sinful pride and our shame
in all, God aches for the children.

The Truth Will Make You Free

Again Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” Then the Jews said, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.” They said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Why do I speak to you at all? I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:21-32 

It is sometimes hard to accept the turth and even harder when the truth is not pretty or reveals a terrible thing someone you love has done. Yet pretending that all is well, when it is not, or defending the behavior, can destroy generations to come. Freedom comes when we embrace thr truth, all the truth, the good, the bad and the ugly. The losses we face as we age, help us to let go and move on. We can choose to deny the truth but them we bind ourselves forever.

Jesus tells the followers very openly that he is going away. They don't want to hear it so they make up cover stories, excuses, and other narratives. Yet Jesus promises that if they turn and face the truth, no matter how hard it might be, they will know freedom, real freedom. If we are honest with ourselves, and faith the truths revealed, we will be made whole and freed to love.

Today, my choice is being made free to love. May God give us all the strength to face the truth, so that we can turn, repent and be set free.

Light of the World

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Then the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.” Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.” Then they said to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. John 8:12-20 

Light of the World

The winter light has left us
replaced with her stronger sister
the one who pulls the daffodils up
the light that dries up all the snow.

The spring comes upon us
year after year followed by summer
yet the light of the world us with us
in our darkest, coldest hours.

We turn away from the light source
yet we are never abandoned ever
we have a light over rough seas
a light to lead us onward home.

The light of the world is never out
never on a break or a sabbatical
we rest in the light that hugs us
and know we are finding a new way.

In the Middle

 About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. The Jews were astonished at it, saying, ‘How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?’ Then Jesus answered them, ‘My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.

 ‘Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?’ The crowd answered, ‘You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?’ Jesus answered them, ‘I performed one work, and all of you are astonished. Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man’s whole body on the sabbath? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement.’

 Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.’ Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, ‘You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.’ Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come. Yet many in the crowd believed in him and were saying, ‘When the Messiah comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?’^*

 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering such things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent temple police to arrest him. Jesus then said, ‘I will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will search for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.’ The Jews said to one another, ‘Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What does he mean by saying, “You will search for me and you will not find me” and, “Where I am, you cannot come”?’  John 7:14-36

In The Middle

The story has not concluded

yet we always ask why and when

are you the one to follow

or will another come at the end.

Like children watching puppets

we believe they can help us

we want the script to see the end

aching to have promised security.

Yet every day is another step

a dance going one way and then

another turn and several slides

before the finale is done.

Let us dance this day and rejoice

for we are in the middle together

dancing with the loving Creator

singing as the morning rises up.

Show Youself

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing; for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” (For not even his brothers believed in him.) Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil. Go to the festival yourselves. I am not going to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come.” After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were in secret. The Jews were looking for him at the festival and saying, “Where is he?” And there was considerable complaining about him among the crowds. While some were saying, “He is a good man,” others were saying, “No, he is deceiving the crowd.” Yet no one would speak openly about him for fear of the Jews. John 7:1-13 

Yesterday, Facebook decided to hide the blog I wrote because of objectionable content. I mist say that the words I write are always kind and supportive. I make my heart and life visible so that others may gain hope and strength. If that is objectionable than why wouldn't someone be brave and talk to me about it? Why wouldn't they show themselves?

Jesus did not want to stir up trouble at  an upcoming religious festival. He was advised to share his voice and gifts despite the true dangers and folks who were angry enough to threaten death. He decided finally to go anyway. We are called, in these days of divided country and family to go anyway, to show ourselves as willing to face criticism and threats so that love can shine bright in the midst of division.

Today, I ask God to help me not worry about the dangers and detractors, but show myself, ready to share love and serve others at all times. May we live to shine as the vessels of God's love in a fearful and anxious world.

A Burning and Shining Lamp

Jesus said, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true. You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent.

“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?” John 5:30-47 

Too many people seek their fifteen minutes of fame. They love the "reality" TV shows and beg to be a part of them. Celebrity is all important, yet, celebrity fades as quickly as is appeared and most are ruined by it. Human praise and glory are so seductive. We love being the star of the show, the line leader, the one everyone looks to for leadership. Human glory is but a candle burning bright and then melted down.

Jesus is inviting the religious leadership and us today to a different kind of glory. Not the clapping audience nor the devoted students, but rather a humble life dedicated to serving others. We fear being unseen and unnoticed. God invites us to not look to be noticed, but seek the deeper relationship with God that pushes us to love enemies and strangers. No matter our path in life, we are invited to turn and seek God on that daily walk. No success, no award nor any honor is greater than truly knowing oneself to be a beloved child of God.

Today I ask God to help me seek God in every moment and to not worry about human praise and honor. May we all be filled with God's love, which pushes us to serve and love the lowliest and disregarded around us.