Lent 2018. . . We're Invited Once Again. . .
I would however, be remiss not to thank you all for your continued prayers for Danielle, the kids (who are most definitely growing up incredibly quickly) and myself. It is true, that no matter the journey one takes, grief and gratitude seem to kiss each other on a daily basis. YET, the older I get- which is most definitely happening - the more I come to realize in faith, that In the end Gratitude wins!
Grace and peace to you all and please enjoy this short homily . . . You might even be able to listen to it on Tree City web page.
Ash Wednesday Homily 2018
Do you love me more than these?
Some have heard me say it before- but it’s true- we live in a world where wounds, death, sorrow, and darkness exist, and simultaneoulsy, in a world where wonder, life, joy, and light exist too. Both mark our existence in incredibly unique ways. This is a real tension and one not to be avoided or ignored, especially for believers in Jesus.
The big question in the midst, might be however, Can we actually live into this tension well - that is, lives not of just mere existence but full of life?
We’re here tonight because mysteriously, God has actually gathered us. I believe, that none of us are here by accident, yet, by a grace that has drawn us. A grace that may not yet be recognized, but one that draws no matter where we've come from in our everyday historic ordinary lives. We’re all here because of a God who creates out of dust. It’s this creative God, whom I believe can enable us to live in this tension filled world- with hope.
Yet oftentimes, hope seems allusive. So we question existence, which then causes us to ask questions like; can we look at the world (the dusty world around us, this dusty world inside us) and still love it? - Still be hopeful? No doubt, it’s difficult- especially, it seems when we look at the dustyness inside ourselves. But, I believe it’s possible to live life full of hope - through the one who created us out of dust.
I mean really, if God created us out of dust, just imagine what He can do with us now?
But before we move to quickly, Lent invites us to reflect and slow down a bit. So just maybe this journey begins with a question more than an answer? This question might be:
Do you love me more than these? We find this question in John 21 where Jesus asks his beloved friend Peter this question, after the Resurrection. So, it may seem strange to ask this question just prior to entering into the season leading up to Resurrection- or maybe it's not. Just possibly, this could be a question God’s been asking us since creation?
Since the beginning, we humans have found ways to create labels and categories - to some extent we were asked and given this task to do, in the creation narrative- but we’ve taken it way too far.
The world loves categories. Good guy or bad guy. Are you a Cane or an Abel? Winner or loser. Self-starter or slacker. Girl on fire or girl gone crazy with desire. Rich or poor. Republican or Democrat. Western or Eastern. Blue collar or white collar. Jesus follower or Evangelical… and on and on.
Maybe the doorway that’s offered us this Ash Wednesday, is open to us all, no matter where we might be entering from? Maybe Lent invites us into a journey together that is less about categories and more about an activity- an activity of grace- a grace offered for all?
Ash Wednesday is a doorway into the Season of Lent. (I understand that this season or the practice of this season may seem foreign to some while normal to others of you, yet hopefully tonight, this will be significant for all.) Lent is not obligation but an invitation. We’re invited, once again- as individuals and as a community, to pray Our Father, may Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven and may it begin with us. So, we reflect on the whole earth and us earthlings. We contemplate the dustiness of the world and this dust- us. In a real sense we’re faced with a deep question that has the power to penetrate to the deepest parts of our being because its a piercing love - a love without conditions, without borders, without boundaries, without categories - This Love asks; Do you love me more than these?
This question is incredibly weighty. It’s as if it has the uncanny ability to uncover our deepest desires, longings, strivings, yearnings, aspirations and ambitions. It forces us to consider; what do I really need? What do I really love?
This question does not hinge on; where one comes from, or how well one has performed in life, or on the labeles society may have placed on someone. This question comes from True Love (Yes, this exists- even on Valentines Day) YET, True Love is a person - Jesus. We don't step into this season alone, instead we’re accompanied, even more, we’re invited into this seasonal journey by the one who walked before us - (our True Love) Jesus. He invites us and walks with us (and talks with us along life’s narrow way). AND, He asks us, not to become a category, but a companion. A compassionate companion of love. Yet this is costly. It's costly, as we're faced with the question do you love me more than THESE? So what are these in our lives?
When Jesus asked Peter, it could have been:
Do you love me more than these guys?
Do you love me more than this fishing job and security of employment?
Do you love me more than yourself?
What about us?
We read from Psalm 51 earlier and while some of us may identify our lives, like Davids - as ones on a trajectory of self-destruction - yet, all of us nevertheless, have a propensity to have “these” that we love more than Jesus, in our lives. For example;
Do we love Jesus more than…
our need for status or recognition?
our innate appetite for consumption: whether material goods like the next and greatest or consuming addictions
our obsession with work, success, or busyness
our own self, our own lives
our own self-dependency or narcissistic selfishness in our selfi-ism world
our BFF’s, families, or children
Or maybe self-preservation hold us so tightly that we let fear fill us to where we remain silent when injustices strike - while God may be calling us to speak out - as the way of the cross asks: Would we lay down our lives for Jesus and for the “other” whom we may even consider an “enemy”?
It’s here, right here, in the everyday grind of life, and in the contemplation and questions, where GRACE breaks into our real lives. It breaks in, like a necessary chisel creating a masterpiece. It breaks in like that breeze on a hot day or that necessary thirst quenching water. It offers to break away these loves for true love to recreate new life in us - where loving our enemies is manifested and God-dependency is our livelihood.
Yet, while this grace is free, the journey is costly.
To choose Love is costly, it was costly for God the Father, and it is for us.
This is a journey that inevitably takes us to death and any pilgrimage to the cross calls for us to develop a discipline (or practice) of confession and repentance. Confession does take intentionality, yet it’s also the beginning of healing.
Could it be that in order to walk into a hopeful healing vision of the future, a proper perspective of the present is necessary?
I believe so… and This present perspective is truly, that none of us has anything to bring into Lent, but our true selves our “Ok-ness” (dusty-ness) and honestly, our true selves are in desperate need of healing and recreation that can only begin in confession.
God longs for us to hear his warning, convicting voice, and turn back to the ways of mercy, justice, humble service and sacrificial lives of grace & love. So, the healing begins w/ confessing that we are sinners, and faithfully believing that God is committed to us- because while yet, we were sinners, Christ died for us.
This confessional way is not easy nor comfortable- again, grace breaks in and brokenness is never comfortable. It’s a journey that calls us away from an “individual easy religion”, as we are faced with the disturbing words from Jesus, “If anyone would come after me let them deny oneself and take up their cross and follow me.”
This is a journey to death but paradoxically, death that leads to new life! And again, Grace breaks in here inviting us, even now to declare like (Joel 2) with all your heart . . . return to the Lord, your God, for God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.
It’s this Lord we need who is full of everlasting steadfast love. It’s this Lord, whom we, like David in his Psalm (51) can cry out,
Lord I need you to Create in me a pure heart, renew a steadfast spirit, and restore me full joy in salvation.
Lord, I need you for today and for the journey that lies ahead.
God longs to impart mercy, love and blessing not punishment - we see this in Jesus.
Yes. God sees. God knows. And to confess isn’t telling God anything He doesn't already know. YET, it is however, agreeing with God, that we are broken sinners in need of gracious wholeness. It’s trusting that grace covers all our sin and it’s precisely here where good news is revealed - the good news that God is at work transforming us to become more like our True Love- Jesus.
Whether we come from a deeply rich faith in Jesus or have heard the name of Jesus not just as a swear word for the first time tonight- we all are asked the same question; Do you love me more than these? So, the journey just might begin with a question and the steps through the doorway of lent are taken prayerfully crying out; Oh Lord, I need you. Oh God WE need you. Oh Lord, create in us You.
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