Festival

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

All communities and religious sects have festivals. Some are open to the public, some are for observant members, and some, are completely unknown to outsiders. Whatever the nature of the festival, people look forward to them, make great preparations and plans for them, and thoroughly enjoy their time. And, we know, when families and close communities come together, judgement and gossip are prevalent. This is so for every pow wow I have ever attended, as well as church gatherings and festivals. A very human Jesus did not want to go because of the judgment and the gossip. Yet he knew his heart and soul still wanted to participate. It was important for his heart and soul, for his grounding in faith and for his identity. We find Jesus in the most human of situations, and we all know these circumstances. An insight into the challenges we all face. Sometimes we can participate and sometimes we need to step back, watch, wait and pray ourselves through these challenges times.

Loving Creator, you teach us to dance

we pray as we step into the familiar circles

we give thanks for the community gathered

and we ask for your blessings on our lives.

Sometimes, though, we do not feel safe here

the familiar has become a real obstacle

we can see the eyes of judgment upon us

and our hearts break from the cruel rejection.

Lift us up into your loving arms in these times

when nothing fits and all have become strangers

help us to step back as we watch and pray

knowing you are remaking and renaming us always. Amen.