Monthly Archives: August 2012
Look Carefully How You Walk
Look carefully then how you walk!
Ephesians 5:5-21
† In Jesus Name †
God’s gifts of love and mercy are yours in Christ Jesus!
Look carefully then how you walk!
It was too bad, that I didn’t happen to read in my devotions back in February our epistle reading this morning. I left home that morning, having decided it would be a great habit to walk to the office each morning.
I will admit, as I left the house, my mind was in a couple of different places, and I wasn’t doing what Paul advised. Looking carefully then how I walked, o come on, this is Cerritos! About 150 yards from the house, the raised sidewalk and my foot confronted each other. In such that my knee and should a half second later met that sidewalk even more forcefully.
After getting through the maze of our medical system, I started therapy two weeks ago. Bbecause I hadn’t looked carefully at how I walked afterwards, I didn’t realize how odd my way of walking had become – because my left knee and hip were compensating for an much weaker right knee and hip. Literally one step I was taking was 2 feet shorter than the next, and imbalance from the damaged side having 40 percent of the strength of the other side. The “therapy” (I think that’s Greek for torture) will last a couple of months, rather than a week or two. I should have watched how I walked!
If it is important to watch where we are walk physically in this life, it’s more important to watch how we walk spiritually. As Paul describes our journey of faith in our reading, he mentions consequences that are worse than anything a physical therapist can do to torture us! The danger of walking with those who walk in darkness, partnering with them, allowing them to deceive us and draw us into their sin, is that it leads to suffering God’s wrath. Why would we risk that, in view of what awaits us with Him?
That is why Paul talks about looking carefully at how we walk! He urges us to analyze how we walk – and walk as those who are wise, and not unwise.
The Challenge of Walking in Darkness
Though I was walking in broad daylight when I wasn’t paying attention, how much harder is it to pay attention in the dark? How many of us, on a trip have tried to walk around in a strange house, or hotel room in the dark? Usually its because we woke up, need to use the restroom quickly, and we get out of bed and look like a fool as we walk into a chair, a couch, a wall! Which doesn’t make our body any less needing to go!
People wandering in spiritual darkness remind me of a children’s game – pin the tail on the donkey. Like the game, spiritually those in the darkness are spun around, and their ability to navigate is highly compromised! That’s what living life dominated in sin, and caving into our desires does. We can’t tell which direction we are supposed to be heading, and while we know where we would like to go, where we would like to be, we have no ability to get there! The journey is worthless, it does us no good, and indeed, that life is lived with more and more frustration, and less and less peace.
Even that which God writes in all hearts – the natural law which most people acknowledge, those directions to live life can’t be followed, for our hearts were hardened and in the dark confusion, our instincts for self-protection and for pleasure override common sense. Every religion, even atheism indicates that certain actions, certain attitudes are wrong and evil – yet those lost in darkness seem to choose them over and over. This is not to forget, that in the darkness, you can’t see who is talking, and it is easy to be deceived, to be seduced into a relationship that damages us, for it ignores the warnings God provides to keep us safe.
Wandering in the darkness, not a good idea…
Entering the Light is a Challenge!
There is a challenge though, for to not walk in the darkness means that we have to struggle learning how to deal with walking in the light! Which is easier said than done! When you were walking around in that dark house, and someone turned a bright light on, didn’t it take a little bit before you really could see?
As we awoke from our sleep, and arose from the dead because Christ’s light shown on us as it says in verse 14, we had to learn to walk spiritually, to walk with God. It is a whole different life, a complete change of how we do things, and to be honest, we need to remember that – it’s too easy to slip back into doing things the way the world does, its do easy to be deceived and enticed into sinful thoughts, and evil deeds. For this world encourages us to be narcissistic, to look out for #1, even to do things unethically and immorally, if it makes our life better, or is just more pleasurable.
As we walk in Christ, that life we see for what it is – evil, immoral, shameful, and we struggle even more! We see it for what it is, even as we “see” deeply into things that are not so visible, such as the Lord’s Supper and Baptism, and the benefit of hearing that our sins… our individual sins are forgiven, and we are cleansed from every sin and all unrighteousness.
We learn that the light shows us what to flee from, what to let God sever us from, cleanse us from, freeing us so that we can learn to live life with what is beautiful. It takes a little to get used to! We realize that being in the light is more a blessing, and less that which we should fear. We learn as well that analyzing how we walk is also a blessing – as we become wise, and we learn to redeem the time, to make it profitable, not in the world’s views perhaps, but definitely in Gods view.
Our lives encounter healing! God heals them spiritually with therapy that is not full of pain, but rather a feast that causes us to rejoice!
Walking in the Light
We can discern what is pleasing to the Lord
We can understand what the will of the Lord is
I love that Paul linked worship, in a variety of ways, to this idea of looking at how we walk in the light. As we sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to each other, giving thanks and praise to God the Father for everything, everything that has been poured out on us, by Jesus, because of Jesus, in the Name of Lord Jesus Christ.
Here is how praising God is link to walking in Christ light. Read with me the end of verse 8 and 9 – without what’s in parenthesis .
Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
And then in verse 17,
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
What pleases God? What is His will, what does He desire above all? Peter tells us it is this:
3:9 The Lord is not being slow in carrying out his promises, as some people think he is; rather is he being patient with you, (desiring that no one would ) wanting nobody to be lost and everybody to be brought to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NJB)
And Paul guided by the Holy Spirit wrote:
2:3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 (ESV)
As we realize that God’s desire is to have a relationship with us, to establish us as His people, to have us know that He will care for us! He cares as the best Father could care for His children, we find ourselves renewed, rejuvenated, relieved of burdens and sins. We come to trust that our journey is not just in the light of a star we call the sun, but in the light of God’s glory. That His promises are all true, that all things will work out for good, that He will never forsake us, nor abandon us. “Us” isn’t just the people in this room – it includes all who have heard of His love, and those with whom God has sent us to share His love!
As we realize that – we sing – we praise Him, from simple psalms like Jesus Loves Me and Change my heart o God, to incredible hymns like A Mighty Fortress and Just a Closer Walk with Thee, to the spiritual songs that call us to realize we dwell in the presence of God, that plead with God, confident that He will shine on us… each different yet coming from the same place – a place of joy, a place of peace, a place where hope is incredible.
For God would calls into His light, into His glory, into His peace which surpasses all understanding, even as Christ keeps our hearts and minds there…with Him. AMEN?
The Saints and Angels in our lives
Discussion thought of the day:
Recently a number of people I know have passed away. All of them, in simple yet very profound ways, people of great faith.
As I listen to people talk about them, they were described with terms like “saint” or “angel”. People were in awe of the lives they lived, the strength they appeared to have, the way in which they were able to stick to their convictions regarding right and wrong. Such people are an obvious blessing in our lives. But as I have heard people talk of them, the awe also seems to contain an idea, which each of them would find… troubling.
The idea that what made them special could not be duplicated or emulated, that they were so far “beyond” us. That how they lived is impossible for us mere mortals, whose sainthood is suspect, whose halos are bent and a bit corroded. We know they were special, and I think we, for some reason, have put them on a pedastel that they would find… uncomfortable, and it would bother them, and indeed, we would go – “see – proof of their holiness”. In knowing a couple of them, as only a pastor can, I think if they had a moment, they would refer those people to two passages. The first, from St. Paul, would talk about the reason God chose to work in their lives:
1:14 And our Lord poured out his abundant grace on me and gave me the faith and love which are ours in union with Christ Jesus. 15 This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them, 16 but God was merciful to me in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience in dealing with me, the worst of sinners, as an example for all those who would later believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 To the eternal King, immortal and invisible, the only God—to him be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.
1 Timothy 1:14-17 (TEV)
You see, saints, and angels serve a purpose far different than we think they do. It’s not that they are so far beyond us, but that they demonstrate the effect of God’s love, something they trust in more than life itself. (see Rev. 12:11) The reason for their holiness is simply their trust in God’s work accomplishing it, a spirit that says like Mary, “may it be done to me according to your word”. (and even that acceptance is something generated in all of us by the work of the Holy Spirit!) It is not that they are more special, and they know it, indeed – put them in a room with Paul, and perhaps an argument would break out about who is the chief of all sinners. But they would all agree – that in saving them, in sanctifying them, God was showing what He could do, is doing in the rest of us. (or as I occasionally say…. if God can save a (insert colorful phrase) like me – the rest of you are a piece of cake!) But each of these people, each childlike in their joy and faith in God – oh – how they would desire that each of you know that how God walked with them on their journey, He will walk with you – and often – they believe in ways much more incredible.
That’s where the other quote comes in…
10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. 11:1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 (NLT)
I would draw your eyes to that italicized part first – Whether it be any of my friends who are now with God, or St Francis, or St Paul, there is humble sense that says, yes – imitate me, copy my journey – its okay to think I am a saint, as long as you make that journey walking besides God as well. Their desire to reflect God’s image in their lives, despite their propensity to sin, is what we witnessed, and seeing their actions and attitudes that were born in their relationship where they were united with Jesus, yes – know that God would have you imitate them, show the love they had for you and those around you. FOr the strength and saintliness that you witnessed was not any more natural to them, than it is to you.
But I would also have you notice the context again – of both passages – there is a sense that their work, their words, what God gave them to do and the workmanship with which He shaped them (and now us) results in others (including us) being saved, in others (including us) realizing that God can and does work in our lives. Gotta end this one with something that testifies of that work.
2:8 Because it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith; not by anything of your own, but by a gift from God; 9 not by anything that you have done, so that nobody can claim the credit. 10 We are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus for the good works which God has already designated to make up our way of life.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NJB)
We have been blessed to witness lives where it is obvious that God’s mercy was at work, for those lives are “works of art”. May we imitate them as we trust in God, as they, trusting in God, imitated Christ.
One holy, catholic and apostolic church…how?
Devotional thought of the day:
It is a line from our creeds, “I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.” Many believers – even a majority say such a phrase at least once a week, as we are gathered together by God, in His presence, in His Name.
Yet do we desire that which we state we believe in, that which the Holy Spirit creates as He calls and gathers us and sets us apart as His people. For the church is simply that – in Greek – “the called”, or “the chosen”. And many of us desire that the church be one, whether it is the church across the world and across all denominational boundaries, the church as in our particular denomination/synod/sect, or whether it is the church as in our own local expression of the church – the congregation – those gathered together in one place, where God put His name – so they can pray and know they are forgiven, and that those who don’t know God can pray, and they can know He is.
When the creed was composed, the idea of “one church” was obvious – both the word “one” and the word “catholic” testify to the church. But our forefathers in the faith were quite wise in adding the other words, “holy” and “apostolic”. For there we find some of the things which express our unity together.
Holy is much misunderstood these days – as if someone who is “holy” is a goody-two shoes, the person who never makes an error in morality, never doubts, always is serving others – an ideal saint. But if you look in history, saints were pedestal people (well – except for the Stylites…but that’s another story) They were common people often, who had to deal with anxieties, who had to deal with family issues, and financial struggles, who were challenged by their governments, and somehow – realize that the answer was not within themselves, but found in realizing that God was God, and God loved them. Their trust in God and HIs promises, was the the foundation of their strength, they would become attune to the direction of God, and while they would still sin like the rest of us, they could be assured that even there God was working.
The work of making them holy – wasn’t their discipline, it was and is the Spirit working in them, sanctifying them – making them saints. Setting them apart for God’s work, no matter whether the work is baking bread (like the lay-brother who wrote “practicing the presence of God – or the new baker whose work with provide for and subsidize a new seminary in the Sudan) or whether it is preaching and leading others deeper into dependence on God as priests and pastors and missionaries and Sunday School teachers.
And that brings us to the other word – we are an apostolic gathering of people. The question I’ve asked – is tha apostolic as in hearing the apostles teaching, or is it apostolic as in the idea that we – like the many people talked about as apostles in the New Testament (besides the 12 ) are sent into the word, to reflect the glory of God, and be His ambassadors to bring hope to the world. I tend to think it is both, but more the latter. And that is where the church is seen by the world, as it brings hope for healing -healing of relationships, healing from the damage of sin, healing of families, as we realize that Christ is healing us.
one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church – the body of Christ that is set apart to be salt and light in the world.
When you see it occur, you know it, and it is truly amazing….. God’s people, knowing the glory of His love and mercy and peace… and their reflection of that – drawing people into that very glory.
May we cry, “Lord have mercy” and find that He has…together.
Church as a M*A*S*H* unit
Devotional/Discussion thought of the day:
It’s nearly 1 o’clock, and I am just starting to write my devotional today – which is kinda sad – because it is part of my personal devotion. Part of the reason is that things have been topsy-turvy, with several people needing to know God’s presence, and a busy schedule and once again, I feel pulled in a bunch of different places, and all I want is to find some down time. I feel like a character from my old favorite show, M*A*S*H*.
To be honest, I would hope that people think of me as like a cross between Fr. Mulchahey and Hawkeye, but I am probably more like C.E.W. III. ( When we were deciding my son’s first and middle name – even though it wasn’t the reason – it seemed right that he would be William Kristopher – the actor who played the priest!)
But in reality, a church is like a MASH unit – we are in the middle of a raging war against forces of darkness. and we are brought constantly those are wounded. A number of them are bruised and battered and won’t make it – they will stay in our wards until its time to leave this life – and several have recently. Some are here for a shorter time – a time of respite and healing, and then they are back off into the war. Dinged but not destroyed, hurt but able to function, able to heal. Others would head home, their lives changed, but their ability to cope with the damage due in part to the work of the doctors – all of them including CEW and Frank Burns. I remember well the incident with the pianist/private who lost his right hand – and CEW showed such compassion in showing him the musical masterpieces written by a composer – who only had a left hand
Indeed, each church is more the staff of the MASH than those treated there. Each one of us has a few screws loose – you have to, in order to survive a war. We have all the different characters, from Radar to Hot Lips, from Frank to Colonel Potter, and of course the inhabitants of the swamp, and the priest who was the only sane one, but that’s because he was more aware of God sustaining him. Some of us even have a Corporal Klinger or two… who thinks he’s not broken, but pretends he is broken, and finds he’s broken in other ways. We are a surgical unit – that works on hearts and minds brutalized by life, and a spiritual battle with enemies that are not human, yet, do great damage. Healing is only found in Jesus… and the Holy Spirit guides our words, actually His words of life – that surgically cut away the damage of sin, and bring healing to wounded relationships.
At its best… the church ministers in its community in spite of their brokenness – yet its their brokenness that allows them to survive. We laugh, and cry, and even go catatonic, but find the ability to get back to work when the sound of the wounded arriving on choppers echo into our lives. It is then we rely on God, and work without stopping, and as a team – for lives are on the line, not just physically, but spiritually, not just our patients, but our own as well.
We’ve got a motto here at Concordia – that would describe them well there. We are a place where people are healing in Christ, while helping others to heal.
Sometimes that healing is heading heavenward. Sometimes it will be moving on… changed, but perhaps more alive.
But we will forever be changed – by serving those whom God brings…
Lord have mercy, and help us see, and communicate – You have!
The Blessing of the Church Community.
Devotional thought of the Day:
10:19 We have, then, my friends, complete freedom to go into the Most Holy Place by means of the death of Jesus. 20 He opened for us a new way, a living way, through the curtain—that is, through his own body. 21 We have a great priest in charge of the house of God. 22 So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water. 23 Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise. 24 Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. 25 Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.
Hebrews 10:19-25 (TEV)
It is amazing to be the recipient of the concern and encouragement that comes from what our creeds, the traditional belief statements of the Church call the “communion of saints.”
Yesterday, I saw this in action – as some of our members were dealing with incredible challenges, and the service seemed to emphasize our need to depend on God. Even as I was preaching, the pains were evident, and I was praying for them, yet the wear and tear must have been obvious on me, for I too was the recipient of prayers and encouragement, and similar words pointing me to the Lord who endured the cross, for us. Broken and battered by life, struggling with recent losses, the Body broken for us, the Blood shed for our forgiveness and healing, was given, and the body of Christ that are the church, was the church. ANd sincere hearts, and those who trust in Him, were brought together in Him.
The thing that is amazing about this community, this Body of Christ, is how it transcends time and distance. Former members, kids who had grown up in our congregation were there, and welcomed back. The pastor that served me and lots of other youth was there, someone I haven’t seen in 25 years, and he too, in songs blessed us with that same message of God’s work in our lives, His being a refuge for His people. He gave a concert last night, and people from my youth were there, as well as from the church were I served as an intern – connections were made between us all. And in each case, their presence re-inforced the concept that this is one faith, one church, and one Lord of all!
I used to think that such community was the source of our strength, there sociologically, a team bound together under pressure, creates a esprit de corps that is nearly palpable. But with the church, it is far more, far deeper, for the strength is not in any individual and multiplied, nor is it the strength of the combined people. It is, instead, found in the Lord of the Church, the One who brings us together, the One who can be always trusted to keep His promises.
Instead of the usual invitation to discuss this, today I would ask that you tell your stories, of how God has ministered to you, even as He has ministered through you. Such would be a blessing to all who read this.
Thanks
The journey is too great for you… arise and eat…
Is our Journey too great? Arise, Take and Eat
I Kings 19:1-8
† In Jesus Name †
As we journey toward the day when all are gathered around our Father’s throne, may we know the mercy and peace that comes from hearing His voice call to us and say,
Arise and eat…
Not the answer I want to hear!
But it is the one I need to hear!
Tired,
Alone.
Exhausted.
Hunted,
Barely sleeping on the hard ground, as he hides under a tree with spikes for branches..
He’s at the end of his rope, a little while prior to hearing the angel’s voice, he had been praying that God would bring it all to an end, that God would take his life.
Not just because he’s had it, but also because he realizes that he’s not up to the challenge, he’s as weak as those who have gone before him.
“Enough is enough!” he cried….
And now, prodded and poked awake by the Angel of the Lord, the messenger of God, he hears the answer to his cry.. the answer he didn’t want to hear.
“the journey is too great for you….”
At first look, that is NOT the answer to my plea that I want to hear, as I try to go on in this life. It’s not the answer I want to hear as I see the trauma of life around me, even as I look back to the blessed victories.
“the journey is too great for you…”
It may not be what we want to hear, even as I am sure Elijah would much rather have heard – “You can do it!”. Instead, we hear with him,
“the journey is too great for you…”
And though we may not want to hear it, it is the exact answer we need to hear…
The Journey is long
Even after victories
Anxiety kicks in… why?
We even can abandon those God sent to lift us up…
We can even cry out as Elijah did..
In Elijah’s life, we see how fast things can change. He barely had taken in the incredible victory over those who would lead God’s people deeper into sin, when his world falls apart. Ahab and 450 prophets of Ba’al were little challenge, as the god they made in their own image was proven non-existent, Elijah even mocked them, suggesting their “god” was on vacation, or maybe using the bathroom. That event ends with people praising God, the living God. Good times, a revival moments away..
One victory is not the journey, and as high as that mountain top experience was, it all seems to come crashing down, as Jezebel’s demonic oath unsettles him, as he realizes he needs some rest, and the desire for rest is changed by anxiety into a desire to run and hide. As his praises and awe of God’s work in his life changes into pleas and despair, as he wonders how will he survive this time.
Well, not really, he doesn’t wonder, for if his words tell us that he doesn’t want to survive. He wants God to come and collect him, to claim his life. He is so dogged by this anxiety, this sense of failure, that he abandons the young man he mentors, whom he trains to trust God in everything!
Don’t we do that sometimes as well? The very people God would have us mentor in life, those whom God sent to life us up, we unload on them, or worse, we abandon them, as we go and find some place to be miserable. What is worse, we do it to God as well, instead of seeking His rest, His comfort, we just want to give up.
We might even cry out Maranatha – the Greek for Come Lord Jesus! Return NOW…. Not because we are desiring to be in heaven, but because we are so tired of this life, so weary of all that challenge us.
I am not just talking about temper tantrums here, but those points in life, where life just doesn’t make any sense anymore. Where exhausted, we crash wherever we think it will be safe for the moment.
How do we go on in such times? It seems like I am asked that more and more..
Then we hear the voice of God agreeing that the journey is indeed… to much!
How do we go on?
We rest, we arise, we eat that which is provided…and healed by God, we find we walk in His strength. sustained by that bread He has provided.
We aren’t alone
The Angel is the Angel of the Lord
He to whom we Journey, is on the Journey with us
He’s honest with us
But He provides what we need for strength.. in a meal which sustains us til we reach
You see in these tough times we need to realize that, we can’t lose God’s presence, nor are we hidden from those He sends to minister to us, and the Spirit that has taken up residence in us, in our baptism.
As the Angel ministers to Elijah, it is good to remember that we talk about this specific Angel, who bears the title “the Angel of the Lord”, as being God himself. All sorts of great theological discussion on this, but what matters here, more than that, is that we realize we aren’t on the journey of our lives alone, any more than Elijah was alone.
That’s a good thing – because, as the Angel of the Lord points out – with point blank honesty, “the journey is too much for you!”
No matter how strong our pride is, on our own, we aren’t strong enough to overcome in this life. That pride, which says we can do it on our own, is simply our struggle with sin. We do not like to depend on anyone, even God. Yet our journey is one we cannot manage alone, and when we try, we end up rolled under a bush somewhere, with God poking us awake, reminding us that He can and does provide for us.
We don’t need to be strong enough on our own, we don’t have to run ourselves into the ground, to the point where we think that we’ve had enough. But even when we reach that point, we aren’t alone. He is with us. And…
He provides the rest we need.
He provides the strength we need…
He provides that which sustains us, the bread of life, the living water, a feast that sustains us throughout our entire period of suffering, our entire period of pain…
He’s here.
Cleansing us
Healing us…
Sustaining us, when we are too weak to go on.
Feeding us, that which will restore in us life, not just “barely surviving life” but the life which is rich and abundant…
He nourishes us with His Body, and with His Blood, even as He nourished Elijah with the bread that was brought to Him.
Arise, take and eat… the journey is to long for you… without my presence, without me. But I will lift you up, I will strengthen you – the entire family of God.
As we were united with Christ in our baptism, as the cleansing of water and word brought us life together, so to that community is seen on our journey, as we celebrate the feast of Christ, the feast that is a prophecy, an inkling of the feast to come.
The Body and Blood of Christ, broken and shed for you! It is indeed so rich a blessing! It gives life to road weary bones. As we celebrate and feast, as we rest in a peace that assures us that we will complete this journey, not on our own strength, but in Christ, dwelling secure in His peace.
That is what makes this place, this time special, sacred. The people of God being ministered too by God. A God who knows when we face such challenges, when we are weary, when the journey is too long. He comes to us, causes us to rest – feeds us that we may be strengthened, and go on, not weary, but in His strength.
So my weary friends, in a moment it’s time to rise and eat, as we prepare to continue our journey with Him
Maybe it is me, but this year so far is a wearying one… one which too often we try to do things in our own strength, and yes to make the journey alone.
It is time for that to end, not just for us, but for those out there who are weary, as broken, as in need of a poke from God, as in need to hear those words,
The journey is too great for you… arise and eat…
As you do, may this bread, this very body of Christ, nourish and sustain you, as you confidently continue in this journey of life, knowing that until we have all joined the angels and archangels, and the entire company of heaven, we journey sustained by Christ, dwelling in His peace. AMEN
The Communion-Community of Christ
Discussion/Devotional Thought of the Day:
“544 The Communion of the Saints. How shall I explain it to you? You know what blood transfusions can do for the body? Well, that’s what the Communion of the Saints does for the soul.” Escriva, Josemaria. The Way
As a pastor, one of the things I do is to bring the Lord’s Supper to those who cannot make it to church, to those too weak or sick, to those who were once quite active, but now are counted as shut-ins. In doing so, the discussion always includes their asking about how things are going at church, it never fails to astound me, how concerned they are for their brothers and sisters in Christ. Often they talk of their desire to get well, to gain strength, just so they can once again commune in the sanctuary, with their friends, the people they love, with whom they have walked through their lives, even if they only knew the people at church for a small while.
We are on their hearts and minds.. and in bringing communion to them, they are reminded that they are part of the community. It is bittersweet, for they realize they are part of the community that Christ has established.
How I wish we were in the future, and we had transporter units like in Star Trek. Then we could beam them into the sanctuary, and fulfill a desire that they would have. (It would also be cool if upon “reassenbly” their ills and pains and weaknesses could be quarantined and separated from them!
St Escriva’s words hit home a lot today, as I consider one of the people I visit, who I can’t anymore. I know how much visiting him meant to me, how in many ways it was like the transfusion spoke of in this quote. Yet in bringing him communion, he two received a transfusion I am learning. The very life of the church was shared, the life we share in every time we gather and we eat together and drink together. For sharing in the Lord’s Table, kneeling at the Altar together is a community, thing, just as our life as Christ’s body is a community thing.
It is tragic that we don’t comprehend this blessing we have in sharing in the feast of Christ – that we would relegate it to less important than other things we do, that we place limits on its time, both the time we spend preparing for it, and the time we spend celebrating it. That we reduce the precious words to a formula, a incantation, rather than savor them, listen intently, and hear and absorb them. It is tragic that the gathering of God’s people is an afterthought in many lives.
As a pastor, I am partially responsible. If you know not why a priest, or a pastor, could describe the gathering of God’s people together around His sacrament as a spiritual transfusion, we haven’t done our job as those who proclaim the world well enough. If we haven’t taught you to treasure this incredible time, we have, in large part failed. If we don’t keep you in prayer, and help your prepare for this incredible gift, then perhaps we need to reconsider what our job is, to preach the word in its fullness, and to administer the sacrament – that those who are broken can encounter His healing, His mercy His presence.
Keep us, all the pastors and priests – and the deacons and elders and worship leaders who stand alongisde us, ready to serve, to minister to you… in your prayers. That we would feed you so richly that your heart would long for the next gathering the next time His people gather around His word, and His table.
“Lord Have Mercy!” we cry, and as we kneel and take and eat… and drink of the Blood shed that sins would be forgiven, we realize how much He has had the mercy we pray for!
In Memoriam: my brother Joseph
When I met my brother, his dignity was beyond description. I thought him maybe in his early seventies, as he stood tall, as he sang hymns with incredible intensity, as his eyes twinkled as he listened intently to the gospel being read, and as I proclaimed God word. His humility was visible as he would bend his knees at the communion rail, as he said strongly “Amen”, with a voice that communicated incredible gratitude, not to me, but to the Lord who invited Him to the feast.
As he would leave church, the words of blessing would flow from his mouth,”Pastor, my pastor, you’ve given me something to think about this day, you opened my eyes to God’s love again… even deeper. Thank you!” The words were so powerfully said, only once did I ask him what point he was referring to – to which he explained it quickly. Hard to believe, for he himself was a pastor 25 years before I met him, now as he approached 90, he was intrigued and in awe of God’s promises and love and mercy as he would have been the first time he heard those passages as a youth….
To hear him talk to me of his walk with God, of his assurance and confidence in God’s presence in life, as a 14 year old teacher, as the head of a police force in Guyana, as a pastor, and mentor to his children and grandchildren, it was not his own faith that showed through, but the faithfulness of God which he was so confident, so in awe of, so inspired by. Yet he would not serve as a mentor, but as a constant encouragement, someone who would come alongside and lift burdens without even discussing them.
There are men that bring great comfort to others by their presence, whose walk with God is apparent, not because they are great – but instead because they are dependent on God. That dependence encourages our dependence on God, our finding His strength in the point where we are beyond our own strength.
I will miss the lessons my friend, my brother, the one who called me “my pastor” shared with me, but the life that learned those lessons, its impact will be felt by generations.
May as he imitated those who went before, who imitated those going back to Paul, who imitated Jesus, be imitated by those who witnessed his confidence in Jesus.
