Gathering Up Fragments

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.”

Gathering Up the Fragments

What began as a few loaves and fishes
became an enormous overflowing banquet
thousands upon thousands ate their fill
and still their was abundance left over.

We are both fragments and abundance
living between great need and plenty
the miracles of life will come again
when we offer up the little we have.

They sit on the hills and in alleys still
praying for the generosity of a child
hoping to be gathered in and fed
seeking to be known and loved.

What begins as so little can multiply
if we release the generosity of love
if we set free the judgements of this world
we will all sit down together and be fed.

Nothing on Our Own

Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.

“Very truly, I tell you, the 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 just 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 be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” John 5:19-29

Whole Household

When the two days were over, he went from that place to Galilee (for Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in the prophet’s own country). When he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the festival; for they too had gone to the festival.

Then he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.” The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he himself believed, along with his whole household. Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee .John 4:43-54 

As a parent, I have to admit that I still worry about my children. They are grown. They are brilliant and delightful women, thriving each in their own unique places. Each has had crises, challenges and illnesses, and each has overcome major adversities. I am very proud of them. Yet still, daily, moment by moment I pray for them, entrusting them into God's hands, aching that their strong faith gets them through the day. I cannot help that, as a parent, they are embedded in my soul.

Jesus is sought out by a desparate parent. The official was not an official that day, but a panicked parent. The child was very sick and near death. Jesus told him that the child would live and the parent believed, as did the whole household. Surviving a near death experience with a loved one changes everything and everyone. We are invited to see God in the midst of our crises, our terrifying anxious moments and the everyday, coming and going in life. As Jesus met the man on the road, so too are we invited to Jesus in our midst.

Today, I ask God to help me turn the everyday and the extraordinary worry over to God. May we trust that the miracles we need are at hand, and go on our way, rejoicing.

Calling - The Third Sunday After the Epiphany

Third Sunday After the Epiphany January 26, 2020

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,

and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. Matthew 4:12- 23

I grew up around fishing people, folks who lived their lives on the water. No one will tell you that it's an easy life, yet many love it. Often the trade is passed from father to son, and these days to daughters as well, although there have been times when women weren't allowed out because they were " bad luck." Leaving a family tradition is even harder than the life itself. Getting the salt water, the fish scales and the constant rocking take forever.

Jesus moved away from his traditional home in Nazareth to Capernaum by the sea. His day in and day out life was changed forever by the sea of Galilee. He horizon had changed. And on his horizon were the wide expanse of the sea and fishermen. It was from where he was and what he knew that he called his first disciples. Jesus called them from their livelihood and tradition, from there familiar to new challenges and new dangers they were ill equipped to handle. We all feel like we are ill equipped to handle the dangers and challenges ahead. Yet, we are called, and if we follow, we will change our world and bring love and light where once there was none.

Today, I ask God to give me the strength to say "yes!" every morning. May we follow Jesus together, sharing our fears and trusting that God will provide strength, capacity and miracles.

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.

Sheep Amidst Wolves

Jesus said to the twelve, "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:16-22

Sheep Amidst Wolves


It is easier to know what to do
and simpler to know what to say
when those who want you dead
weren't your friends and family,

On high courts and honored places
in thrones and elected places
even in the righteous chairs
sit those who would consume you.

We are often anxious about tomorrow
yet too careless about the danger
from those with greedy hearts and
those who seek power more than love.

We are often close to destruction
yet God is on the side of innocence
God is at the heart of those who love
will shield us in the dangerous days.

Truthful Conversation

Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.John 4:16-26

These days, we are surrounded by conversations abotu the truth. At this very moment, our Senate is hearing some truths and trying to ignore it. We are caught in an age when people prefer to be entertained than understand the truth, from professional wrestling, to "reality tv" to the halls of justice. Yet, when we do tell the truth, when honest conversation prevails, things change for the better and enemies become friends.

Jesus encounters a woman, he should consider an enemy. They talk openly and he tells her the truth. She doesn't deny it and in her honesty, she received the keys to the reign of God. Her heart is open, unburdened by lying, and she and her people are some of the first to know Jesus. Not only did enemies become friends but her whole community was changed. We are invited to model a life of truth telling, even when making up a cover story might make us more comfortable, personally and financially.

Today, I ask God to help me live an honest and truthful life. May our honesty open our hearts to the love of God in our midst.

Living Water

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, “Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John”—although it was not Jesus himself but his disciples who baptized—he left Judea and started back to Galilee. But he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.

A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water. John 4:1-15

Living Water

Salty or fresh and flowing
crashing against the beach
or flowing over high falls
water is life's true source.

At Jacob's well with a woman
who labored daily for water
Jesus speaks with a stranger
she finds life again renewed.

A chance or fated encounter
the clash of life and cultures
made all better by their exchange
echoing through the ages.

This water source, this life giver
we thirst and labor for love
yet abundance is offered always
forgiveness found by diving in.

Joy Fulfilled

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized—John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.

Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.John 3:22-36


Sitting in the audience, watching a child perform, or, on the bleachers as they compete, is one of life's great joys. It doesn't matter if they are the best or if they win. It matters that they show up and do their best. Watching them is sheer joy, in their beauty and their imperfection. When we love others, we find joy in their being, their breathing, their reality. A friend, a parent, a spouse - we all rejoice when we see our beloved thrive.

John is testifying about Jesus when tested by religious leaders. He is always straight forward and intense. His message is clear. Loving friends, know the true value of their friends and family, and know true joy in that loving. The religious leaders wanted to spread doubt. They were responded to with deep, abiding and fierce love. We are invited to be fiercely faithful and loving, for there we find true joy.

Today I ask God to help me be fiercely loving and fully faithful. May wefind joy as we love others completely and follow Jesus by giving ourselves away.

God So Loved

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’ John 3:16-21

God So Loved

That solid tree and tender flower

the light that softly illuminates

the warm breeze along the water

God so loved every part of the world.

The smallest child with tender sighs

the loudest one on the basketball court

the elder strolling ever so slowly

God so loves them all.

That angry one who strikes in anger

the abused one who cowers in shame

the arrogant and overly spoiled

God sill loves each and every one.

The Momma wrings her exhausted hands

the preacher wonders whether they listen

the teacher sighs with hope and despair

and God so loves them all.

MLK Day 2020

O sing to the Lord a new song;
   sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
   tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
   his marvelous works among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
   he is to be revered above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
   but the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before him;
   strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
   ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
   bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in holy splendor;
   tremble before him, all the earth.

Say among the nations, ‘The Lord is king!
   The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
   He will judge the peoples with equity.’
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
   let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
   let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
   before the Lord; for he is coming,
   for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
   and the peoples with his truth. Psalm 96

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. who was gone too soon, but his message still rings out. I had the great blessing of meeting as a child and listening to his words and was swept up by his passion. I never knew how fortunate I was until later. He died because he fought for the truth and weak men didn't want to hear it. They still don't.

Dr. King was first and foremost a pastor, a follower of Jesus. His activity for civil rights came out of his commitment to following Jesus. The words that guided his life came from the heart of his savior. He spoke with his heart, full of hope that we would all catch his passion - justice, equality and freedom from all. More than fifty years after his death, we are witnessing the grip and power of racism, greed and inequity. We who would follow Jesus in our day must take of the banner of those who have gone before, like Dr. King. It is time to speak and lead and to march.

Today, I ask God to help me take up the banner and be a warrior for justice for all. May we all follow Jesus as we live to serve others.

Invitation - Second Sunday after Epiphany

Second Sunday after Epiphany, Year A, January 19, 2020

John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). John 1:29-42

When we are welcomed into a community, life changes. We are known by name and we are a participant, rather than an observer. We have "skin in the game." No longer are we anonymous when invited in. Our words have hearers, our tasks lend strength to others and our needs are understood and responded to. All of us ache for community and invitation. We ache to be part of loving families and loving communities.

Jesus responds to the questions about who he is by bringing them into his home and into his life. From that point on, we know, these brothers, Andrew and Simon (Peter) became part of the family, part of the community. We are all members of that community because of that invitation of "come and see". We are called by God to be those who make community and family for others, who are willing to bring everyone in who comes with questions.

Today, I ask God to help me be one who invites, welcomes and incorporate people into community. May we be the love of God made visible by our radical welcome.


Collect

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Mother's Instruction

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there a few days.John 2:1-12

I lost my mother almost five year's ago. I remember how, when she told me to do things, I might bristle as a child. When an adult, and she would tell me to do something, I would revert to my child like feelings and behaviors. I have learned, over the years, that her instruction and insight were always on the mark. They have helped me to be who I am today. Yet, we are also human and often miss the worth of the love and gifts we have been given. And we find out, that the small obligations and tasks done reluctantly or otherwise, were really our very best.

Jesus is instructed by his mother and his bristles at her prodding. Yet, he also gives in, and with that miracles begin. Jesus was and is fully human, knowing the tug and pull of family. Yet, in his willingness to follow her instruction, his life and our lives changed forever. We are invited to follow Jesus' lead, taking the instruction given as an opportunity to change everything for the good

Today, I ask God to help me to follow instructions given with joy and hope. May we be ever expectant that the small things we do may be huge blessings, made holy at the hand of a loving God.

Under the Tree

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’ John 1:43-51</

Under the Tree

Resting quietly thinking alone
these thoughts of independence
fearless in untested strength
the eye of God is still upon us.

The author of love is seeking
even now to find that heart
which lives for others' healing
and tells the truth without shame.

Those who are sought by God
do not resemble the mighty
they have weakness and fears
hiding under the great spreading trees.

Those who are quirky and broken
the most desired of all beloved
for within there is room for spirit
dancing, turning, making new.

Come and See

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).John 1:35-42

Opening your home to others is something we worry about. Many of us like our privacy and worry about our security. We don't open the door to strangers and have front door monitors so that folks won't break in or steal our packages. Yet, the nicest thing someone can do is to open the door to us and welcome us in. To be welcome and fed in another's home is a sweet act of kindness, always remembered.

John the Baptist invites his disciples to know Jesus and in turn, Jesus invites the disciples to his home. Andrew then invites his brother to meet Jesus. In this small sets of exchanges are real acts of liberation and love. John does not hang on to his disciples but sends them to Jesus. Andrew doesn't keep the Teacher to himself but invites Simon, his brother. They have received love and share it freely and Jesus opens his door and heart to them, even renaming Simon, since he saw something remarkable in that man. We are called to invite and welcome, to open doors and share the love we have. The spark of the Holy Spirit is in the simple acts of invitation and welcome.

>Today, I ask God to help me be one who invites and welcomes. May we open our hearts and our homes to those who need the love and solace we have to share.